News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Livingston Academy volleyball team graduated five seniors in the starting rotation this summer, now as the lone senior in 2024, Mally Carwile said she has big shoes to fill.
As a freshman, Carwile won a starting back line spot on the rotation beating out upperclassmen with more experience. Carwile said she still talks to the upperclassmen from her time as a freshman and said they welcomed her and made a better player.
“I feel like they just took me under their wing,” Carwile said. “And they were so kind to me and showed me ‘This is what you need to do, you need to fix this, you need to fix that’. But, they also did it in a caring way and that really helped me.”
Now as the only senior on the team, Carwile is looked upon to be a leader for the entire team both on and off the court. Head coach Christie Jenkins has been with Carwile since she was a freshman and said she’s seen her grow from a freshman on the back row to a senior libero.
“This year she’s having to fill some pretty big shoes, she’s going to be our libero,” Jenkins said. “I think Mally loves volleyball. I think she loves these kids and this team. And, I’m excited to see her be the captain and kind of lead them to where we need to be this year.”
Jenkins said this is her first rebuilding year in quite some time and the rebuild began in the summer going to volleyball camps. Carwile said with all the changes in the starting rotation, these camps were important for the team to learn each player’s tendencies.
“Those, I feel like were very needed and that’s because we aren’t as experienced,” Carwile said. “We lost five seniors last year, and they all five played. So, we were having to learn a few new, positions, new skillets. And we have a few freshman playing, so that’s a big role for them to fill and I feel like that made them more comfortable.”
The summer also saw the team grow closer off of the court. With team meals and movie trips, Carwile said that the close bond formed outside of volleyball will only help the team on the court.
“I just feel like that camaraderie is so helpful,” Carwile said. “It’s easier to talk to people on the court, like say you’re getting frustrated that they’re not doing their potential, you can say stuff to them once you learn how they act that and who they are. I feel like coming together as a team is a lot easier when you’re all really good friends outside of the court.”
And while Jenkins sees this year as a rebuild, Carwile has her goals set for exceeding the early expectations put on this inexperienced Wildcat team.
“Last year we didn’t end on the greatest note ever, we lost in the first round of the districts, which we did not predict at all,” Carwile said. “And it was just kind of heartbreaking. So, I feel like this year as long as we try our best and at least do better than we hope to do and think we can do, that’s my goal for this year.”
