Naomi Gamboa and Taylar Thompson couldn’t have guessed, back in kindergarten, that one day they’d go off to college together. That’s when they met, and as the years passed, they grew from fast friends to best friends. “Middle school, we started to play volleyball together, then it continued on throughout all of high school,” says Taylar. “Our freshman year we had all eight classes together”—and the rest is history. They’ve been inseparable ever since
As the prospect of graduating from high school and choosing a college loomed, both knew they wanted to continue their volleyball careers. But that meant they might have to part ways and attend different colleges, depending on what opportunities presented themselves. After all, it would be a challenge to find one university that met the needs of both. But thankfully, TLU fit the bill.
“During the fall of our senior year, Taylar and I were on separate paths when navigating the volleyball recruiting process,” says Naomi, who committed to TLU Volleyball after a campus visit last November. “Not long after, Taylar connected with our coach and committed too.”
“When I had a visit with TLU, I immediately realized that everyone was a family and I couldn't wait to join such a strong community,” says Taylar. “Volleyball gave me the chance to see this beautiful campus as well as meeting so many great people, and I can't wait to play the game I love with these wonderful people. Obviously, it made it even better that my best friend was coming here too. The people and the campus made my decision very easy for me.”
“I chose TLU because the atmosphere on campus was very welcoming and positive,” agrees Naomi. “TLU also includes a lot of diversity in and outside the classroom, which I noticed right away. Another reason was to experience the TLU volleyball culture and work hard with my team this upcoming season.”
So in the end, the choice to come to TLU was pretty clear—and taking that step with a true friend was the cherry on top. “Having a close friend like Tay by my side made everything feel more exciting and special,” says Naomi. “From that point on we knew we'd be roommates, and I couldn't have imagined a better person to start this journey with!”
A great, big Bulldog welcome to Naomi and Taylar!