Missouri State University

Taylor Stellern

28

Class: Junior Hometown: Wildwood, Mo. High School: Lafayette High

Height: 5-7 Position: Defender

• NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad (2009)
• Athletics Director Honor Roll (2009)
• Missouri State Field Hockey Most Improved Player (2008)

At Missouri State: Stellern makes her long-awaited return to the Bears after missing the majority of the last two seasons with injuries.

2009: Missed the season after suffering a right ACL tear in the offseason ... Named to the Athletics Director Honor Roll and NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad after earning a 4.0 GPA for the fall semester, while undecided on a major.

2008: Redshirted due to injury after playing in two games off the bench.

Background: Stellern played for Missouri State Hall of Fame member Kelly Stuckel Yates at Lafayette High for four years, helping the team to three straight Public School Championships ... As a senior, Stellern was named first-team all-conference, team captain and earned the team's Most Valuable Person award ... Also was a team captain as a junior, when she was named the team's best defensive player ... Made the second-team all-conference and all-metro honorable mention squads that year ... Starred on Lafayette's soccer team, leading the team in goals scored her sophomore and junior seasons.

Personal: Taylor Samantha Stellern was born on October 20, 1989, in Wildwood, Mo. ... Daughter of Michael and Patty Stellern ...Has a 3.44 GPA in Exercise & Movement Science ... Has two sisters, Lexie and Sydney ... Her father, Michael, played baseball at UMSL and was a fifth-round draft choice of the Houston Astros in the 1982 MLB draft.