Carroll's inaugural volleyball season officially ended a few weeks ago, posting a record of 7-9 and making history in the process.
Excluding coed sports, the 2023 women's volleyball team marks the first fully female team in Carroll's history. This milestone would not have been possible without the hard work of Head Coach Teri Leatherwood and Assistant Coach Serra Jarboe, who were able to pull together a roster of twelve players in less than a year.
Leatherwood felt that the season went well, saying, "As a first-year program, the women's volleyball team developed a positive and competitive culture and created exposure for themselves throughout the campus! They set the tone to be even stronger next season."
Top Performers
Karley Badorf led the offense with 186 kills, helping the team average 9 kills a set which was eighth in the region. In the blocks category, Carroll was second best in the region with 2.16 solo blocks a set, highlighted by Lauren Guariglia's 32 solo blocks. Abigail Morley ended the season with an incredible 277 assists, a bit over 5 assists per set. Sophia DiMaggio locked down the defensive end with 162 digs and 249 serves received.
The coaches commented on the leadership they saw on the team, saying, "Karley brings the heat in her focus and execution. She can literally hit and kill any set from anywhere on the court and her stats show it. The fire that Maria brings to the court with her passion, intensity, and hustle is unmatched. Her understanding of the game was critical at tough times in the season when we needed strategic changes on the court. Both are true leaders and played huge roles in the success of the team."
Karley and Maria were both selected to the All-Region 20 team after the season, earning second team and honorable mention respectively.
Notable Matches
Carroll fought hard all season, shocking a few tough opponents. Their first big win came early in the season, beating the undefeated Anne Arundel Riverhawks 3-0 at Pantherplex. Later on, they gave fits to College of Southern Maryland, winning a set and losing by less than four in two sets. CSM ended the regular season 21-2 and Carroll was one of only six region 20 teams to take a set from them. To end the season, Carroll swept the Howard Dragons 3-0 on the road, a team that finished 11-8.
Not Just a Volleyball Team
The volleyball team also participated in activities outside of playing as they took the time to go to high school volleyball games to spread their love of Lynx volleyball. They also worked with community volleyball clubs, coaching and mentoring young volleyball players. Their love for the game knows no bounds and they show it by giving back to the community. Not only did they support the community but their fellow teams on campus, supporting men's soccer at multiple contests and helping the cross country team run the CCPS cross country championship.
Their presence around campus has been felt all fall and the team has been a fantastic addition to the sports lineup at Carroll. With such a great inaugural year behind them, it will be fun to see what they are able to do in year two.