From birth, Taylor Vaneekeren has been living with mild to moderate hearing loss in both of her ears. This health condition has presented the junior setter from Naperville, Illinois, with many challenges throughout her life but also many opportunities to inspire others as well.

After failing her initial hearing tests when she was born, Vaneekeren began her journey in second grade with hearing aids that she still wears today.

"I think the biggest thing for me is not being able to hear people that are behind me," says Vaneekeren. "There were several instances when I was younger where I would get upset with my parents because they didn't tell me something but in reality, they were just behind me."

Presenting Vaneekeren with many communication challenges not only within her personal life but especially in volleyball which is a communication driven sport, she quickly overcame these difficulties and excelled at one of the top high schools in the state of Illinois.

At the Benet Academy, Vaneekeren was a two-sport standout in both Volleyball and Basketball during high school. Leading both teams to multiple playoff appearances during her career, Vaneekeren's time at the Benet Academy was capped off by being named as the 2017 DuPage County Top Area Athlete her senior year.

This prep success has followed Vaneekeren to West Florida where she has seen extended playing time in all three years of her career and continues to take strides in her game as a player and a teammate.

"Taylor is the kind of player that everyone wants to play with," says UWF Volleyball Head Coach Melissa Wolter. "She's always "team first", putting in the work herself for the betterment of the team but also being the first to lift others up. She is a captain, she is a leader, and she is a warrior as a competitor.  

She has never one time leaned on her disability and in fact, I think it fuels her to be at her best every day. I admire her so much for what she's overcome and for who is as a human being."

As a Junior, Vaneekeren currently ranks sixth all time in UWF Volleyball history in assists, passing the 2,000 mark for her career earlier this season. Not just a bright light on the court, Vaneekeren is also a leader in the classroom earning selections to the GSC Fall Honor Roll every season she has played for the Argonauts.

When asked if she had a message for any kids who might be facing similar challenges as her this is what Vaneekeren had to say.

"There are going to be people who tell you that you can't do this and that it's going to be hard for you," says Vaneekeren. "I think for me I just tell them to go watch me, I'm going to do it anyways and I think this is the mentality younger kids with this situation must have as it always pays off. Always pays off."