Norman High School senior right-side hitter Olivia Carter is helping set the tone for a promising season with the Lady Tigers, blending high energy, defensive focus and veteran leadership on a roster rich with experience. “Summer has gone really well for us! We won the team camp we went to earlier this week which is great since we haven’t had a real practice yet. We have some new players this year so we’re still getting to know them, but I think they’ll be great additions to our team!”

Carter will primarily line up on the right side this fall, but she expects to impact the game across the court. “This year I will primarily be a right-side, but I want to continue improving defensively so I will probably be playing some back row this season,” she said. With a senior-laden group, she believes Norman’s maturity will show up in big moments. “We will be a super high energy team, and we are working to be really good defensively. We also have a lot of seniors so I think we will have a lot of maturity and good leadership.”

As one of those senior leaders, Carter is intent on making sure every player understands how much they matter. “I want all my teammates to know that their role is important, and I want everyone to have high expectations for themselves and our team!” she said. That approach grows out of how much she values the team’s chemistry. “I really love how close everyone is and how much fun we have together! Playing with these girls reminds me how much I love my sport.”

Off the court, Carter has been intentional about her time with family, including a trip to Gulf Shores and taking part in her aunt’s wedding. Looking ahead, she will continue her career at Mississippi State University while majoring in psychology. “I will be playing collegiate volleyball at Mississippi State University and while I’m there I want to major in psychology to become a sports psychologist.”