Taubenheim from Lincoln Pius X Overcomes Devastating Injury

The day before Lauren Taubenheim and her club teammates set out for the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships this summer, an unexpected accident changed Taubenheim’s plans for nationals. (Lauren is #9 in the picture above) 

Lauren’s right hand was fractured, keeping her from playing at nationals. This heartbreaking accident took a huge toll on Lauren. The year before Lauren was limited to how much she could play at nationals and throughout the season due to injuries with her back. She was limited to only playing back row for most of her 15s club season. Near the end of the season she was able to play some front row, but not as much as she would’ve wanted.

Coming into her 16s season as only a freshman, Taubenheim was determined to get back into the front row. She became a huge presence for her club team at the net, becoming a dominating right side hitter. Lauren helped her Nebraska ONE 16 Titanium teammates win their second consecutive Show Me National Qualifier title back in April. Lauren played a significant role in helping her team qualify for the USA Girls Junior National Championships for the 2nd year in a row. She and her teammates didn’t drop a single set in their 3 day national qualifier.

Then came the overwhelming accident right before nationals. Lauren and her family decided not to go to Minneapolis with her club teammates, because of the devastating toll the accident had on Lauren. It left her teammates heartbroken as well.

When Lauren’s Nebraska ONE 16 Titanium teammates began pool play in Minneapolis, the team’s motto was, “do it for Lo” in honor of Lauren not being there with the team. Not having Lauren at nationals meant that her teammates would have to overcome some nerve-wracking obstacles. In 2016 Lauren and her teammates fell short by 2 points in the 3rd set against San Antonio Magic in their challenge match on the 3rd day at nationals. This loss put Taubenheim and her teammates into the silver bracket at nationals for the last day. That loss drove the team into the next club season because it made the team want to reach further heights at nationals.

Lauren’s team was 1 of 48 teams playing for the 16 National division title and they had to play lights out without Lauren’s presence on the court. Teammate Paige Silverberg out of Lincoln Southwest who normally played Lauren’s back row, had to step it up for the team and play all the way around. After 3 days of intense pool play, Lauren’s teammates were able to make it back to that challenge match they had fallen short in the year before. This time the team was able to come out on top, qualifying for the 16 National quarterfinals on the last day in an emotional fashion.

Taubenheim’s Nebraska ONE teammates dropped the first set in their challenge match and had to pull off an incredible 3 set comeback to win the match. Lauren’s teammates broke down after the match when teammate Fallon Stutheit got the kill on match point. The team was able to call Lauren together after the match to let her know that they had made it to gold.

The team put on a thrilling run in the gold bracket, winning the quarterfinal match in 3 sets. The team fell short in 3 sets in the 16 National semifinals. Despite falling in the national semifinals, the team had made it further than any other Nebraska team in any age division at either USA or AAU Junior Nationals. The team was able to “do it for Lo” and they got to bring Lauren home a bronze medal from the tournament.

After missing out at nationals for club, Taubenheim is now back and playing to her full potential for the high school season. Lauren plays for Lincoln Pius X, a team who made it to the class A state volleyball tournament a year ago. Lauren is ready to be a key player on her Thunderbolts team this year. She’s leading her Thunderbolts team in kills so far this year as just a sophomore. Lauren could be one of the most versatile players in the state, and Pius can use her as a middle, outside or right side hitter. 

After overcoming her injury to her hand, Lauren is ready to unleash everything she has for her varsity volleyball campaign this year for Lincoln Pius X. She helped her class A #8 Thunderbolts team make it to the LPS Classic Invite gold bracket in an extremely stacked tournament of Lincoln and Omaha talent. If Lauren can play to her full strength for the rest of the year, she should be able to help lead Lincoln Pius X to their 2nd consecutive class A state volleyball tournament in November.