Recently, NC Lady Warriors varsity volleyball (34-16) sent off another senior to pursue collegiate athletics. Middle blocker (MH) Carys Sanabria (10), who announced her commitment August 2, celebrated her official signature with Alabama A&M University Wednesday, November 13.
The esteemed student-athlete began her volleyball career six years ago when she joined the sport with a friend. As she developed in skill and stature, her love for the game grew as well. Starting her freshman year season at NC, she secured a spot on the varsity team, where her accomplishments soared and friendships deepened.
The Lady Warriors volleyball team came to cheer on Sanabria and her teammates Sarah (7) and Olivia (15) Boyle as they committed to their schools, which highlighted the bonds forged during her time here. Countless hours practicing, playing and traveling to away games have allowed the team to grow their camaraderie and know each other on a deeper level. These valuable friendships have motivated Sanabria and helped her cherish the sport, as she has met numerous people throughout her volleyball career.
“I’m just grateful for volleyball as a sport and in general. I’ve met some of my closest friends through volleyball, and I feel like it suddenly opened a lot of opportunities that I never thought I would have. I never thought I would be good enough to go to Division One (D1) and that’s crazy, it just ended up just being a random opportunity. They’re the only D1 school that I got offered from, but it was just a crazy, eye-opening thing for me that all my hard work had paid off. So it was a cool experience,” Sanabria said.
Sanabria has played for multiple teams, including Cobb Atlanta, A5 and 575, but through her various clubs and years, she remained consistent with her role as an MH. Due to her height and skill, she serves as a key component of the team’s formation and strategic offensive and defensive moves. Not only does Sanabria supply a vital role on the clock, but she also leads the NC team as a beloved senior co-captain, ensuring the team’s success on and off the court.
This leadership opportunity did not prove unwarranted, due to Sanabria’s talent. With 500 kills and 300 blocks throughout these last four years as an NC player, Sanabria displayed her place as a skilled leader and athlete. This expertise also demonstrates her rightful place at Alabama A&M, where she plans to major in business and marketing. The D1 school portrays a tight-knit team, offering Sanabria a chance to form new friendships and ultimately continue her trajectory of creating new bonds through the sport she loves.
“I chose [Alabama A&M] because they’re pretty close to home, but not too close. The campus is really nice. They’re updating a lot of their facilities, so there’s a lot of good opportunities there for the athletes, and also it’s a good family dynamic. The coaches are really nice and welcoming, and they kind of just treated me as their own. We had a connection, and we just talk like we’re friends, like we’ve known each other for a while, and especially, with my official visit that I just did, like, it really showed that,” Sanabria said.
The Chant wishes Sanabria success during her time at Alabama A&M and remains proud of all of her accolades thus far. Go Bulldogs!
