by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
Teylor Albers is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and Standing Rock Hunkpapha. She is from Bismarck, North Dakota and her father is Travis Albers of Takini, South Dakota and her mother is Allison Albers of Bismarck.
“I began playing volleyball in 7th grade at Standing Rock Middle School,” said Teylor. “I developed a love for the game and continued to play throughout my high school years. It was during my junior and senior at Red Cloud Indian School where I realized I had the potential to play at the collegiate level. From there, my desire to compete and get better fueled my competitiveness.”
“It all comes with the little things, waking up the extra hour or two to lift in the morning, staying an extra hour after practice, going to camps in the summer, etc. When you really want something and you are focused on that one goal, nothing will get in the way. It’s a hard journey, you may fall off a couple of times but you just have to remember what you are working towards. When I get older, I want to look back and say I tried my best and put in hard work, instead of having regret and wishing I would have went for it. Like my dad Travis Albers and my uncle Butch Sinette said, “No days off!”, added Teylor.
Teylor is a 5-6 outside hitter for Minnesota West Community and Technical College in Worthington, Minnesota. The team completed its regular season with a 15-12 regular season record and 7-7 in conference.
“My path to Minnesota West was easy, and going to a JUCO is much easier to transfer out of for sports and for school,” said Teylor. “It’s an easier transition from high school because of the class size and tuition.”
“We have really enjoyed having Teylor at Minnesota West CTC,” said assistant coach CJ Nelson. “She brings a great personality that everyone enjoys. Her work ethic and determination to be better makes our team better. She truly believes she can get to any ball on the court and gives it her all. Most importantly her ability to be there for all of her teammates makes her a big asset to not only our team but our school too. Teylor has been absolute joy to have around campus and I’m glad we have had a chance to work with her.”
“Going to Red Cloud HS and being surrounded by my culture along with learning helps a lot with remembering who you are and where you came from. I developed a relationship with my people and culture and bring it along wherever I go,” added Teylor.
“College volleyball is helping me expand my communication skills and teaching me to be a better role model for my community,” said Teylor. “Having under-classmates from back home messaging me asking how to further their education and what they have to do to make it that next level is honestly a blessing. I never realized how many eyes I had on me. I was focused on bettering myself and yet I had people watching the whole time and I didn’t even notice.”
“I strive to give 110% everyday. Whether it’s diving for a loose ball or being a supportive teammate when I’m not on the court. Volleyball isn’t just a one-person sport, and you need the whole six players on the court and the bench cheering you on. Most importantly, you need to have fun. As frustrating as the sport can get, you always have to keep a positive mind. Everyone has bad days and even on those days you learn something. You learn how to keep your composure, you learn how to control your emotions, and you learn the court is a place where your problems aren’t relevant at that time,” added Teylor.
Teylor’s dad Travis shared: “Teylor has always been a very independent and mature person for her age. She is the type of person that would do a task by herself as opposed to watching someone do it for her. I remember teaching her how to change a tire and change the oil on her vehicle. Instead of having her watch me do it, she jumped right in and did the work herself as I talked her through it. She is definitely a hands-on person. This is her approach to most anything: cooking, cleaning, sports, working out, schoolwork, etc. She is also the type of person who is pretty good at anything she tries. She joined band/orchestra in middle school and became proficient in nearly ten instruments. It was even more apparent in sports where she excelled in soccer, track, basketball, and especially volleyball. It was volleyball where, as a parent, I could see that fire and competitiveness really shine through. She has always been competitive but volleyball was different. She was more vocal and naturally became a team leader and motivator. The summer before her junior year, she asked if she could transfer to Red Cloud High School on the Oglala Lakota Reservation. It was a very difficult decision for our family to make but she was able to really sell us on the opportunities that were available for her there. It was there that she excelled even further in volleyball and basketball. She did well in school and worked very hard to become a dedicated athlete to her sports.”
“She is self-motivated to say the least but I’m hoping her mother and I have been good influences as well. Her mother has a work ethic like no other. She has been on her own since 16-17 years old and has always worked to take care of herself. She pursued several associate college degrees with a working husband, four kids, and her own full-time job. I was a collegiate athlete myself and was able to play junior college basketball and division I basketball on a full scholarship, so I have firsthand knowledge of what it takes to play at the next level. I was never the most talented player on my team so I knew I had to work harder to bridge that gap. When Teylor was in middle school, her mother and I were able to juggle our family life to both pursue our bachelors degrees in community nutrition and dietetics,” added Travis.
“I truly believe that Teylors independence, maturity, work ethic, family support, and cultural foundation are the strengths that will allow her to compete at the collegiate level,” said Travis. “I am the type of father that messages her in the morning, throughout the day, and makes sure to FaceTime her in the evening. I’m sure this might bug her a bit but I’m hoping that this continued support and encouragement will help her through the lonely times that comes with being away from home. We have a very close relationship and I’m glad that she feels comfortable letting me know how she is doing. I am most proud that she is a respectful, determined, and caring young lady. I have the utmost confidence that she will continue to do great things in her life.”
