Girls volleyball: Govaars signs with Delaware

Richard Dunn

NEWPORT BEACH - Newport Harbor High girls volleyball standout

Taylor Govaars, a 5-foot-11 senior outside hitter, signed a letter of

intent Wednesday to play at the University of Delaware.

Govaars, who played on Newport Harbor’s CIF Southern Section and State

Division I championship team last year, is one of Coach Dan Glenn’s top

players this season. She recorded a match-high 12 kills in the Sailors’

CIF Division I-A playoff victory Tuesday over University.

“I really wanted to get away,” Govaars said of her interest in

Delaware, based in Newark. “I just wanted to have a new experience and

live somewhere else, because I’ll probably live here after I graduate

(from college). So I wanted to get away for the next four years.”

Govaars, who received a full scholarship to Delaware, was also

considering Clemson and Eastern Washington. She verbally committed to

play for the Fighting Blue Hens on Saturday, then received the paperwork

in the mail Wednesday, when she inked the letter of intent and returned

it to Coach Shannon Elliott.

“I think there will be a good opportunity to get some playing time

next year,” Govaars said. “I liked the coaches and players on the team.

It just felt right ... I really felt at home there and loved the

environment.”

Govaars, who had 13 kills in Newport Harbor’s win over Corona del Mar,

plays club ball at Orange County Volleyball Club under Coach Charlie

Brande on the Nike girls 18-and-under squad. Newport Harbor teammate

Heather Cullen, headed for UCLA, also plays for Nike.