Carly O'Brien

The Liberty Women’s Volleyball team plays against MTSU in the Liberty Arena on October 18th, 2024. (Photo by Brooke McDuffee)

Class:
Junior
Height:
5-9
Hometown:
Pauline, S.C.
Previous School:
Dorman HS

2025 (So.)

Started all 30 matches, appearing in all of the team’s 118 sets on the season
CUSA All-Conference second team
CUSA Offensive Player of the Week (Sept 22)
Buffalo Invite All-Tournament Team
Tribe Invitational All-Tournament Team
Recorded 357 kills (3.03) at a .216 pace, adding 39 aces, a team-leading 342 digs and 36 blocks
Led team with 14 double-doubles and 17 double-digit dig matches, reaching double figures in kills 16 times
One of just two players in program rally-scoring history (also Amelia Johnson, 2019) with two matches of 28 or more kills in the same season
Contributed 19 kills (.385), a season-high four aces and 22 digs in five-set win over previously-unbeaten East Carolina (Sept. 13)
Set program 25-point rally-scoring single-match record with 31 kills at Houston (Sept. 19), adding three aces and 18 digs to help Liberty to its first-ever win over a Big 12 team in program history
Posted six straight double-digit kill matches (Oct. 24-Nov. 8), with five of those matches being double-doubles
Registered a career-high four blocks against FIU (Oct. 25), also adding 13 kills and 14 digs
Sent down 28 kills in five-set victory at Missouri State (Nov. 7), while collecting 20 digs to become the first Liberty player since Kate Gammer at Hawai’i (Sept. 7, 2023) with 20+ kills and 20+ digs in the same match
Totaled 15 kills, three aces and a career-high 24 digs at Missouri State (Nov. 8)

2024 (Fr.)

Appeared in all 31 matches, starting five times while playing in 109 sets
CUSA Commissioner's Honor Roll
Totaled 24 kills, 12 assists, 20 aces and 145 digs
Started the season opener against Iowa as a freshman (Aug. 30)
Collected a career-high 12 digs against Akron (Aug. 31)
Served up career-high five aces at Navy (Sept. 5), the first Liberty freshman with five aces in a match since Kennedi Sutter on Sept. 11, 2021 against Loyola Marymount
Sent down a career-high eight kills (.389) while adding 11 digs versus Oakland (Sept. 20), clinching the five-set win with a back-row kill
Contributed three aces and seven digs at Kennesaw State (Oct. 13)
Corralled 11 digs against Middle Tennessee (Oct. 19)

Prep

Graduated from Dorman High School
2023 Gatorade South Carolina State Player of the Year
2023 MaxPreps South Carolina Player of the Year
2023 SCCAWS State Player of the Year
2023 AVCA All-American second team
2023 AVCA All-Region
2023 South Carolina miss Volleyball Award
Two-time 5A All-State Team
2022 Go Upstate Girls Volleyball Player of the Year
Two-time Sports Report All-State Team
Prep Volleyball Top 100 Players in the nation for Class of 2024 as outside hitter as a sophomore, junior and senior
Two-time South Carolina Coaches Association of Women’s Sports All-State Team
Four-time Region 2 5A All-Region Team
Two-time Region 2 5A Defensive Player of the Year
Two-time Region 2 5A Offensive Player of the Year
AVCA Phenom List
Ultra Ankle Watch List
Two-time Dorman High School MVP
Spent first two seasons as a libero before switching to outside hitter
Helped high school team win the state championship
Career stats: 1,039 kills, 1,360 digs, 129 aces, 44 blocks, .357 hitting percentage
During senior season, totaled 500 kills, hitting .363 while adding 423 digs
As a junior, recorded 481 kills at a .376 pace, adding 40 aces and 280 digs
Aided her club team in winning AAU National Championship, being named MVP of the AAU National Championship
Named All-American for 15U, 16U and 17U for Stars Sports Volleyball
2023 Under Armour All-American Camp MVP

Personal

Daughter of Daniel and Natalie O’Brien
Father, Daniel O’Brien, competed for Troy
Sister, Kayla O'Brien, plays on Liberty's volleyball team
Birthday is Dec. 21
Intends to major in exercise science, with the goal to become a chiropractor

Student-Athlete Q&A
What made Liberty University the right place for you to attend college/compete at the collegiate level?
I loved the campus and the atmosphere. When I went on my visit, I knew that was the place for me. The Christian community is such a blessing, and I can’t wait to start my collegiate journey here.

Is there anything special you do pregame or postgame and why?
My pregame ritual is to sit and visualize how I’m going to play in that match before I go play.

Who in your life inspires you and why are they such an inspiration?
My parents. I’m inspired by their hard work and dedication to our family and to my volleyball career and dreams.

What is your most memorable athletic moment/accomplishment?
Winning Gatorade Player of the Year.

If you picked your jersey/uniform number, why is that number important to you?
My number was my very first number when I started playing volleyball at the age of 5.

Do you have any relatives who are playing or have played college or professional sports? (Names, relation to you, what/where they played)?
My father played football at Troy University.

Favorite meal (breakfast/lunch/dinner) and what is that special meal?
Dinner, my favorite meal is steak.

What is the first app you check on your phone each day?
Instagram is the first app I check.

What is your favorite hobby outside of athletics?
I love to play pickle ball.

Who was your favorite athlete growing up?
Michael Jordan

What is your favorite possession and why?
My headband that I wear every time I play volleyball. My great grandma bought me my first one when I first started playing so it’s just a little something I like to wear as a piece of her.

What is your Go-To karaoke song?
Baby by Justin Bieber.

What is your dream vacation spot and why?
My dream vacation spot is Bora Bora because it looks so tropical and relaxing.