Senior volleyball player Carly Clennan gravitated to the sport after growing up watching her sister play. She jumped at the opportunity to play as soon as she could.
“When I was old enough to join my recreational league all my friends and I jumped at the opportunity. Once I got into middle school, I decided to play Club with two of my friends. Club was a whole new experience and it wasn’t just playing. It was mastering my position and working on advanced skills. The adrenaline I get while playing volleyball, even from a young age, goes unmatched,” said Clennan.
Mastering the position of middle blocker has earned her the opportunity to take her game to the next level. “Butler was the first place I visited and got an offer from my sophomore year. When I went on my visit, coach Lechtenberg and coach Cosby didn’t just show me around, a few of the players did too,” said Clennan. “During my visit, there were personal touches just for me and everyone made me feel so welcome. Those little details made me feel they truly wanted me to be a part of their program. Both coaches have visited and watched me at my Club tournaments and stayed in contact with me before I verbally committed. Butler volleyball honed in on what Butler sports does best, being a family.”
As a senior, Clennan has made an attempt to take it all in enjoy her final year as a high school student-athlete.
“People aren’t kidding when they say to soak up every moment, because it comes just as fast as it goes,” said Clennan. “This year I was able to play with all of my friends and especially two of my best friends I’ve known and been close with for a very long time. Senior year was bittersweet and I’ll definitely miss playing for the Wildcats but I wouldn’t trade my experience for anything.”
The friendships developed with her teammates during her high school career are just as important as winning for Clennan. And having the opportunity to finish out her high school career with someone she started it with was special. “My teammates are my everything. Not just the girls I play varsity with, but JV and C team, too. I would not be the player I am without each and every girl on the team. I spend a lot of my time with those girls, so naturally they become like my family. The best part about playing with the girls is we all share a mutual and genuine love for the sport. I also was able to finish out this year with someone I started my high school journey with, Lexee Hughey. We were the only freshman on varsity and continued to be on Varsity all four years together,” said Clennan.
One memory will stick with her for a lifetime. “My favorite memory was going to state my sophomore year. That year, the energy going into Sub-State was different than the rest. We were doing everything right and had no nerves. There was a feeling on the court like “we got this.” It was hands down the best feeling in the world!”
