GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Rise on Wednesday, Nov. 22, announced the signing of setter Taylor Bruns for the team’s inaugural Pro Volleyball Federation season in 2024.
Bruns, a native of Normal, Illinois, is an experienced veteran having played for seven professional organizations in five countries over the last 10 years. Since 2021, Bruns has split her time playing with Göteborg Volleybollklubb in Sweden and competing domestically in the Athletes Unlimited Pro League. Bruns was named the Swedish League MVP in 2022-23, as well as the league’s best setter in 2022-23 and 2017-18. The 5-foot-11 left-handed setter has made her way around Europe, with stops at VfB Suhl Lotto Thüringen in Germany (2018-20), Hylte Halmstad in Sweden (2017-18), LP Vampula in Finland (2015-17), Volleyball Club Oxyjeunes Farciennes in Belgium (2014-15), and LiigaPloki in Finland (2013-14). Bruns won the Oresund Liga Championship with Hylte Halmstad in 2018.
Bruns made her U.S. National Team debut in 2021 at the Pan-American Cup in the Dominican Republic, where the team earned a bronze medal with a 3-0 sweep over Canada.
“Taylor is an experienced volleyball player who has played professionally and with USA Volleyball over the course of the last 10 years. That experience and volleyball IQ will give us additional confidence in pressure moments,” Rise head coach Cathy George said. “Taylor is also a lefty who is a strong attacker and blocker. Other teams will have to pay attention to her around the net because of her second ball attacking skills. This offensive option will give opposing defenses more to worry about.”
Bruns played collegiately at the University of South Carolina from 2009-12. A decade later, Bruns still ranks seventh all-time in career assists (2,858), seventh in matches played (117), ninth in assists per set (7.58), and tied for 10th in double-doubles (25) for the Gamecocks. Her two best assist seasons in 2011 (971) and 2012 (953) are still ninth and 10th all-time in a single season at South Carolina. In the classroom, Bruns also excelled by being named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll in 2012, 2011 and 2010, as well as making the 2009-10 SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll.
“I am so excited about this team and the atmosphere already being created around it,” Bruns said. “Everyone I’ve interacted with has been so warm, and yet so professional. After meeting some of the players and talking with Cathy about her vision and coaching style, it was an easy ‘yes’ for me to join the Grand Rapids Rise.”
The Rise will begin their inaugural Pro Volleyball Federation season on Thursday, Jan. 25, with a home match against the Columbus Fury. Fans can reserve their season tickets now by clicking here. Single-game tickets are set to go on sale on Nov. 28.
ABOUT PRO VOLLEYBALL FEDERATION
Pro Volleyball Federation is REAL PRO VOLLEYBALL and the premier women’s professional volleyball league in North America. Pro Volleyball Federation will begin play in January 2024 with world class players and coaches, including some of America’s greatest volleyball players and elite players from around the world. Our entire focus is on ensuring that our level and quality of play, our treatment of players, the quality of our event presentations, and our day-to-day fan experience is world class and the very best offered in North America. For more information, visit ProVolleyball.com.
ABOUT THE GRAND RAPIDS RISE
Founded in December 2022 as the first Pro Volleyball Federation franchise and Grand Rapids’ first major-league women’s sports team, the Grand Rapids Rise will make their debut at Van Andel Arena on Jan. 25, 2024. Led by longtime Michigan State and Western Michigan head coach Cathy George, the Rise’s 14-player roster will play 24 games (12 home, 12 away) during their inaugural season. The team is operated by DP Fox Sports & Entertainment and owned by Dan DeVos, who is also co-owner and CEO of the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins. Visit grrise.com.
Photo by the University of South Carolina