Averi Carlson, who went to four straight UIL state volleyball tournaments while at Lovejoy HS, is transferring to the Texas Longhorns. She spent the past two years with Baylor.
During her time in high school, she was ranked as the top setter in her class in the country.
She helped the Leopards to the state title match as a freshman when they lost to Humble Kingwood Park in three sets. Then Carlson and Lovejoy won three championships in a row from 2019, 2020 and 2021.
As a senior, Lovejoy swept Grapevine in the 5A final.
Carlson had a triple double with 16 assists, 10 digs and 10 kills – and was voted state champ MVP. She finished her Lovejoy career with 4,416 assists and 1,121 digs. Carlson was a four-time All-American and was voted Gatorade National Player of the Year in 2022.
While with Baylor, Carlson was preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 2022, named to the all-tournament team at the Big Ten – Big 12 challenge, a 5-time Big 12 Rookie of the Week, was named to both the Big 12 First Team and Big 12 All Freshmen Team and voted Big 12 Freshman of the Year. This season she was voted Big 12 Second Team. In two years with the Bears, Carlson amassed 2,446 assists in 62 matches and 231 sets. She added 67 aces, 62 kills, 60 blocks and 474 digs.
Texas is coming off the D1 national championship for the second consecutive year.
The Longhorns swept Nebraska in the championship match.
