Taelyn Bentley cheers on her teammates as she prepares to take the court during USF’s game against ECU in the Corral on Sep. 26. ORACLE PHOTO / THOMAS MARRIS
USF volleyball earned its first win of the season over FSU on Sep. 5 with a score of 3-2, a match that also marked the collegiate debut of freshman middle blocker Taelyn Bentley.
Bentley finished the game with 13 points in her first appearance, making her way onto South Florida’s leaderboard in blocks.
“It was a big boost of energy that allowed me to play my hardest,” she said.
Bentley, a native of Corvallis, Oregon, is moving into her fourth year playing volleyball after having pursued other sports in high school and middle school.
Since joining USF, Bentley said she has been engaged “from beginning to end,” becoming one of the school’s biggest blockers.
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But Bentley didn’t start her athletic career by touching the net.
In high school, she pursued javelin and basketball, even listing them as interests in her recruiting profile before college.
Bentley said that she takes any opportunity given to her, and belief is a part of why she feels so comfortable stepping on the court.
She said her collegiate debut allowed her a chance to continue playing with the trust of her coaches during “big games.”
Coach Jolene Shepardson said after a game against ECU that there are two main reasons she recruited Bentley.
“She’s an incredibly joyful young woman, like super resilient,” Shepardson said.
She said Bentley’s personality has shone through on the court since her recruitment.
“I love how hard she plays, how passionate she is,” she said.
Bentley said she prioritizes supporting her teammates, just as they do for her, when she makes her mark on the court.
“When you see someone else getting blocks, it just makes you hungry to get them yourself,” Bentley said.
She was hungry for action on the court as she managed her second assist of the season, six total attacks, and the block she was looking for during her game against ECU.
“To come into the game and perform well right on the bat, really boosts your confidence,” Bentley said.
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Bentley also joined the court in the Bulls’ match against Dayton on Sep. 14, grabbing eight blocks and two digs.
She has been given the opportunity to play nine of the 11 games this season.
Bentley has made her way to the fourth-best player in blocks for USF in the 2025 season with 27.
Bentley said she has undergone a significant transition from living in a smaller town as compared to Tampa over the summer.
“The most support is having the familiarity of the people you love around you,” she said. “It’s actually insane because I’m 4,000 miles away from home and my parents still make the effort and energy to come see me.”
Bentley said she not only gets to enjoy her family flying in to support her, but also has the joy of seeing her teammates every day as she lives with some of them.
“I’m so blessed to be in the position I am, where I have teammates who trust me, coaches who believe in me,” Bentley said. “I believe in myself.”