Taylor Bruns Tegenrot

Personal: Bruns Tegenrot is a member of Athletes Unlimited Volleyball's Player Executive Committee, highlighting her leadership within the sport. Outside of volleyball, she enjoys playing games, going for walks, and spending time with her husband, Anton. Her interests also include playing board games, reading, and having brunch with friends. She has three younger brothers and acknowledges that leaving her family is one of the most challenging aspects of playing abroad. As a permanent resident of Sweden, she has embraced a global perspective. Bruns Tegenrot attributes her growth and success to her former professional volleyball coach, Tony Westman, and values the impact he has had on her life. She has a diverse sports background, having participated in basketball and soccer as a child. Her jersey number, 17, is meaningful to her, as it is one of the two numbers she has always loved.

2023 Season: Burns Tegenrot secured a career-high of 2,041 leaderboard points, earning 22nd place in the final league standings. She saw action in 41 sets over 15 matches and ranked fifth in the league with 155 assists. Additionally, she notched 19 kills, 42 digs, and five solo blocks. Burns earned the MVP 3 distinction in the Week Two opener with 10 assists and four digs against Team Hentz. She set career highs with 44 assists and 11 digs in the Week Five opener against Team Linnehan, as well as dished out 29 assists in the Week Two finale against Team Edmond. Burns also registered 27 assists with a career-high six kills against Team Nuneviller in the season finale, accumulating 100 or more leaderboard points in 12 of the 15 matches. She achieved a season-high of 197 points in the Week Three opener against Team Hilley and participated in the Athletes Unlimited Volleyball Exhibition Tour.

2022 Season: During the second season of Athletes Unlimited, Bruns Tegenrot exhibited her skills across 13 matches, participating in 32 sets. Her total of 1,605 leaderboard points underscored her significance on the court. Notably, she ranked seventh in the league with 47 assists. Her performance during Week Three stood out, where she contributed 14 assists in a remarkable come-from-behind victory over Team De La Cruz. Demonstrating her versatility, she achieved a season-high of five digs on two occasions. The first instance was against Team Valentin-Anderson on April 8, and she matched this feat on April 15 against Team Lichtman. Additionally, she recorded 14 assists coming off the bench in the Week One finale against Team Cruz, ultimately earning 149 leaderboard points in that victory. Notably, she achieved her season high of 186 leaderboard points in the Week Four opener against Team Sheilla, while also amassing 172 points against Team Stivrins on March 26.

2021 Season: Bruns Tegenrot's debut season in 2021 further showcased her prowess as she appeared in 11 matches, participating in 29 sets. Her impact was evident, as she ranked 31st in the league with 1,704 leaderboard points. Particularly noteworthy is her fifth-place ranking in Athletes Unlimited for achieving 297 assists. Throughout the season, she demonstrated consistency by achieving seven matches with 30 or more assists. A notable highlight was her season-high of 42 assists against Team Larson on March 7. Additionally, she distributed 40 assists on March 15 against Team Edmond, underscoring her role as a setter. Her debut was marked by a solid performance, contributing 218 leaderboard points against Team Cruz, and she continued her momentum with 194 leaderboard points against Team De La Cruz on March 22.

Other Professional Experience: Bruns Tegenrot currently plays for Göteborg Volleybollklubb in Sweden. She has also gained professional experience playing for Germany's VfB Lotto Thüringen, as well as in Belgium and Finland. Her international experience extends to winning the Oresunsliga Championship with the Swedish club Hylte Halmstad.

International Experience: Bruns Tegenrot played a pivotal role in helping Team USA win the Bronze medal at the 2021 Pan American Cup. Her contributions on the international stage alongside current Athletes Unlimited Volleyball athletes Shelly Fanning, Lindsay Stalzer, and Ali Bastianelli underscore her talent and commitment to the sport.

At South Carolina: From 2016-2019, Bruns Tegenrot played in 117 matches. She made significant contributions to the team, ranking seventh in South Carolina history with 2,858 career assists. She also tallied 85 career service aces, placing her seventh on the Gamecocks' single-season rally scoring era list. Her versatility was evident as she tied for 10th in program history with 25 career double-doubles. Bruns Tegenrot consistently led the Gamecocks in assists in three of her four seasons. Her dedication extended to academics, earning her a spot on the SEC Academic Honor Roll three times.