Northwestern University Athletics
Senior Spotlight: #HOMEGROWN Tashima Thrives as Team Leader
10/25/2017 6:30:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
By Hugh Mallen
NUsports.com Correspondent
More than twenty days before Northwestern began classes in 2014, Taylor Tashima started her Wildcat career off with a bang.
She led the volleyball team with 46 assists in a season-opening 3-2 victory over Colorado, a team that received votes in the AVCA poll. Tashima has not slowed down since.
Now a four-year starter at setter, the Wilmette, Illinois, native and homegrown product has catapulted her way up Northwestern's record books from the moment she began playing in the purple and white.
As of this writing, she has the fourth-most assists in Northwestern's 42-year volleyball history. Along the way, she has been named to the First Team All-Big Ten and has been listed among the Academic All-Big Ten honor roll.
Her head coach, Shane Davis, said these accolades stem from Tashima's work ethic.
"The passion she has for the game allows her to be successful," the second-year head coach said. "She's always watching a ton of video, working on [volleyball] on her own, and constantly in conversation with the coaching staff."
Tashima plays her home volleyball matches on the doorstep of where she developed her skill, New Trier High School. She helps personify the Wildcats' homegrown campaign to keep many of the Chicagoland area's best athletes at Northwestern.
This home support, from Tashima's family, as well as the Northwestern community, advances Tashima's love for the Cats.
"I really like playing for something bigger than yourself," she said. "You have the whole community rallying around you. When you get that big win, it just means so much more."
Tashima, as the setter, is the playmaker for the offense, in a role similar to a quarterback in football or a point guard in basketball. It is her job to execute the offense and create opportunities for her teammates. The nature of this position has forced her into a leadership role, where she excels.
Davis said her leadership has been especially key this season with seven first-year players in a team of eighteen. He says Tashima's organization in her life off the court allows her to be a good leader, mentor and big sister to the team.
"She's the person everyone looks up to," Davis said. "She does a great job at keeping everybody in check and up to date."
This leadership not only improves the team's play on the court, but it helps make the coach's job easier off it.
Tashima allowed for a smooth transition for Davis and the new coaching staff, who took over two years ago. Davis remembers Tashima immediately going to his office to give him the scouting report on the team. In his first impression of her, Tashima imprinted the two-time national champion head coach with her leadership and volleyball IQ.
"She was a rock star when we first took over, and has continued to impress us ever since we've been here (at Northwestern)," Davis said.
In return, Davis and his staff have inspired Tashima as well. She said they have taught her the power of learning as a way to help her continue to improve her game. In addition, they have taught the team accountability, making it nearly impossible to get away with any foolish mistakes.
"You really have to be on top of your responsibilities," Tashima said about the change in team culture. "They don't let anything slide by, as they shouldn't."
Still, this team runs like a family off the court. Tashima called the other girls on the team her 'best friends,' and she lives in an off-campus house with some of her teammates.
"I could not be more thankful for our coaching staff or these girls," Tashima said. "It's totally a family atmosphere in here, we take care of each other."
This family atmosphere allows the team to push each other every day to become better players. Tashima embraces her volleyball family, where she thrives as a setter, teammate, friend, and sister.
"At the end of the day, it's about how good a teammate you are, how you push your teammates in practice and how you treat the people around you," Tashima said.
NUsports.com Correspondent
More than twenty days before Northwestern began classes in 2014, Taylor Tashima started her Wildcat career off with a bang.
She led the volleyball team with 46 assists in a season-opening 3-2 victory over Colorado, a team that received votes in the AVCA poll. Tashima has not slowed down since.
Now a four-year starter at setter, the Wilmette, Illinois, native and homegrown product has catapulted her way up Northwestern's record books from the moment she began playing in the purple and white.
As of this writing, she has the fourth-most assists in Northwestern's 42-year volleyball history. Along the way, she has been named to the First Team All-Big Ten and has been listed among the Academic All-Big Ten honor roll.
Her head coach, Shane Davis, said these accolades stem from Tashima's work ethic.
"The passion she has for the game allows her to be successful," the second-year head coach said. "She's always watching a ton of video, working on [volleyball] on her own, and constantly in conversation with the coaching staff."
Tashima plays her home volleyball matches on the doorstep of where she developed her skill, New Trier High School. She helps personify the Wildcats' homegrown campaign to keep many of the Chicagoland area's best athletes at Northwestern.
This home support, from Tashima's family, as well as the Northwestern community, advances Tashima's love for the Cats.
"I really like playing for something bigger than yourself," she said. "You have the whole community rallying around you. When you get that big win, it just means so much more."
Tashima, as the setter, is the playmaker for the offense, in a role similar to a quarterback in football or a point guard in basketball. It is her job to execute the offense and create opportunities for her teammates. The nature of this position has forced her into a leadership role, where she excels.
Davis said her leadership has been especially key this season with seven first-year players in a team of eighteen. He says Tashima's organization in her life off the court allows her to be a good leader, mentor and big sister to the team.
"She's the person everyone looks up to," Davis said. "She does a great job at keeping everybody in check and up to date."
This leadership not only improves the team's play on the court, but it helps make the coach's job easier off it.
Tashima allowed for a smooth transition for Davis and the new coaching staff, who took over two years ago. Davis remembers Tashima immediately going to his office to give him the scouting report on the team. In his first impression of her, Tashima imprinted the two-time national champion head coach with her leadership and volleyball IQ.
"She was a rock star when we first took over, and has continued to impress us ever since we've been here (at Northwestern)," Davis said.
In return, Davis and his staff have inspired Tashima as well. She said they have taught her the power of learning as a way to help her continue to improve her game. In addition, they have taught the team accountability, making it nearly impossible to get away with any foolish mistakes.
"You really have to be on top of your responsibilities," Tashima said about the change in team culture. "They don't let anything slide by, as they shouldn't."
Still, this team runs like a family off the court. Tashima called the other girls on the team her 'best friends,' and she lives in an off-campus house with some of her teammates.
"I could not be more thankful for our coaching staff or these girls," Tashima said. "It's totally a family atmosphere in here, we take care of each other."
This family atmosphere allows the team to push each other every day to become better players. Tashima embraces her volleyball family, where she thrives as a setter, teammate, friend, and sister.
"At the end of the day, it's about how good a teammate you are, how you push your teammates in practice and how you treat the people around you," Tashima said.
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