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University of Illinois Athletics

2019 Volleyball Roster

21 Caroline Welsh

  • Position Defensive Specialist
  • Height 5-8
  • Class Senior
  • Hometown Marietta, Ga.
  • High School The Westminster Schools

Biography

Senior - 2019

  • Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
  • Academic All-Big Ten
  • Registered three service aces to go along with five digs in a win at Ohio State (11/24). 
  • Reached double digit digs with 10 at No. 7 Minnesota (10/20/19).
  • Served as libero in all three matches at the Redbird Classic and totaling 50 digs for a 3.85 digs per set, including a career-high 20 digs against UCF (9/14).
  • Posted 10 digs against No. 16 Washington (9/6/19).
  • Reached double figures with 12 digs and added a team-high three aces in a season-opening win at No. 19 Tennessee (8/30).

Junior - 2018

  • Chi Alpha Sigma Inductee
  • Academic All-Big Ten
  • Played in all 36 matches, starting 19 contests and seeing action in all but one set.
  • Averaged 1.89 digs per set with 247 total digs, while also posting 38 assists and 21 service aces.
  • Totaled 30 digs - including a tournament-high nine digs against Wisconsin in the Regional Final - and saw action in all five matches during the 2018 NCAA Tournament.
  • Set a new career-high with 17 digs in a win over No. 7 Penn State (11/10).
  • Totaled 11 digs in a win at No. 9 Nebraska (10/27). 
  • Posted 11 digs vs. Wisconsin (10/3).
  • Notched 11 digs in a win over No. 10 Creighton (9/15)
  • Turned in 10 digs in a win at Cleveland State (9/7).
  • Notched a team-high 11 digs in a win over No. 21 Colorado (8/31).
  • Totaled 11 digs, three assists and a pair of kills in a win at No. 25 Colorado State (8/24).

Sophomore - 2017

  • Academic All-Big Ten
  • Saw action in all 34 matches, starting 11 and playing in all 127 sets.
  • Posted the second-most service aces on the team with 20, while ranking third with 42 assists and fourth with 207 digs for a 1.63 digs per set average.
  • Equaled a career-high with 16 digs and a service ace in a win at Ohio State (11/25).
  • Posted 15 digs at No. 7 Nebraska (10/21).
  • Totaled 12 digs in a win over Indiana (10/7) for second double figure dig outing of the season.
  • Notched her first double-digit dig performance of the season with 12 in a five-set comeback win over Missouri State (9/16).
  • Started two of the Illini's three matches at the Bobcat Classic, totaling eight digs against Montana State (8/25/17).

Freshman - 2016

  • Billiken Invitational All-Tournament Team
  • Saw action in 29 matches, starting 18 and playing in 93 sets.
  • Ranked fourth on the team with 168 digs.
  • Made collegiate debut against Arkansas (8/26), registering a service ace in her first attempt.
  • Totaled four digs against Missouri State (8/27).
  • Played all five sets at Colorado (9/4), collecting six digs.
  • Earned her first-career start against Saint Mary’s (9/10).
  • Posted 12 digs at the Billiken Invitational (9/16-17).
  • Registered 13 digs at Maryland (10/2).
  • Totaled a career-high 16 digs and two assists against Northwestern (10/15).
  • Served up a season-high five aces against Indiana (10/21).
  • Hit double-digit digs for the third time this season with 12 at No. 1 Nebraska (10/28).
  • Recorded her fourth double-figure dig contest of the season with 10 against Ohio State (11/19).

High School

  • Four-year letter winner and senior team captain for her Westminster School high school team.
  • She earned American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Under Armour Girls High School Second-Team accolades.
  • Named the Georgia Volleyball Coaches Association AAA State Player of the Year and the 2-AAA Area Player of the Year as a senior.
  • Named to the GVCA AAA All-State Team as a junior and a senior and the AA All-State Team as a freshman and sophomore.
  • Was the only freshman named to the AA All-State Team in 2012
  • Four-time GVCA All-Area Team honoree.
  • Led her Westminster School team to a AA State Runner-Up finish and the Area Championship all four years of high school.
  • Set Westminster School record in season digs and career digs, as well as being named Best Defensive Player on her team all four years.
  • Named to the AVCA Phenom List four-straight years and was named to the AVCA All-American Watch List as a senior.
  • Has earned multiple honors from PrepVolleyball.com, including Soph 79 Highest Honorable Mention, Frosh 59, two-time Defensive Dandy List, Special Mention All-American and Top 250 Senior Ace.
  • Captained her A5 club team to multiple championships.
  • Named to the USA Select A1 Team in 2012 and 2013 and to the USA Future Select A1 team in 2011.
  • Member of the National Honor Society.

Personal

  • Born Caroline Welsh on April 29, 1998.
  • Daughter of Shawn and Danielle Welsh.
  • Was a state champion gymnast as a youth in Florida.
  • Member of the National Honor Society, as well as earning a spot on the honor roll all for years of high school.
  • Earned the William W. Parker Sr Student Award at The Westminster Schools.

Career Single-Match Highs

K: 1 vs. Michigan State (10/12/16)
TA: 1 vs. Michigan State (10/12/16)
PCT: 1.000 (1-0-1) vs. Michigan State (10/12/16)
A: 2 vs. Northwestern (10/15/16)
SA: 5 vs. Indiana (10/21/16)
D: 16 vs. Northwestern (10/15/16)

Statistics

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 21

    2016Freshman

    Defensive Specialist
    5'8"
    21
  • 21

    2017Sophomore

    Defensive Specialist
    5'8"
    21
  • 21

    2018Junior

    Defensive Specialist
    5'8"
    21
  • 21

    2019Senior

    Defensive Specialist
    5'8"
    21