BYU Recruit Wins Gold Medal

BYU men’s volleyball recruit Taylor Sander helped lead the U.S. men’s junior national team to a gold medal, defeating Canada, 25-14, 25-19, 25-16, in the final match at the Centre-Sportif de Gatineau in Quebec.

The outside hitter added 12 points on nine kills (0.32 hitting percentage), one block and two aces in the final match for the NORCECA Men’s Junior (under-21) Continental Championship on August 21.

Sander hails from Norco, Calif. and stands at 6-foot-4. He plays club volleyball with the Orange Coast Volleyball Club under head coach Dave Kniffin, and graduated from Norco High School last spring.

The United States finished the tournament with a 5-0 record and did not drop a set. Canada finished 4-1. Both teams qualified for the 2011 FIVB Men’s Junior World Championships in Brazil.

The United States has medaled in every NORCECA Men’s Junior Continental Championship since the bi-annual event began in 1998, but has never won gold. Its best finishes were seconds in 2004 and 2006.

Sander will join the Cougars for the 2010-11 season and will prove to be a great asset to the three-time national championship squad.

Taylor Sander Bio:

PERSONAL: Born in Fountain Valley, Calif. ... parents are Steve and Kera Sander ... Has one brother and one sister ... began playing indoor volleyball in 1999 with Mavericks Volleyball Club ... has played beach volleyball for four years ... favorite food is pizza and a good caesar salad ... favorite book is ‘Animal Farm’ ... favorite sports team is the Los Angeles Lakers and his favorite athlete is Kobe Bryant ... interests include actions sports, dirt biking and wakeboarding ... most admired people are his parents “for all their unconditional love and support”... lists “anytime I get to laugh out loud with my friends and family” as his happiest moment in life.

USA VOLLEYBALL HIGHLIGHTS: 2009 - Member of the Boys' Youth National Team that finished 10th at the FIVB Boys’ Youth World Championship and was named USA Volleyball’s 2009 Indoor Team of the Year ... 2008 – member of Boys' Youth National Team that won gold at NORCECA Championship ... attended High Performance Holiday Camp. 2007 – attended High Performance Holiday Camp.

CLUB/PREP HIGHLIGHTS: 2009 – CIF Southern Section Division III Player of the Year ... won the CIF Southern Section Division III Championship ... All-League Team and MVP, Big VIII ... Big VIII Champion ... 2008 – High School MVP and League MVP ... First team All-League, All-County and All-Region ... 16U Beach Tournament Champions for AAU, USA and CBVA ... Third-place club finish in JOVC Open 16s Division. 2007 – Third place JOVC Open 15s Division ... All-Tournament Team, JOVC 15s Division.