Taylor Simpson played the 2015 season for the Pink Spiders and will head back for another season this fall.
Catching Up With Taylor Simpson
July 27, 2017 | Volleyball
Share:
By: CUBuffs.com
BOULDER – Since graduating from the University of Colorado in 2015, Taylor Simpson has been a mainstay in the professional volleyball circuit. CUBuffs.com recently got in touch with Simpson to discuss her experience and to see what she is up to now. Taylor Simpson will be a Pink Spider
again this fall. When you left CU, you signed a contract to play for the Pink Spiders in the Southern Korean V-League. What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome in a new country, playing professionally for the first time?
The biggest challenge I had to overcome playing professionally for the first time was probably the language barrier. In the V- League, there is only one foreign player per team. This means that it's you and about 13 other Korean players. They provide a translator for the foreign players, which became my saving grace. She helped translate for me on and off the court.
What was your favorite part about playing in Korea?
My favorite part about playing in Korea was the opportunity to get to play in the V-League. It is a very famous league, because prior to my first year there in 2015, big name players were known for playing there. For instance, Destinee Hooker, Sarah Pavan and Nicole Fawcett played the year before I did. It also brings a very different dynamic when you are the only foreign player on the team. I love being able to get to know my teammates REALLY well, because I am the only American on the squad. It's a pretty neat opportunity!
How quickly did you pick up Korean, or at least enough to understand your surroundings?
Honestly, I only picked up what I needed to know when I was there. I know how to say hello, goodbye, all of the proper greetings, transportation lingo because I took the bus and train often, a lot of words pertaining to food (because c'mon that's super important right?!), and picked up a lot of volleyball terminology. It was actually crazy the stuff I picked up, because when I went back this May for the draft, I was surprised how much I really did know!
How many other Americans played in the V-League?
There have been a TON of Americans that have played in the V-League, and when I was there the draft was only open to American players so there were 6 of us battling it out. This year there will only be four Americans, one European and one girl from Senegal.
For your second season, you played a little closer to home. Can you tell us a little bit about your experience in Puerto Rico?
Playing in Puerto Rico this last season was great. There was a lot less travel involved, and since I had already played there before for a short stint, it was super easy to transition back to. We went to the beach often, but since I was playing for a better team this time around, we practiced more and had lifting almost every day. It was an enjoyable experience. Simpson's family visited during her first stint in Korea. You had a very short stint to start in Puerto Rico before playing in Korea. What did you expect when you first transitioned to professional volleyball?
When I first signed to play pro, I expected it to be really tough with long practices, and a heavy workload for the foreign players during matches. As it turns out, my first contract in Puerto Rico was super laid back. We had practice once a day for only about and hour and a half, and we rarely had weightlifting. The rest of the time was spent relaxing at the beach and hanging out with new friends I made down there.
What was the biggest difference playing in Puerto Rico vs. Korea?
Puerto Rico vs. Korea—Lots of differences! The main one, the amount of foreign players. One per team in Korea and two per team in Puerto Rico. You would be amazed at how much that can be a helpful impact with more people. The V- League is well known for great volleyball, so I would say that the level of the league is a lot higher in Korea. Puerto Rico is great when you first come out of school and are transitioning to the pro level. It was interesting coming back to Puerto Rico a second time, with all of the other foreign players being a lot younger, because the level was different than I remembered for sure.
What was your favorite part of playing in Puerto Rico?
My favorite part of playing in Puerto Rico was the closeness in proximity to home. Puerto Rico is American Commonwealth, so being there is almost like being home. There are the same stores, people can speak English, and there were a ton of American players to make it seem like I was playing volleyball in the states.
You are heading back to Korea for another season with the Pink Spiders. What influenced your decision to go back?
My decision to go back to Korea was heavily influenced by the love for the culture. I love Korea and all there is to it and wanted to have another opportunity to experience it once more. I actually had no idea that my same team as last time, Pink Spiders, would draft me. When they selected me, I was surprised, but I am very excited to go back and spend another season with this team. Simpson at the 2017 Draft You have also played in the USAV system, both indoor and beach. Can you tell us about where you are right now with USAV?
I have spent the last few summers training in Anaheim with the U.S. National Team. Last summer I was fortunate enough to be selected to travel with them to the Pan Am Cup in the Dominican Republic. I have been involved in the USAV pipeline from the time I was in high school, both indoor and a little bit of beach. Currently, I am not in the National team gym, but am working as hard as I possibly can to position myself to be back in there in summers to come.
After playing for two seasons and getting ready to start your third, what is the best part about playing professional volleyball?
The best part about playing professional volleyball is the ability to experience different cultures and get paid to play the game you love. It is a real dream come true!
What advice do you have for athletes looking to go pro in their sport?
For athletes looking to play pro in the future- If you feel that your calling is taking you overseas to continue your sport, take the opportunity without hesitation! Traveling and playing abroad is a very unique thing that I would suggest no one to ever pass up. I have had an amazing three years in the professional volleyball world and am hoping for a handful more.
