Taelin Connolley: Home Court Advantage

This RBC student-athlete feels at home with both the campus and the volleyball team.

By Sterling Giles

Within the last few years, Richard Bland College of William & Mary (RBC) has established itself as a national powerhouse in volleyball. NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) Division II National Champions, NJCAA National Runner-Ups and multiple Region 10 Championships are a few highlights of the team’s impressive resume. Taelin Connolley, who is an outside hitter and defensive specialist, caught wind of the program’s success and decided to come into the fold.

Joining the team in the fall of this year, Connolley is one of 12 freshmen on the 15-person roster. But despite its youth, the team has continued its tradition of excellence. As of this writing, its ranked fourth in nation with only one loss on the season.

However, sports alone didn’t draw Connolley to Richard Bland College. The fact it felt like home was comforting to her as well.

“I picked RBC because I definitely pictured myself living here,” she said. “Other colleges I visited were too big or not my vibe.

“This is honestly just perfect for me.”

Off the court, Connolley wants to be a sports psychologist to help athletes navigate challenges such as mental blocks that may be inhibiting their performances. It’s something she’s experienced from time to time. As a psychologist, she hopes to empower athletes to be holistically whole. Her coaches, the couple tandem Stephanie Champine and Shaun Dryden, are consummate models of how she would like to treat her patients in the future.

“This isn’t something you’re supposed to be completely perfect at,” Connolley said. “It’s OK to have emotions and be stressed out.

“It’s normal for humans to do that. So it’s nice having the validation from them and being comforted.”