Tallulah Falls School’s Abby Carlan put a lot of thought and prayer into a big decision to commit to Truett McConnell University to continue her education and volleyball playing career. The TFS senior is coming off a historic season for the Lady Indians and will now look forward to being a TMU Bear.
Carlan received an official offer on January 5 and didn’t take long to feel like it was the right choice.
“Coach [Mark] Corbin had invited me to practice with the team early in November, and then I attended a showcase in December at Truett,” recalls Carlan. “I felt I had connections with Coach Corbin, Coach James, and the team. Once I completed the campus tour, I knew that Truett was where I was supposed to be, but I still had to pray about it. I applied for acceptance, and my family’s prayer was that if God wanted me at TMU, then Coach Corbin would reach out to me. On January 5, that email came with an offer to join the TMU volleyball program. TMU is definitely the right fit for me. I love the campus; I love that TMU participates in mission trips, I love that TMU has a fantastic nursing program, I love that my family will be able to attend all of my home games, and I love that I am going to be a TMU Bear.”
For most student-athletes, the recruiting season produces quite a bit of anxiety and unrest as it typically is a long, drawn-out process. For Carlan, it was a short-lived process, thus making it much less stressful.
“I really haven’t been involved in recruiting very long because I didn’t decide to play at the collegiate level until my senior year at the end of volleyball season during region tournaments,” says Carlan. “I did visit Truett and Brevard College and talked with the coaches. I had interviews with Agnes Scott and had some offers out of state. It gave me an opportunity to talk with several coaches and get an idea of how they were involved with their team and their goals for the team.”
Even though it won’t be long before she’s playing for the Bears volleyball team at a much higher level, she is confident that TFS has provided her with the tools she needs to succeed.
“I have played volleyball at TFS since 7th grade,” states Carlan. “I have always been a multi-sport athlete, but I thought basketball was my favorite sport. However, that all changed in high school. I began to find my groove in volleyball, and Coach [Matt] Heyl pushed me to be better and better. TFS has taught me leadership, independence, character, great study habits, and that hard work pays off. I look forward to carrying these qualities into my college and volleyball career.”
Many college athletes consider it a dream come true to be able to play at the next level. That’s still the case for Carlan, though it’s only something she began to pursue just a few short months ago.
“Honestly, I didn’t think I wanted to play any sport at the collegiate level,” says Carlan. “However, during region tournaments this year, I thought to myself, ‘this is it, these are my last games I will ever play.’ It was then my heart would not let me quit a sport I love. I was originally headed to Georgia College in Milledgeville before my decision to play, so I started looking at schools who hadn’t filled their rosters. I am very excited for the opportunity to play at Truett McConnell University. I am also very thankful for my family and their constant support and guidance.”
Carlan, a 2nd Team All-Region honoree, is currently playing out her senior season in basketball at TFS and will be signing officially on February 3 with TMU.
