2018 Alabama Volleyball Newcomer Q&A: Doris Carter
8/22/2018 12:52:00 PM | Volleyball
We will be posting Q&As with each of the six newcomers on this year's Alabama volleyball team heading into the 2018 season. Our sixth Q&A is with Doris Carter from Lexington, Ky., who transferred to Alabama after playing at USF last season.
When did you start playing volleyball?
"My best friend played it, so she convinced me to come to a little camp and that is how I ended up starting in it. I was around 12 years old. I was really bad. I made the women's team somehow, sat on the bench all year, but it was the best experience of my whole life because I learned a lot.
"I loved sports in general and I played with some amazing players when I was 12. They were probably some of the best 12-year-olds in the nation so the thought of learning from them and being as good as them one day is what drove me to keep playing volleyball and to keep working at the sport. That is definitely why I stuck with it."
When did playing in college become a goal for you?
"Our club director always made that the goal, not just fun and games. When you are 12 it is fun. When you get to about 15 it becomes more of a job but if you really love volleyball, then you will always love it. It's just like loving your job. It was always just instilled in us that you are here to work toward that goal."
What was your first moment when you realized playing in college could be a reality for you?
"I would definitely say that it is when I started getting college letters. Those schools send letters to a lot of people, but it is definitely still a big step. When you start getting letters in the mail you realize that this is actually something you can do and it just drives you to work harder."
What were you looking for in a college initially?
"In the first meeting I ever had about recruiting the first thing I said was that I wanted to be able to see palm trees out my window. Either the west coast or Florida was the goal. I was young and I just didn't want to stay in Kentucky. It is home and it will always be home but I wanted to see more."
At this time, were you looking at Alabama as an option?
"Not originally. I actually had an Alabama sweatshirt for a long time though. My parents had bought me a whole bunch of big school sweatshirts and Alabama was the one I wore all the time. Anytime that thing came out of the washer I put it back on right away. To me, Alabama was the epitome of what an athlete experience is like. That was the goal, but at the time and where I was and how I was playing, USF was where I needed to go to prove that I could play at this level."
You found some success on the court as a freshman at USF. Overall what was your experience like?
"My freshman year was pretty tough honestly. You come in and it is a whole different level of ball. It is a lot about finding yourself and finding your confidence again. I had a pretty rough preseason. My parents got me through that period. I would call my parents and they would pick me up and remind me I was there to become better. Are you going to sit here and cry or are you going to go out on the court and work your butt off to get better? One morning I woke up and just decided I am going to outwork everyone, every workout and every practice. That led me to a lot of success in my season. I met some amazing people at USF, but I just decided it wasn't the program for me."
When you opened up to transfer, what were you looking for in a school the second time around?
"My perception definitely shifted. I grew up in a college town but went to school in a big city. College athletics wasn't really a big thing in Tampa. It didn't have a college campus vibe and it wasn't something I thought I would miss until I got there."
When did Alabama come into the picture?
"As soon as I opened up my transfers, Alabama was one of the first if not the first to reach out to me. I was on the phone with Coach [Ed] Allen the moment I got my release, I was on campus maybe a day or two later and committed the weekend I was here. It went super fast."
What were your impressions of Alabama when you visited?
"I loved the traditional look of it and all the brick buildings. I liked the college town vibe that was here. The campus was beautiful and well taken care of since it's one of the main attractions of Tuscaloosa. The athletic facilities are amazing. You got that feeling the moment you stepped on campus."
When did you ultimately commit?
"On my way back to the airport, Coach Allen and I stopped to eat and he told me what he expected and was very straightforward about it. I love that about him. He's very blunt and honest and he doesn't beat around the bush. He told me what he needed and what I would have to do and gave me an offer if I was willing to step up to the plate. It was an instant decision for me."
How has the transition to life at Alabama been so far?
"I spent the whole spring as just a student. I wasn't able to use the facilities yet so by the time I could, I had been away from the game for a long time. The process has been easier because everyone around you is there to help and make it easy. My teammates and coaches and all the support staff are always there. Everyone is very understanding. This is a whole new offense I've never run and new expectations for me, but everyone has been very supportive and have pushed me to that next level."
Did having a full year of experience at USF make this process easier?
"For sure. Being able to see court time at USF and fight through the funk I was in instead of getting stuck on the bench somewhere is what got me to this point. That experience picked me up and drove me. Everything happens for a reason."
What are your goals for this season?
"Personally I just want to make an impact, whether that's on the court, in the weight room or wherever. I want to come in and make a difference. We want to win as many games as possible obviously. Coach Allen is also very focused on making us better people, not just what we can do to win but how can we become better people through that process too. The main goal is to not only be a better player but a better person."
What advice would you give to an aspiring young volleyball player?
"Just have patience with yourself and trust the process. Everything happens for a reason. As long as you have confidence in yourself and push yourself hard every day, you'll be where you want to in the end."
