The most distinguished career in the history of Illinois Wesleyan University women’s volleyball is nearing its end.
Taylor French—a 12-time College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Hitter of the Week, three-time First Team All-CCIW honoree, two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Player of the Week, and AVCA Second and Third Team All-American—will graduate from IWU in spring 2026.
But her remarkable rise almost never happened.
Growing up in Romeoville, Ill., French didn’t even play volleyball until eighth grade. “I was always more of a basketball and soccer player,” French said.
“I played basketball from age 5 through my senior year of high school. I would’ve even joined IWU’s basketball team if it weren’t for my ankle injuries,” she said.
Despite her hesitation, friends encouraged her to try volleyball, recognizing her athleticism and potential.
Her discovery by IWU assistant coach Tyler White (formerly Tyler Brown), the current holder of the Titans’ all-time kill record, was purely accidental. White was scouting Morgan Harrington—a future IWU opposite hitter—when she noticed French on the same team. Impressed by her offensive instincts, White began the recruiting process.
The Titans weren’t the only ones interested in bringing French on their roster, as more offers started to pour in. “There were a few Division One offers, but nothing that caught my eye like Wesleyan,” French said. “I wanted to get the college experience but still be close enough to home to visit my family,” she said.
French’s family is central to her story. Her mother and little brother Frankie are two of the biggest Titan Volleyball fans and can be seen at almost every home match.
Over her four years at IWU, French has built a highlight reel filled with defining moments. When asked her favorite, she didn’t hesitate: “Winning the CCIW championship against Millikin.” That victory carried extra weight. The Big Blue, long-time rivals of the Titans, had eliminated IWU from the CCIW tournament in 2022. “It made that win so much sweeter,” French said.
The victory didn’t come without its challenges. Near the end of the 2024 CCIW championship, Taylor French went down with an ankle injury. However, French refused to exit the game.
“They can tell me I should come off the court, but unless they drag me, I’m staying out there,” French stated. The determination and grit of French has pushed her through many injuries throughout her college career. Yet come the fall season, she is always flying through the air and bouncing balls.
French’s success, including her three IWU records in service aces, aces per set, and career points, wasn’t built by talent alone. She credits a strong support network of friends, family, and mentors who believed in her long before she became a star.
Two people stand out in particular: her former principal, Dr. O’Brien, and her high school basketball coach. “‘You’re one of the best athletes to ever walk these halls,’ Dr. O’Brien used to tell me,” French said. “And my coach always said, ‘We want to see you accomplish great things.’ They both still follow my career to this day,” she said.
Although French’s time as an athlete is ending, she’s not done with volleyball yet. She is currently applying to the American Volleyball Coaches Association, with the hopes of coaching either high school or college volleyball.
