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11/06/2019 11:00 PMCharlotte Davenport has turned her jumping skills into an asset as a member of the Morgan volleyball squad. Standing at 5-foot-5, Charlotte isn’t that tall for an outside hitter, but the three-year varsity starter uses her ups to make her presence known in both the front and back rows for the Huskies. A senior captain, Charlotte helped Head Coach Jessica’s Lynch’s team qualify for Shoreline Conference Tournament this season.
“Charlotte has lots of natural talents. She’s worked very hard to develop herself into a player,” Lynch says. “Part of the key to Charlotte’s success is her ability to read the court well. She prides herself on positioning the ball and is someone who the other players can count on. She’s a true leader out there.”
Charlotte started playing volleyball during her freshman year at Morgan. She began her athletic career in gymnastics, but after dealing with some back injuries, Charlotte decided to try her hand on the volleyball court.
“I was a competitive gymnast since I was eight years old,” says Charlotte. “I still have had some problems with my back. I’ve missed some games this year and have gone to physical therapy.”
Charlotte has persevered through the pain and only missed three matches this season. A proficient server, she finished with the year with 43 aces, while averaging 7.1 digs and 3.5 kills per contest.
“I’ve managed to play by toughing it out at times,” Charlotte says. “Some of it’s mental. I’ve just gone out there and tried to do my best.”
Charlotte’s back issues haven’t slowed her down as a volleyball player. She plays the sport year-round, competing for the Elevation Volleyball Academy based out of Choate during both the winter and spring.
“I just like being on the court,” she says. “Whenever I can play, I’ll play.”
As her high school volleyball career comes to a close, Charlotte feels optimistic about the direction that Morgan is headed in. While the Huskies didn’t post as many victories as they wanted this fall, Charlotte says that everyone on the team learned a lot, and she believes all the returning players will come back that much better next season.
“We had some ups and some downs during this year. What we’ve all tried to do along the way is learn,” says Charlotte. “Hopefully, all of us will leave something behind that will help the future of the program.”
Charlotte also appears to have a bright future ahead of her. She’s taking Advanced Placement courses at Morgan, including one in biology that she hopes is a stepping stone to a career in nursing.
Charlotte’s college choices are Regis College in Massachusetts and Rhode Island College. The volleyball coaches at both schools have already told Charlotte that she will have a spot on their volleyball teams.
“That’s why I’ve worked all season on my back-court game,” Charlotte says. “I don’t have the size to be an outside hitter on the collegiate level.”
Charlotte hones her jumping abilities while competing for the Morgan girls’ outdoor track team. She does the high jump and the triple jump for the Huskies.
Away from school, Charlotte enjoys deep-sea fishing. Her family often goes out as much as 100 miles in their 33-foot boat. Last summer, the Davenports took first place at a tournament on Block Island.
“We catch shark, tuna, and blues. It’s thrilling,” says Charlotte. “I’m one of the few girls who do this. It’s equally exciting getting a kill in volleyball or catching a big fish.”