By Kim J. Harmon

 

BRISTOL, Rhode Island – It was a question of when, not if, Erin Carolan would break the Roger Williams University all-time kills record when the women’s volleyball team took on Connecticut College in New London last week.

Still, the 2002 graduate of Newtown High School couldn’t help but feel a little jittery in Game 1 of the 30-25, 21-30, 30-26, 30-28 win over the Camels.

“It was exciting,” said Erin, 21, who went into the match needing just three kills to break Melissa Bouvet’s 10-year-old mark. “Everyone knew about the record and was rooting for me. But after I got the first two, I rotated into the back row and I had to wait 10 minutes to get the last one. So I was getting kind of jittery.”

Once she rotated back up front, it didn’t take long to get that last kill.

And the celebration began.

“I started to cry,” said Erin.

A team captain, a Dean’s List student, and a 2004 All-Commonwealth Coast Conference Second Team honoree, Erin first became aware of the record (which had been 825, but is now 856 … and counting) as a freshman.

“I had a really good freshman year,” said Erin, who first sought out Division III Roger Williams University on her own. “I led the team in kills and my coach told me, if I kept up the pace I’d break the school record. So it has always been in the back of my mind.”

The record officially fell in the 30-25, Game 1 win over Connecticut College.

“Setting the career record for most kills is a tremendous accomplishment considering the talent that has played at Roger Williams throughout its volleyball history,” said first-year head coach Bret Stothart. “We are all extremely proud of Erin and look forward to her continued leadership both on and off the court.”

Erin provided that same kind of leadership for the Newtown High School volleyball team under head coach Tom Czaplinski. Erin emerged as a solid hitter for the 2000 Lady Nighthawks (coach Czaplinski’s second year with the program and first at the helm) and in 2001 helped lead the ‘Hawks to an 11-10 record and an epic, 3-2 win over Masuk in the South-West Conference quarterfinals.

Her experience as a junior and senior was just the right stepping stone to her collegiate career.

“Tom prepared us really well,” said Erin. “I was confident I could make the (RWU) team, I just didn’t think I would be a starter. This is a whole lot harder (than high school). I can remember not being able to walk after the first practice.”

But she made an impact right away, registering 185 kills as a freshman to lead the Hawks. A year later she registered 260 kills. And as a junior Erin came up with 302 kills, sixth best in the Commonwealth Coast Conference … and added 68 blocks, to boot.

Erin entered the 2005 season with 747 kills and, at press time, has posted 109 in 10 matches (39 total games). While averaging 2.79 kills per game (best on the team) she has also registered 10 blocks and 94 digs (2.41 per game).

“I didn’t anticipate breaking the record this year,” said Erin. “I had no idea.”

At her current pace she could finish her career with better than 1,000 kills. But she isn’t thinking about that, right now.

“I just want to try and play the best I can for the rest of the season,” said Erin, who was named Most Valuable Player of the recent Roger Williams University Invitational Tournament (where the Hawks finished first).

The Hawks had one of their best seasons ever in 2004, finishing 23-11 overall and 6-3 in the CCC but were stopped in the quarterfinals of the CCC Tournament by Gordon College. This year, the Hawks have started out 5-5 (losing twice last Saturday in a tri-match).

“Last year was one of our best years,” said Erin, an elementary education/psychology double major who spent her first day in the classroom – as a teacher – the day after she broke the school record, “and we think this year we could be the best we’ve ever been.”

And at the same time Erin Carolan could end up being the best player there’s ever been at Roger Williams University.