2026 Volleyball Roster
Jersey Number 2
Taryn Kirsch
- Position:
- Libero/Defensive Specialist
- Height:
- 5-10
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Sioux Falls, S.D.
- High School:
- Washington HS
2026 // Illinois
- Enters the 2026 season with four years of eligibility remaining
2025 // Illinois
- Started and donned the libero jersey in all 29 matches for the Illini during her freshman campaign
- Led the Illini in digs (340) and digs/set (3.21) while finishing in the top 12 in the Big Ten in both statistical categories
- Recorded double-digit digs in 17 matches, including three 20-dig efforts
- Made her first collegiate appearance in Illinois’ season opener against South Dakota State (8/29/25)
- Totaled 16 digs and five assists while earning her first career start and donning the libero jersey against South Dakota State (8/29/25)
- Logged nine digs and two assists as the Illini’s starting libero versus Vanderbilt (8/31/25)
- Registered 17 digs, along with four assists, in a five-set win at Notre Dame (9/5/25)
- Had 16 digs and six assists at #3 Louisville (9/7/25)
- Amassed seven digs and four assists in a sweep against Cincinnati (9/12/25)
- Tallied a career-high seven assists, six digs, and her first career kill versus Miami (9/13/25)
- Secured 13 digs in her Huff Hall debut against Iowa State (9/20/25)
- Tied her career-high in assists with seven in the Illini’s victory against Oregon (9/26/25)
- Logged 21 digs in the team’s road win at #10 Purdue (9/28/25)
- Recorded 19 digs along with five assists against Michigan State (10/5/25)
- Finished with 21 digs in the Illini's road win at Maryland (10/10/25)
- Tallied 13 digs, along with two assists, at Ohio State (10/17/25)
- Recorded 14 digs four assists vs. Michigan (10/25/25)
- Posted the first two aces of her career and added nine digs at #20 Minnesota (10/29/25)
- Logged 13 digs, two assists, and an ace against Iowa (11/2/25)
- Recorded 12 digs and five assists vs. #25 Penn State (11/9/25)
- Tallied 14 digs and one ace in the win over Washington (11/14/25)
- Finished with a career-high 24 digs to go along with six assists and one ace at UCLA (11/20/25)
- Logged ten digs, four assists, and an ace at #16 USC (11/22/25)
- Recorded ten digs, six assists, and two aces versus #15 Indiana (11/26/25)
- Amassed 15 digs and two assists against Northwestern (11/28/25)
HIGH SCHOOL
- A four-year varsity letter winner
- Named First Team All-Metro Conference and First Team All-State in 2022 and 2023
- Named to the South Dakota State All-Tournament Team in 2023
- Finished second at the State Tournament in 2023 and third in 2022
- Participant at the USA National Team Development Program in 2023 and 2024
- Played club volleyball with Sophi Randall
- Knows Ashlyn Philpot and Gabriella Pitcel through the USA National Team Development Program
- Named AVCA All-Region in 2024
- AVCA High School All-American Honorable Mention
Personal
- Born on Sept. 22, 2006
- Father Jay played baseball at Augustana University and was inducted into the Hall of Fame
- Sister Brynn played volleyball at Kansas
- Chose Illinois “because it offers me the opportunity to play in the Big Ten under coaches who genuinely care about their athletes as individuals!”
Thursday, May 01
Thursday, May 01
Monday, February 24
Thursday, January 30
