Name : Naomi Taylor
School : Marshall
Sport : Volleyball
Grade : Senior
Position : MB
Girls Athlete of the Week:
If there was ever a perfect time to set a career high in kills, Naomi Taylor found that moment.
Since joining the Mission Valley League in 2014, the Eagles had never won a league title.
And Marshall was 0-18 against the 11-time reigning champs from Gabrielino.
That all changed in 2025.
On September 19th, the girls from Pasadena edged their visitors from GHS in five games.
They won by scores of 25-22, 20-25, 25-7, 18-25 and 15-5.
Fast forward three weeks, and all that stood between the Eagles and their first MVL championship was a road match at Gabrielino.
Marshall overcame a 2-1 deficit to defeat GHS in five games.
Friday’s win didn’t just clinch a league title, it also secured a two-match season sweep over Gabrielino.
Before 2025, GHS had only lost two league matches in the prior 11 years.
The history-making victory was earned by scores of 25-12, 19-25, 22-25, 25-18 and 15-13.
Perhaps the icing on the cake is the fact that Gabrielino isn’t having a down year.
The 11-time MVL champs are 7-2 in league, and their only two losses are to Marshall.
In Friday’s historic win, Naomi Taylor had a career-high 23 kills to go with three blocks.
Two days prior, Marshall defeated South El Monte in four games after dropping the first set.
In that match, Taylor totaled 12 kills, two aces, seven digs, four assists one block.
In 2025, Taylor has accumulated 250 kills, which is 81 more than her next closest teammate (Livsey Teems, 169).
Up next: The Eagles could secure a first undefeated league run with a victory over visiting Rosemead on Tuesday at 4:30.
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Mission Valley League Standings:
Marshall (17-4, 11-0)
Gabrielino (23-6-1, 7-2)
South El Monte (11-11, 6-6)
Rosemead (6-10, 5-6)
El Monte (6-10, 4-7)
Arroyo (5-12, 3-7)
Mountain View (2-23, 1-9)
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