Baylor recruit Averi Carlson named Gatorade National POY
LUCAS, Texas (BVM) — Lovejoy head volleyball coach Natalie Puckett took over in 2021 and in just her first year she helped lead the Leopards to a state title and coached the Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year, Averi Carlson.
919 assists (7.2 per set)
378 Digs
2021 – 2022 Class 5A State Champion
Championship MVP
Women's U20 National TeamWhat a season for @carlson_averi, your 2021-2022 Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year! pic.twitter.com/P0TlTi860E
— Gatorade (@Gatorade) January 12, 2022
“Playing for Coach Puckett was so great,” Carlson said. She is so knowledgeable and knows so much about the sport since she played at Lovejoy and has been around it her whole life. She is an amazing coach, but an even better person and I loved being able to play for her for two years. She always made sure we were over prepared for games and I always had full confidence in her as our coach.”
The 6-foot senior setter, who is now at Baylor University, helped lead the Leopards to an overall record of 42-6, including their third straight Class 5A state championship. During her prep career she accumulated 1,121 digs, 479 kills and 4,416 assists in 493 total sets.
“It was so incredible being able to win another state title,” Carlson said. “There are no words to how great it feels and even better to be able to end my high school career on such a high note.”
Along with an incredible individual season, Carlson was named first-team Under Armour All-American. Carlson was also a member of the U.S. women’s U20 national team and is ranked as the nation’s No. 4 prospect in the Class of 2022.
“Playing for the U20 team was one of the best experiences of my life. It was so much fun being able to play at such a high level and travel,” Carlson said.
It has been an incredible career for one of the top volleyball players in the nation. That journey started at a young age and from then on, volleyball would become a significant part in her life.
“Volleyball is so special to me since it has been a huge part of my life since I was young,” Carlson said. I started playing in the first grade on the [recreation] team that my mom and aunt were coaching. I wanted to start playing because my older cousins were playing it and I wanted to be just like them.”
Carlson’s volleyball career continued to progress and quickly she found herself playing for one of the best high school volleyball teams in the country. And in four quick years it was over. But it was one of the best careers any high school athlete could’ve had. And Carlson got to do it in a community that supports its athletes 100% of the time.
“It has been so amazing being able to play at Lovejoy,” Carlson said. “All four years were filled [with] so many fun memories and the culture at Lovejoy was so amazing to be a part of. Our community was so supportive and all of our teams at Lovejoy has supported each other which was awesome.”
And not only did she receive loving support from the Lovejoy community, but Carlson’s support from her family never wavered.
“My family and friends have been so supportive throughout my whole journey,” Carlson said. “My parents have put in so much time and effort to be able to allow me to play the sport that I love so much. It is so amazing being able to have that support system throughout my career.”
Receiving that support from everyone can have a positive impact on an athlete and how they perform. Carlson has used that support and encouragement to become one of the best players in the country. In fact, she is the highest rated recruit Baylor volleyball has ever recruited in program history.
“I thought I was going to play for Texas, but I went to a camp here at Baylor that one of my club teammates was going to. I absolutely fell in love with Baylor,” Carlson said. “The family feel of it all and the coaches were awesome. I definitely knew that Baylor was where God wanted me to be.”
Carlson is just the third Gatorade Player of the Year to attend Baylor. Kristen Shortridge of Keller, Texas (2005 and 2006 Gatorade Softball Player of the Year) and Trayvon Bromell of St. Petersburg, Florida (2013 National Gatorade Track and Field Player of the Year).
Whether at the net, on the serve or in the classroom, @carlson_averi has been a force all season. Congratulations to our Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year. pic.twitter.com/bVpIVENS0o
— Gatorade (@Gatorade) January 19, 2022
“This award is such a huge honor and I am so thankful for everything that Gatorade has done,” Carlson said. “I was told that I had interviews one morning and my coach announced it there. It was a huge surprise to me and a lot of my family and coaches got to come, which was really special.”
Carlson is currently enrolled at Baylor and is preparing for the 2022 season, and one of her goals is to lead the Bears to a Big 12 title. The last time the Bears won a Big 12 title was in 2019 and they finished with an overall record of 29-2. But before she can do that, Carlson is focusing on what she can do to continue the winning ways at Baylor.
“When I reach Baylor, I want to improve my game as much as I can. I also want to become the best leader I can be,” Carlson said. “I want to become the best volleyball player I can be, help Baylor win their first national championship, and bring glory to God with the platform he has provided me.”
