Livingston athlete Carly Pipes recently helped her USAV National Tournament team capture the reserve title in Las Vegas.
Competing in the 14 Open Division, her team ascended to No. 2 in the country. Volleyball teams across the nation were vying for a spot at nationals, while only 256 qualified out of the 6,554 total teams.
Pipes is the libero for the Houston Skyline 14 Royal. The libero position is demanding physically and is usually of of the better defensive players.
“Grit is something Carly has never lacked,” Pipes’ junior high volleyball coach Shawna Thomas said. “I had the opportunity this summer to go watch Carly play at this elite National Tournament, and I’m so glad I did. The experience was incredible. There were college coaches everywhere scouting and looking at players. One of Carly’s teammates has a sister who plays on the American Olympic volleyball team, while another sibling was named NCAA Female Athlete of the Year for 2024. Kids and parents were stopping by for photos and autographs like they would with their favorite celebrity. Many of the parents of these athletes were collegiate or professional athletes.
“While the atmosphere and stage would be intimidating to most, there I watched this fierce little eighth grader from Livingston I’d had the blessing of coaching for two years on this grand stage. She never batted an eye at the pressure, and she never wavered. Her composure, her rallying, and her leadership on the court mirrored that of a veteran competitor. She represented her little hometown as well as anyone could that day. She put it all on the court, just as she always has.”
As a Livingston Lady Lion, Pipes is not only an outstanding athlete, but also a straight-A student, National Honor Society member, and said to be one who is a hard worker. Team captain for her seventh- and eighth-grade volleyball team, she helped lead the team to an undefeated season in 2022. In 2023, they experienced only one loss and held the best league record, making them back-to-back district champions.
Pipes is also a track athlete at Livingston. She was the district champion in the triple in the spring track season, and third in the long jump.
