Caroline Kerr earns coveted state title with St. Thomas More before heading off to Tennessee
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (BVM) 鈥� Last summer, Caroline Kerr cemented her future by making her college volleyball commitment. It was a long time coming for Kerr, who began receiving college interest already in eighth grade.
Yet, something had always eluded her during her high school career at St. Thomas More: a state championship.
Growing up, Kerr had already tasted success. In fact, winning a title for her grade school, St. Matthew Catholic School, was the reason Kerr began her volleyball career in second grade.聽
鈥淎t my grade school, we had these banners up with whatever year they were a state champion,鈥� Kerr said. 鈥淚t was just kind of this cool thing and all the sports around the gym had so many banners. Volleyball was the one that didn鈥檛 have one. So basically, I went home one day after school and told my mom I want to play volleyball and want to put a banner up there.鈥�
By eighth grade, Kerr accomplished that goal, helping St. Matthew earn its first volleyball state championship. At the same time, the setter began playing club volleyball with Illini Elite, a program which has been a great help in getting her to where she鈥檚 at today.
鈥淚 would not be anywhere near where I am or where I鈥檓 going today without them,鈥� Kerr said about Illini Elite. 鈥淭hey progress you forward as a person too and teach you how to be a good teammate. Those are things you just can鈥檛 find other places. I truly have met some of my best friends from my club team 鈥� It truly has been a blessing just to have them.鈥�
In 2018, Kerr also finished third at the AAU national volleyball championships with her club team where she was named an All-American. It wasn鈥檛 long after that point that Kerr began receiving plenty of notice from college volleyball programs.
With NCAA recruiting rules changing, Kerr had to wait until the summer prior to her junior year to receive any offers. However, she was offered the very first day she was eligible.
As time passed, Kerr narrowed her options down to four: Kansas, Memphis, Mississippi State and Tennessee. While it was tough for her to turn the other programs down, it was the Volunteers that ultimately stood out for the setter.
鈥淢y biggest thing I was looking for was obviously a great school, somewhere where I could get an education,鈥� Kerr said. 鈥淏ut I really wanted an opportunity at a school that wasn鈥檛 going to be over-recruiting at my position. I just wanted to get a fair chance to get some playing time early on.
鈥淚 was able to drive down to Tennessee with my family and we were able to go down to Knoxville ourselves and explore the campus. It鈥檚 so pretty down there and the brand itself, I think Tennessee the name, especially in terms of athletics, makes a name for itself and I think that was just something that sold me. I wanted an opportunity to come in and to compete for some SEC championships.鈥�
Throughout the recruiting process, Kerr formed a strong relationship with Tennessee head coach Eve Rackham Watt. A former setter herself, Rackham Watt’s presence and tutelage were big factors in the decision.聽
鈥淪he鈥檚 super competitive,鈥� Kerr said. 鈥淗er husband is the other coach and they鈥檙e both setters so I knew I was going to get the best training. I also love the idea that there are now so many more women in head coaching positions, especially in the SEC. Just to be under such a powerful and empowering woman, I could not be more excited.
鈥淯ltimately, what I want to do is I want to come in and be the best, compete for a spot and push my teammates to be their best.鈥�
As a setter, Kerr describes her role as the quarterback of the volleyball team. She is a strong leader who connects well with her teammates, and that is sure to be on display in Knoxville. That is also part of what has led her team at St. Thomas More to extreme success over the last four years.
It began right away as a freshman, when Kerr entered the program fresh off a state championship. The Sabers returned to Redbird Arena in 2018, but would suffer a heartbreaking state semifinal loss. However, that is something that set the tone for the remainder of Kerr鈥檚 high school career.
鈥淟osing that third-place game was tough,鈥� Kerr said. 鈥淚t kind of fueled for that later trip to Redbird.鈥�
As a sophomore, Kerr 鈥渟tarted coming into her own,鈥� becoming more of a leader for the Sabers. That led to another regional championship for the team, finishing 35-3 on the season.
