ABOUT US
📸: Michael Gomez
Taryn at Death Volley Stadium in 2021.
Taryn competing in YWCA volleyball in elementary school (2007).
Taryn pictured with Dalee Stene in their first year of indoor club volleyball (2009).
Taryn pictured with her mom, Tricia Schwartz-Smith, after winning nationals in 2015.
Taryn Kloth
Growing up in the great plains of wintery South Dakota where even indoor volleyball was void of any clubs or additional training, you would not expect to find someone from there making a name for herself in the beach volleyball world. However, that is exactly what is happening to the towering 6’4 mid-westerner, known for her calm and steady demeanor on the court which belies a fierce competitive drive.
After helping get the first indoor volleyball club off the ground in South Dakota, Taryn rose quickly in the high school ranks garnering South Dakota’s Gatorade player of the year honors in 2014, back-to-back state championships for Sioux Falls O’Gorman, a national championship for her club team (Kairos Elite), and a top 20 high school ranking in the country despite her limited exposure in the geographically disadvantaged Dakotas. She landed at Creighton University as their highest ranked recruit in school history, where she embarked on an All-American career as an outside hitter, helping lead the team to 4 consecutive Big East titles and 4 NCAA tournament appearances, including a school best elite 8 appearance in 2016.
Graduating early from Creighton, Taryn found herself being approached by beach volleyball programs as a graduate transfer, but took a quick detour playing with the USA Collegiate Indoor team traveling to China, Minnesota, and California. She ended up at LSU where she fell in love with the beach game and helped LSU to a #1 ranking before Covid unfortunately ended their 2020 season. She completed the 2021 season going a historical 36-0 on court 1 alongside Kristen Nuss.
Taryn will now embark on a professional career in beach volleyball. The start of this chapter actually got an early start this past summer with the AVP Summer tour, where she and her partner, Kristen Nuss, won the Atlantic City AVP Next Gold tournament, receiving a main draw bid in the process. They placed first in 15 out of the 16 tournaments they competed in. The dynamic duo paired up to win their next two AVP Next tournaments at Hyden Beach and Clearwater, and then placed 2nd in the AVP Next Gold in Clearwater New Years Day 2021. The partnership did not stop there and the success carried over into the 2021 LSU season. (Taryn now has an astonishing 50-0 record in collegiate beach volleyball over the past two years.)
Having the agility to handle the sand at 6’4 is something not lost on those who have seen Taryn play, and she fully intends on seeing just how far her physique advantages and intense work ethic can take her. She has dreams that she intends on making a reality. Playing on the AVP tour and FIVB international tour are first on the list. The overarching goal of the 2024 Paris Olympics keeps her and her partner focused each day on the ultimate quest, the Olympics.
2020
Kristen Nuss
Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Kristen first began playing beach volleyball during her sophomore year in high school; but her success in sports spanned much further than just on the sand. Kristen led Mount Carmel Academy to three indoor volleyball state championships as well as two basketball championships. Her high school career concluded senior year with her being named Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year as well as New Orleans Sports Amateur Athlete of the Year.
All the while, it was beach volleyball that progressively set in as her number one love as she competed in various tournaments all throughout her high school years. She quickly committed to LSU Beach Volleyball during her junior year without talking to any other programs, as it had always been her dream to compete as a Tiger. Kristen stuck to her winning ways at the collegiate level, as she amassed the most career wins in LSU history, became the winningest player in collegiate beach volleyball history, and ensured her team appeared in the NCAA championship tournament every year of her tenure. Kristen, along with her teammate Claire Coppola, also became a two-time USAV pairs champion. Kristen graduated in December of 2020 but opted to return for one more semester of eligibility due to Covid-19 exceptions. Her winning ways continued but it was now with Taryn Kloth alongside her. The two had an astonishing season as LSU’s court 1 pair. They garnered a historical 36-0 record and helped lead the Sandy Tigs to a 4th place finish in the NCAA tournament.
Kristen is now striving for continued success, training in both New Orleans and Baton Rouge with Taryn Kloth. This partnership started in part to COVID-19 during the summer of 2020 and began with an incredible run of 1st place finishes in 15 of the 16 tournaments they entered. These tournaments featured high caliber teams, involving AVP competitors, Olympic medalists, and also a team that was currently ranked 7th in the world. Tournament wins included the Atlantic City AVPNext Gold, Tennessee AVPNext, and AVPNext Winter Wonderland in Clearwater Beach, with the pair’s only loss being a second place finish in AVPNext Gold Series in Clearwater Beach. While they intend to compete for AVP and FIVB championships, they also have eyes firmly fixed on the ultimate goal of representing Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
2020
Kristen at Death Volley Stadium in 2021.
Photo by: Michael Gomez
Kristen hitting a ball off of Taryn’s beautiful set in Clearwater Beach, FL in 2020.
Megan Davenport & Kristen watching an FIVB tournament court side. Kristen’s first time in California - July of 2015.
Kristen pictured with Megan Davenport and Misty May-Treanor after winning the Misty May Dream in Gold Tournament at Coconut Beach in 2013.