BY SAUL BERRIOS THOMAS | STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — McAllen Memorial senior volleyball player Taylor Marburger defines herself by three things: hard work, family and faith.
That was exemplified on Friday when Marburger signed a National Letter of Intent to play volleyball at Baylor.
Marburger didn’t seek out a ton of options for college because she knew where she wanted to end up.
“I knew that my dream was always Baylor,” Marburger said. “I was going to do anything I could to go there.”
The Division I program is so competitive that players under 5-foot-7 have often been ignored. Marburger, at 5-foot-6, was not willing to accept that, though.
She was invited to a camp at Baylor during the summer to workout for their coaches.
After the camp she called her father, Kyle Marburger, crying. Kyle, thinking Taylor had been rejected, tried to console his daughter. Then she choked out through tears “I got in.” That is when all the accomplishments and sacrifices paid off for Taylor.
“I put it all on the line by talking to the head coach (Ryan McGuyre) and telling him I wanted to be a part of his team,” Taylor Marburger said. “He allowed me to be a part of his team, after watching me during the camp. It was definitely a door opened by god. That’s all I can say.”
For Taylor Marburger, the talk with McGuyre was about proving she brought more than physical skills.
“He was asking me why I wanted to go to Baylor and getting to know me more,” Taylor Marburger said. “I told him that my whole family is Baylor alumni, so it was definitely a dream. I just want to represent Christ in everything I do. I know at that school that is really big there. That is how the conversation went and then he basically said, ‘Alright, you can join our team. I’d love for you to be a part of our team next year.’ At that point I was just overwhelmed.”
Memorial volleyball coach Lorena Lopez has seen her grow, which has helped the team reach new heights.
“We got to the regional tournament last year and this year, and Taylor is a big reason why,” Lopez said after a game last month. “She is going to continue her volleyball career over at Baylor, and I told her, ‘Hold your head up high and get used to being the smallest person on the court.’”
Taylor Marburger has spent the past season trying to prepare for the next level. She has spent countless hours in the gym, adding muscle, playing different roles on the team and learning from her coaches and teammates.
As for being the smallest player on the court, as her coach joked, Taylor Marburger embraces the challenge.
“I’m super excited about that, because it makes me different,” Marburger said. “It makes me have to prove myself. To work just a little bit harder. And I am excited to influence the people around me by having that heart.”