Wisconsin dream comes true for West Aurora's Carlini
That didn't take long.
Lauren Carlini turned heads all season during her freshman volleyball season this past fall at West Aurora. Last week the setter/right-side hitter received a Big Ten scholarship offer, and it didn't take her long to verbally commit to the University of Wisconsin.
Carlini earned national recognition even before getting to West Aurora playing club volleyball for Sports Performance. She first went to a Wisconsin camp two years ago as a seventh-grader.
"Last Tuesday they offered and I accepted," Carlini said. "I have always wanted to go to Wisconsin and had it preset in mind I wanted to go there. It had always been Wisconsin in my mind. I was really excited when he (coach Pete Waite) offered."
Carlini also was considering Michigan State, Michigan, Nebraska and UCLA among the 40 to 50 schools she had received interest from.
Wisconsin was the first school to offer Carlini a scholarship. Badgers coach Waite told Carlini it is the earliest he has offered any player a scholarship.
More and more men's basketball players are getting scholarship offers at younger ages, and the same is happening in volleyball.
"Most of the club players I know commit sophomore or junior year," Carlini said. "I know in Western states they are starting to commit early. I know volleyball is getting earlier and earlier every year. Eighth-graders have been offered. It's kind of weird in a way, but from where I stand it's a big thing to commit as a freshman."
Carlini's mother Gale played volleyball at Wheaton North High School, College of DuPage and Appalachian State. Lauren Carlini has been playing volleyball competitively since she was 5.
"It came naturally," Carlini said. "I played every sport you can think of when I was little - tennis, soccer, golf. In seventh grade I made the choice between softball and volleyball and I felt volleyball would get me farther in life."
During her freshman year at West Aurora, Carlini finished with 185 assists, 105 kills, 42 blocks and 30 aces.
"Lauren is a vital part of our team," West Aurora coach Kari Nicholson said after the season ended. "She not only is one of our most powerful hitters, she also is our most aggressive server and she runs the offense as our setter. As a freshmen, she plays with the experience and maturity of a much older player."
Wisconsin runs a 6-2. Carlini will set there and possibly hit.
"When I accepted, it was such a sense of relief," Carlini said. "I felt a 10-pound weight lifted off my shoulder. I felt pressure throughout the process and now I can just play volleyball."
Carlini, who would like to major in interior design, attended three Wisconsin games this year, which only solidified in her mind that Madison was the place for her.
"I love the city, love Madison, love the coaching staff," Carlini said. "When I go to games I love the fans and the big crowd. And he's (Waite) getting good recruits."