Taylor Takeda never thought she would be here. Four months ago, her current situation was unfathomable. But as she sprints around the court at Hinkle Fieldhouse, she realizes she was meant to be in this position.
Takeda is a sophomore libero on Butler’s volleyball team. She hails from Mililani, Hawaii, and attended Division-II Dowling College in Oakdale, New York last year. Dowling closed in June after failed efforts to grow enrollment and inability to find a partner to stabilize the debt-ridden institution. The Long Island liberal arts school had been in session for 48 years.
“It was really tough to hear that my school was closing,” Takeda said.