Thomas is One Tough Blonde On the Court

Candice Kasischke
Intern, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: candice.kasischke@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 25, 2010) – Carly Thomas (Belleville, Ill.) may be a true blonde, but she certainly can play volleyball. This corky 17-year-old describes herself as a stereotypical blonde in everyday life, but fans in the stands can see Thomas has a lot going for her.

Thomas admits that her closest friends and family all know that she can be ditzy at times. Her belated coach and friend, John Sheehan, whom she admires most in life and has been an inspiration and role model to her, always knew how to push the right buttons in teasing her about her partial lack of filter to sarcasm.

“My friend and coach John Sheehan told me that when he used to play volleyball back in the 1960s, the volleyball was square shaped.” Thomas said. “And yes, I did believe him. No wonder why my dad calls me ‘Blondie.’ I will believe anything anyone tells me, I am so gullible.”

When Thomas steps foot onto the court, she takes on a different persona. The setter is invigorated when she laces up her Mizuno shoes as she enters her true element.

“I am a completely different person on the court then off the court,” Thomas said. “As a setter, I hold my teammates accountable and take volleyball very seriously. I get a lot of complements on how hard I work and for my smartness of the game in terms of timing with my hitters, when to set the quick set and when to dump the ball. I learn by mistakes and improve by repetition. I love feedback from my hitters so I can remember the feeling of the set they like. We work together by making the hitter comfortable while still pushing for the tempo of the set my coach is asking for.”

When it comes to volleyball, this dedicated athlete is executive on the court and is piecing together an outstanding career. Thomas along with Molly Kreklow on the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team, is one of the key leaders in creating an effective offense. Rob Browning, head coach of the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team, sees great instinct and camaraderie in Thomas and Kreklow.

“Our setters, Carly Thomas and Molly Kreklow, can both get the job done on the court.” Browning said. “They have competed very well against each other and with their teammates. Both have done well running a fast offense.” Thomas is ready to expand her international play in traveling to Tijuana, Mexico, with the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team to compete in the NORCECA Women’s Junior (U-20) Continental Championship from July 5-10.

“I am excited to get to know the new girls and reconnect with the old girls,” Thomas said. “I am pumped just to be around that again and to fire my team up. The competition of international play is always interesting. Hearing the girls across the net talking another language is so cool.”

Thomas has traveled all over the world chasing her volleyball calling. Thomas has played for various, successful USA Volleyball teams in the past few years. She has also helped earn many championship victories and has racked up numerous personal awards through these events.

In 2009, Thomas helped the USA place 12th at the FIVB Girls’ Youth World Championship and was a part of a USA Girls’ Youth Team that toured Europe over the winter holidays. In 2008, she was named Best Setter at the NORCECA Girls’ Youth Continental Championship and led the U.S. to its gold-medal finish.

She was a member of the Southwest Illinois Juniors team that won fifth place in the 2008 USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships in the 17 National Division. In 2008, Thomas was chosen as the USA Girls’ Select A1 setter for the Red Team that won gold in the USA Volleyball High Performance Championships’ Women’s International Junior Division. Her Southwest Illinois Juniors club team also had a third place finish in the USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships in the 16 National Division in 2007. Thomas contributed on the USA Select A2 Camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs in 2006. During the same year, Southwest Juniors finished fifth at the USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships in the 15 National Division.

Thomas has also made an impression in Illinois, her residence state. As an athlete at Althoff Catholic High School, Thomas was named All-Illinois State First Team, All-Metro First-Team, All-Conference Most Valuable Player and Althoff Catholic High School Female Athlete of the Year for 2009-2010.

Volleyball is not the only sport Thomas excels in at her high school. She held a 140 average with a career-high score of 211.

Along with Thomas’ evident skill in the game of volleyball, the spunky setter has gained knowledge for the game and is a coachable player. She works on her weaknesses to become as well-rounded as possible and lives up to her coaches’ standards.

“I am not very tall compared to international players,” Thomas said. “Since I am shorter, I like to work on my defense because it’s an extra step I can have on someone. My coaches count on me to get people fired up and to always play at 110 percent. The fight in me and my aggressiveness are my most positive traits. I get to business and get things done. I am very intense and my energy feeds to other players.”

Thomas’ competitive spirit and natural leadership role allows her to continue to grow as a player. Her drive and work ethic are promising characteristics that may give her a shot at accomplishing her dream.

“I would love to make it the Olympics,” Thomas said. “It gives me goose bumps just thinking about it. This tryout has made me realize that it is only a couple of tryouts away. I can actually do this!”

Tags: Carly Thomas, FIVB, Molly Kreklow, NORCECA, NORCECA Continental Championship, NORCECA Continental Girls' Youth Championship, NORCECA Girls' Youth Continental Championship, NORCECA Women's Junior Continental Championship, Rob Browning, U.S. Women's Junior National Team