Ducks Sign North Carolina Transfer Taylor Borup
05/31/18 | Women's Volleyball
Oregon volleyball added an impact player on Thursday as outside hitter Taylor Borup announced her decision to transfer to the Ducks from North Carolina
EUGENE, Ore. - The Oregon volleyball team added an impact player for the 2018 and 2019 seasons on Thursday when outside hitter Taylor Borup announced her decision to transfer to the Ducks from North Carolina.
"The addition of Taylor to our roster and our program is massive," said head coach Matt Ulmer. "Taylor has great point-scoring capabilities with her attack and block. She gives us more size and experience at the net, but also handles the ball well and has experience playing all six rotations.
"More importantly, Taylor brings a mature and steady presence to our locker room. Â I think she will add a lot of confidence and poise in pressure situations."
Borup, a Leesburg, Va., native, joins the Ducks after spending her first two collegiate seasons with the Tar Heels. She burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2016, earning a spot on the ACC all-freshman team after averaging 2.13 kills per set with a .247 hitting percentage, 45 total blocks and 51 digs. She shined in a big match against No. 5 Minnesota, racking up a career-high 17 kills and four blocks.
Despite battling injuries as a sophomore in 2017, Borup was again a main contributor for UNC with 2.12 kills per set to go with 28 blocks and 26 digs.
"I am really excited to become a Duck!" Borup said. "Having met the coaching staff, players and personnel from Oregon, I know this is going to be a great fit for me. Before visiting Eugene, I had no idea what to expect. Once I was there it felt like home. I am looking forward to starting my academic and volleyball career at Oregon. I cannot wait to rep the green and yellow this fall. Go Ducks!"
Borup was a three-year starter for Loudoun County High School in Virginia, totaling 1,193 kills, 144 blocks and 55 service aces over 310 total sets. She helped lead the Raiders to four consecutive state championships with a nearly flawless 112-5 record, becoming the first player in the state of Virginia ever to win four state titles in any sport. Borup was the 4A state player of the year in 2015 as well as an Under Armour and prepvolleyball.com all-American, among a flurry of other honors during her career, after hitting .449 with 401 kills, 220 digs and 42 blocks as a senior.
The 6-foot-4 outside hitter was ranked No. 17 on prepvolleyball.com's prestigious "Senior Aces" list coming out of high school, part of a class that also included current Ducks Ronika Stone (No. 10), Jolie Rasmussen (No. 20), Willow Johnson (No. 27) and Brooke Van Sickle (No. 88). The Ducks add Borup to that class, which was the highest-rated in program history at No. 2 in the nation. Oregon's 2015 class and incoming 2018 class were both ranked fourth nationally, giving the Ducks their three highest-ranked classes in program history on the same roster.
The Ducks are coming off their seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, and first under Ulmer, and will add Borup to the mix as they continue their pursuit of a conference championship and a deep run in the postseason.
"I am grateful that Taylor trusts our staff and team enough that she would move across country," Ulmer said, "away from her family and friends, in pursuit of excellence."
