The class of 2026 has many high achievers in different areas of sports and academics. Senior Taylor Stanley is an exceptional volleyball player and is graduating early to get a headstart on her playing career at the University of Kansas. Taylor has been playing the sport for most of her life and said it is something she loves.

“I have been playing volleyball ever since I was younger,” Taylor said. “Me and my sister have been playing with each other for forever … I just really grew into it.”

Taylor said the best part of playing volleyball is the people and teammates she gets to meet. She said playing with the USA volleyball team has allowed her to make friends from all around the country.

“My favorite part is the relationships I’ve been able to build,” Taylor said. “Building relationships with coaches has helped me, and [has taught] me a lot of lessons.”

Varsity volleyball coach Austin Isham, who has worked at Mid America Volleyball Club and has been with Southwest for four years, said it has been rewarding to watch Taylor learn and improve throughout high school. He said since she was a freshman on the varsity team, she has become better at the sport on her own.

“She has grown in general with her dominance,” Isham said. “[And] also her understanding of the game and her awareness.”

Taylor’s mom, Kim Stanley, played volleyball throughout college as well, so it created a home environment around the sport. Kim said she enjoys watching Taylor play and seeing how she has improved over time.

“Taylor is an incredible teammate,” Kim said. “I love how she’s developed her skills.”

Taylor was nominated for the Evelyn Gates award. It is a prestigious award given to the best varsity volleyball athlete in the region. Although the 2025 award was given to a St. Thomas Aquinas student, Taylor said being one of four potential winners shows how her hard work has paid off.

“It’s such a big honor that I was even chosen as a finalist for it,” Taylor said. “It’s a very high … award for athletes and volleyball athletes especially in the KC Metro [Area].”

Kim said she was extremely glad about Taylor’s nomination for the Evelyn Gates award. She said the award perfectly represents the combination of skills needed to be an outstanding player.

“[I’m] very, very proud of her,” Kim said. “It is such an honor to be included in that group of candidates.”

In order to be best prepared to play on KU’s volleyball team, Taylor will start training with the team in January 2026. She said as volleyball becomes a more competitive sport, more colleges are now asking high school athletes to graduate early.

“I’ll be there with the team, and I’ll be able to practice with them,” Taylor said. “It was something that my coaches at KU asked me if I wanted to do … I am personally very excited.”

Kim is also looking forward to Taylor’s early start at KU. She said Taylor took several AP classes, summer and online courses to complete school early.

“She only needed two credits to finish out her high school diploma,” Kim said. “We are thrilled that she has this opportunity to go to college early.”

Isham said it is a great step forward for Taylor to graduate early. He said he hopes she will be able to play beyond college.

“I’m excited for her to … live her dream of playing college volleyball for KU,” Isham said. “I hope she’s a role model for future Southwest girls volleyball players.”