Ranks among best in school history
When Taylor Thompson’s family moved from Virginia to Cornwall her sophomore year, she had to adjust to playing on a new volleyball team. Not only did she get acclimated quickly, but now she ranks among the best in the high school’s history. She also finishes her varsity career as the Section 9 Player of the Year.
“It feels pretty good,” Thompson said. “I was honestly really shocked. It was a nice way to end the season.”
To receive the honor, another Section 9 coach had to submit her name for consideration by all the other coaches in the league. The announcement was made by Coach Jeff Moulton at the team’s end-of-the-year banquet.
Thompson began playing volleyball in seventh grade. When she moved three years ago, she left behind a team similar in skill level to Cornwall. The senior was saddened having to leave behind the girls she grew up playing with, knowing she wouldn’t be able to play out her final years with them, but after meeting her new teammates, she fell in love with them instantly. She now considers them a second family.
Adjusting to her new team proved to be a little difficult because volleyball is a team sport, but the Lady Dragons were welcoming from the start and made the transition easier.
“I genuinely felt like I fit in with the team pretty well from the beginning,” said Thompson.
When Thompson began her volleyball career, she played the middle position, a role typically more fitting for someone taller than six feet. Standing at five foot nine inches, her coach in Virginia switched her to the six rotation outside hitter position, meaning she plays all the way around and never leaves the court. It’s an exhausting role, especially when hitting in the front row, but she does get a little bit of a reprieve in the back row.
Thompson made the switch just before moving, but when she arrived in Cornwall, Moulton put her back in the middle position in favor of two seniors who played outside.
“Outside is more natural to me because of my height. It also has defensive aspects. Middle you have to be tall and quick. I’m better at outside.”
The volleyball team enjoyed much success this season, going undefeated in regular season play enroute to a 17th straight Section 9 title. Unfortunately the team lost in regionals. But as quickly as the season ended, a new one begins. Thompson and her teammates are now playing travel volleyball and soon they’ll be involved in an annual clinic aimed at teaching younger players the game.
Thompson served as a coach her sophomore year and has been able to watch some of those girls progress. One eighth grader was called up to the varsity level to help the team this year.
“I love it,” Thompson said of being a mentor. “I see part of myself in them. They’re at the age where they still really love the sport. I do get tired, but seeing how happy they are makes me realize how much I love it.”
Much of the team’s success is because of the clinic, said Thompson, adding Moulton knows what his team is going to look like three or four years ahead of time.
Although Thompson’s varsity career is over, her volleyball career isn’t. She’s committed to play for Eastern Connecticut State University, a division three school. She said the coach dedicated herself to recruiting only girls who want to continue playing the sport. Thompson had a chance to meet some of her future teammates during a campus visit a couple months ago.
“They were all uplifting and kind. I’m really looking forward to being a part of that team too.”
Besides being named Section 9 Player of the Year, Taylor Thompson has racked up quite the list of accolades.
Thompson is a three-year varsity starter for Cornwall’s volleyball program and a two-year captain. She was 2nd team All-State in 2021 and an All-Section Player the past three seasons.
She has helped Cornwall to three consecutive sectional championships and led the team in kills and aces the last two seasons. This season she averaged 1.4 aces/set, 4.11 kills/set and 3.1 digs/set. She was 1st team All-Section in 2020 and 2021.
Thompson will be leaving Cornwall as one of the best hitters in school history ranking eighth in kills all-time with 454. She finishes her high school career with 61 blocks, 109 aces, and 211 digs, all on the all-time list.
