Trying to get UNM’s star right-side hitter Taylor Hadfield to talk about her successes is like pulling teeth.
The 6’1” junior from Corte Madera, Calif., isn’t one to boast, though she has every right to.
Hadfield led the UNM volleyball team in kills for most of the season, finishing the year with 2.63 kills per set and a .252 hitting percentage. In conference matches, Hadfield really turned it on, posting a team-high 2.98 kills and .303 hitting percentage.
Hadfield paced the Lobos to a 20-10 record on the season, a third-place finish in the Mountain West Conference and a berth in the NCAA Tournament, while earning all-conference and all-region honors.
But in spite of it all, Hadfield remains humble.
Take, for instance, when Hadfield received word that she was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-West Region Team on Dec. 9. Her first response was shock.
“I was like, ‘Oh, my God, that is so cool,” Hadfield said. “Then, I had to ask what the award was because I had no idea. … I found out that all of the regional honorees become nominees for All-Americans, and I was completely surprised to be included in such an elite list. It’s an absolute honor.”
And who did Hadfield thank first?
“I do not get any of these individual accomplishments by myself,” Hadfield said. “You can’t play good volleyball without a great team, and I appreciate my teammates every day. They are the best team I could have asked for.”
A somewhat reserved person off the court, something changes when Hadfield steps on.
“She has the ability to really dominate the game,” head coach Jeff Nelson said. “She’s one of our go-to players, and having that solid attack on the right side balances our offense.”
Under Nelson, Hadfield has blossomed into a solid front-row player for the Lobos, consistently performing at a high level. Hadfield posted a career-high 21 kills against Colorado State on Oct. 24, surpassing her previous high of 16 against Utah on Oct. 10 and Pittsburgh on Sept. 12.
“Sports can take a toll on you both physically and mentally,” Hadfield said. “For me, most of the time if there is something stopping me from doing something, it’s a mental block.”
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Hadfield said her family keeps her grounded and is there to help her through the hard times.
“They always tell me the real deal,” she said. “They don’t sugarcoat things for me. They’re there for me to share in my successes, but they’re also there when I don’t play my best. They’re not afraid to tell it like it is.”
Hadfield’s sister, Jordie, is UNM volleyball’s director of operations. Her father, Dave, played collegiate basketball at the University of San Francisco, and her mother, Dee, rarely misses a home match despite living more than 1,000 miles away.
“I have such a great support system,” Hadfield said. “I like it when my family gets to watch me play, and I especially look up to my dad because he knows what it’s like to play a sport in college.”
And with one more year of eligibility remaining, Hadfield’s goals for next season are quite lofty (and, to no surprise, her team’s goal is at the top of the list).
“One of our team goals is to make it to the Sweet Sixteen next season,” Hadfield said. “Personally, I just want to remain consistent and do the best that I can so that (setter) Jade (Michaelsen) and the rest of the team can continue to rely on me.”
