Only six percent of all high school athletes go on to play at the collegiate level. From there, only two percent of collegiate athletes take their talents to the top of their game at the professional level. For the sport of volleyball, those numbers are even lower.
However, for former Division II and Wayne State College star middle hitter Taya Beller, her dream came true when she got a call from the Professional Volleyball Federation’s Atlanta Vibe.
“I got a call from their head coach [Kayla Banworth] asking if I’d be interested, and obviously I said yes,” Beller said. “My coach at WSC [Scott Kneifl] reached out and got me connected and now I’m in Atlanta.”
Beller is a recent WSC graduate who flourished on the court during her time with the Wildcats. Hailing from Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family high school in Humphrey, Nebraska, Beller was a certified stud coming out of high school and proved that throughout her college career.
She is a three-time All-American, was named the American Volleyball Coaches’ Association Central Region Player of the Year and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2022, and was part of one of the most successful runs in WSC Volleyball history.
The 2022 team saw not only Beller have a career season, but the Wildcat team finished with the No. 1 seed in the Central Region, making them the host team. 2023 saw WSC reach the Elite 8, just the second time in the program has ever reached that far in the tournament.
Beller’s 2024 campaign saw her break many career marks. She had a career high 28 kills in a match against the Winona State Warriors earlier this year, a match where she also tied a career high in blocks with 10. She set a career high in digs with eight in a match against Eckard in an early-season tournament.
What made Beller’s pro debut even sweeter was the fact it happened in Omaha against the Omaha Supernovas. The Wildcat volleyball team, as well as many of Taya’s friends and family, made the short trip to watch her debut. She even brought the crowd to life as she registered her first professional kill.
“It was very nice having family and teammates there,” Beller said. “It definitely made the experience a lot better and helped me settle in faster.”
Beller says the biggest change from the collegiate to the pro level is the tempo of how everything moves. She also describes how being this far from home has affected her so far.
“The city of Atlanta and all of my teammates have been very welcoming,” Beller said. “It’s definitely a big adjustment, but I’m settling in. I also have some other teammates who played at Nebraska so we are all in it together.”
Since her pro debut in Omaha, Beller has played in a total of two sets, totaling three kills in five swings with just one attacking error. All that totals to a hit percentage of .400.
Beller is also the only former Division II athlete to be in the PVF.
“I take a little pride in it,” Beller said. “I am mainly focused on growing my game but it definitely is a little prideful.”
Beller says her biggest piece of advice to those looking for similar opportunities is to keep working and grinding towards your goals.
“Don’t sell yourself short,” Baller said. “If you work hard you will reach where you want to go.”
The Wayne community and the state of Nebraska is looking forward to what Beller’s career holds and wishes her good luck in Atlanta.