However, as Covid arrived in 2020, her junior season of volleyball was put into question. Initially canceled and then moved to fall, Kerr and her teammates were able to play an abbreviated season that was still beneficial for them.
鈥淚t was really weird,鈥� Kerr said. 鈥淢ore than anything, we wanted it for our seniors. We worked hard 鈥� I definitely think we saw strides in our game. We had to adjust our mindset and what we wanted to achieve. It definitely served some lessons in not taking anything for granted.鈥�
Making the best of the situation, Kerr and the Sabers still went an impressive 18-2. That set the stage for a special season this past fall, in which St. Thomas More improved their record to a dazzling 41-1.
After three years, Kerr finally got back to state and had revenge on her mind in her return to Redbird Arena.聽
鈥淲e just had the right mix of youth and experience and we just had girls buy in,鈥� Kerr explained. 鈥淲e really just came into the gym everyday and worked hard. Walking into Redbird the first day 鈥� we knew we prepared and just had to play our game. We were almost to our goal so just wanted to have fun with it. I think we played some of the best volleyball at state.鈥�
Despite going down 1-0 in both games, the Sabers were resilient, fending off Freeport Aquin in the semifinals, and Augusta Southeastern in the championship to bring home the program鈥檚 second-ever state title.
Kerr tallied an impressive 61 assists, 13 kills, 19 digs and one block across the two state games. On the season, she totaled 875 assists, 160 kills, 254 digs, 30 blocks and 60 aces. Not only had she achieved her state championship goal, but Kerr also left quite a mark on the program. Named area player of the year by multiple media outlets, Kerr also leaves St. Thomas More as the program鈥檚 all-time assists leader, a truly impressive mark.
鈥淚 definitely hope that STM volleyball continues to be a powerhouse in Illinois,鈥� Kerr said. 鈥淚 think leaving on a state championship is not only the coolest thing for the seniors and I, but also sets the tone for the future girls. They know that this program has high expectations, and that鈥檚 a good thing. The one thing that I hope I left as a mark is that you can鈥檛 cut corners and that it鈥檚 all about working hard.鈥�
Kerr certainly proved the power of hard work while at St. Thomas More. She also made some special relationships within the program, playing alongside a couple of true stars. For her first two seasons, the setter competed alongside Allie Trame, an Alabama volleyball commit who has since transferred to Illinois State.
鈥淎llie actually lived right next to me,鈥� Kerr said. 鈥淕etting to be with Allie for two years was everything. She was such a great leader and embodied the perfect person and perfect teammate.鈥�
Meanwhile, in 2019, Kelly McClure 鈥� a former Illini volleyball player 鈥� took over the head coaching position of the St. Thomas More program. In addition to forming a close bond with her, Kerr has also had the chance to play alongside her daughter, Ohio State commit Anna McClure, who she has become very close with.
鈥淎nna is seriously my best friend,鈥� Kerr added. 鈥淲e are together all the time. She is so hard working. I know she鈥檚 going to make the absolute most of every opportunity she gets and she has such a bright future.鈥�
Colleen Hege is another DI recruit Kerr had the chance to play with, as she will play in college at the University of Illinois-Chicago.聽
With her high school career ending on the perfect note, Kerr is now ready to take the next step in her volleyball journey. It starts at Tennessee, which certainly will require a period of adjustment. But a big help in that may be Kerr鈥檚 father, Jonathan, who was a four-year starter and captain on the University of Illinois football team.
鈥淚n terms of mindset and his constant reminders in doing the little things is what makes our relationship even more special,鈥� Caroline said. 鈥淗e understands the ins and outs of what it takes to be an athlete. More than anything, I鈥檓 just trying to take those little bits of advice with me as I head to Knoxville.鈥�
After her time in Tennessee is done, Caroline hopes her volleyball career doesn鈥檛 stop. Different parts of Caroline鈥檚 volleyball career have already come full circle, but the entirety of it certainly will if she can achieve her goal of playing professionally someday.
鈥淚f I get the opportunity to play professionally, that would absolutely be the coolest thing ever,鈥� Kerr concluded. 鈥淚 would absolutely do that.鈥�
