Kaylyn Carlson '20 Recruiting Profile

For my middle school years I was going to a private school where there were only 15 kids in my graduating class. My eighth grade year there were not enough girls trying out for the modified volleyball team so they were scared they were going to have to cut the modified program. I decided never having played before to try out. That season I was a middle front and back row player. After eighth grade I moved to Pittsford Mendon and automatically assumed based off the level of competition I was not going to be good enough to play for the team. So freshman year I decided to not try out. I quickly became friends with many of the girls on the team and decided to try out for JV my sophomore year. Not only did I make the team but I started as an outside hitter. As time went on I felt like I was not improving as an outside. My junior year I was given playing time as a front row hitter, however, I felt that this was not my place on the court. I felt like being an outside wasn’t letting me reach my full potential as a volleyball player.  That club season after my junior year I tried out for club as a libero and started for my club team. I finally felt I found a place on the court where I was improving daily and was strengthening the team. With a libero already in sights on my varsity school team I strived to be a ds for my strong varsity team my senior year. However, all my hard work everyday of pushing to get better paid off and my senior year I was honored to wear the libero jersey. My team this year lost in sectional finals which is the farthest Pittsford Mendon has been in sectionals since the beginning of the program.  I am so glad volleyball because such a huge part of my life over the last few years and I hope to continue playing competitively in college.