Although Trent’s campus was far from home for east coaster Nicholas Taylor, he jumped at the opportunity to study here and join the men’s Excalibur varsity volleyball team.

“From the first day I met the team they all talked to me like we had already known each other for years,” explained Mr. Taylor. “It’s already been very rewarding for me here at Trent.”

Mr. Taylor is no rookie to the sport of volleyball. Having already tallied up seven years of experience playing competitively on the east coast, this past summer Mr. Taylor was thrilled to receive an invitation to represent his home province at the Canada Games.

“Playing at the Canada Games was an amazing experience for me. It was very high competition, and all of the volunteers were really friendly and helpful – it was just a surreal experience all around.”

Now a month into his first year at university, Mr. Taylor knows what it takes to balance the pressure of being a competitive Trent athlete and a full-time honours Biology student, skills he feels will be important as he works toward his goal of becoming a chiropractor.

“Being an athlete takes a lot of commitment,” he says. “However, even with all our practices and games, you can still find time to complete your work if you know how to manage your time and not leave assignments to the last minute – this is a big part of being successful as a student athlete.”

Mr. Taylor and his teammates are currently in the midst of training for the season, gearing up for a triumphant year through practice games, and the exciting home opener against Royal Military College at the Trent Athletics Centre, on October 27.