Former Plainfield Central Volleyball Star Landfair Is Big Ten's Best

PLAINFIELD, IL — Coming off an injury that kept her out of the University of Minnesota’s volleyball lineup for most of her sophomore season, former Plainfield Central star Taylor Landfair was determined to come back stronger than ever.

Mission accomplished.

Landfair was named the Big Ten volleyball Player of the Year last year and has the Gophers poised for a run deep into the NCAA Tournament. Landfair, who was the nation’s top volleyball prospect coming out of high school, led the Big Ten in kills per set (4.43) and points per set (4.49) just a year after an abdominal injury allowed her to appear in just nine games last season.

During the regular season, Landfair also recorded 26 performances with 10 or more kills, 19 of which she had at least 15 kills and five with at least 20 kills. She had a hitting percentage of .257 during her comeback effort en route to being named the league’s top player. She recorded a season-best 28-kill performance and also proved to be one of the Gophers’ top players in her return.

“She’s a rare talent,” Minnesota coach Hugh McCutcheon told reporters last week. “Here she is working and learning and changing all the way through the season. I mean it’s to her credit, right, that she isn’t satisfied with just having the talent.”

The 6-foot-5 outside hitter is the sixth Minnesota player to capture the Big Ten’s top player honor in the past eight years. The Gophers advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament with a sweep of Northern Iowa.

In an interview with the Big Ten Network, Landfair said that sitting out for the majority of last season provided her with a new perspective of the game and made her a better teammate. She said being out of the lineup improved her leadership skills, which impacted her play once she returned this season.

“I think (being a great teammate means) giving your all no matter what,” Landfair said. “Especially last year, because I couldn’t be on the court physically so I think just making sure my teammates know that I’m supporting them and that deep down, (they know) I’m with them no matter what.”