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08/24/2022 12:46 PMSpencer Carroll is capable of playing any position and filling any role when she’s on the volleyball court. Heading into her senior season with the North Branford girls’ volleyball team, Spencer is holding an honorable role as one of the Thunderbirds’ captains and will look to use her versatility to help her squad prosper.
Spencer started playing volleyball North Branford Intermediate School (NBIS) in 6th grade. Spencer, who had experience as a swimmer, remembered playing volleyball back in elementary school. When she saw that NBIS was hosting volleyball tryouts, Spencer decided to throw her hat into the ring and give it a shot.
“I saw they were having tryouts. I always loved playing sports, and I thought, ‘Why not try it out?’” says Spencer. “We were introduced in elementary school during gym class, and I thought I was pretty good at it. Why not try a new thing?”
Spencer came to love volleyball after playing the sport for a few months. She enjoyed being on the court and competing alongside her friends. Once she got into volleyball, Spencer started taking the sport seriously and saw herself improving.
At NBIS, Spencer was on the
JV team in 6th grade before playing varsity in 7th and 8th grade. She was also a captain as an 8th-grader. During her first two years in the program, Spencer was coached by Dana Zambelletti, who helped her learn the fundamentals of the game, along with the responsibilities of every position. Russell Scovin then became her head coach in 8th grade as Spencer began to prepare for a leadership role once she reached high school.
After joining North Branford as a freshman, Spencer competed for the JV team during her first season. That year, the varsity squad featured a large senior class of 12 athletes. By playing JV, Spencer got a firsthand look of how the older athletes played together. Spencer wanted to emulate those players and find a way to be in their shoes one day.
“Being a freshman on JV, it was really nice seeing all the upperclassmen play together. They had been playing for four years together,” Spencer says. “It was nice seeing them cohesively on the court together. It made me really want to do that throughout my four years.”
In her sophomore season, Spencer made the jump up to varsity and earned her letter as a transition player. It was an interesting situation for Spencer, who was now one of the players setting an example for the freshmen. She knew most of the people on the team and knew that they would have her back. Still, now a varsity athlete, Spencer was determined to prove that she belonged on the big stage.
“It was very weird. I didn’t expect that by sophomore year I’d be there with them. I’m very competitive. I liked being in that competitive setting with them,” says Spencer. “I had played with most of the girls on the team since middle school. It was nice playing with everyone again. I knew I had to take it more seriously. It’s not just you anymore. It affects everyone else.”
In her transition role, Spencer was tasked with playing wherever North Branford needed her on the court. When she was in middle school, Spencer just wanted to play middle hitter. Now, she is capable of playing in the middle, on the outside, or even in the back row. Spencer’s sophomore season gave her the chance to play numerous positions, and it was an opportunity that she embraced.
“Sophomore year, we had some injuries, and I thought, ‘Why not step up and try other positions to help my team?’” Spencer says. “I always wanted to do whatever I could for them. Being a lefty really helped. I was able to be more versatile.”
Over the years, Spencer has dedicated herself to volleyball by playing for numerous club teams in the winter and enduring rigorous preseason training. As a result of her dedication and work ethic, Spencer was named one of North Branford’s captains for the 2022 season. Spencer felt honored to receive that role and is hoping to continue the tradition that was passed on to her by the graduating seniors.
“I’m really honored to be the captain of this team,” says Spencer. “Last year’s seniors all taught me what to do as a senior and how to run the team. I’m very grateful for them being there for me.”
Head Coach Tori Ramada says that Spencer’s leadership qualities have been apparent since her freshman season. Ramada describes Spencer as a great leader both on and off the court and feels that she’s become an integral member of the North Branford volleyball program.
“Spencer has been a natural leader since her freshman year. Her talent has allowed her to be so versatile on the court. Spencer successfully excels at her role,” Coach Ramada says. “As a captain, she leads the team by example and has an open line of communication for any player to comfortably talk to her. She is passionate and has so much knowledge of the game.”
Alongside volleyball, Spencer has been swimming competitively since the age of six. Beginning with her freshman year, Spencer has represented North Branford as a member the Greater New Haven Warriors co-op boys’ swim team that competes during the winter season. Spencer often cross trains in both sports and says that participating in each of them has helped her grow as an all-around athlete.
“The cross training I have been doing has really helped in both aspects of the sport,” says Spencer. “With volleyball, I’ve grown leg strength, which has definitely helped me in swimming. In swimming, I use my arms a lot more, which has helped my swing in volleyball. The mental aspect of both sports has really made me mentally stronger.”
Spencer has had to power through knee injuries and shin splints throughout her high school career, but she’s never thought about leaving the volleyball court. Spencer loves volleyball too much to give it up, and it means a lot to her that gets to play the sport in North Branford. With her senior year getting underway, Spencer is looking forward to once again competing alongside her teammates as they try to lead the T-Birds to a successful season.
“I’m very honored to have been a part of this team for all of these years. This team has always stood there by my side,” Spencer says. “I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t been on this team. I’m very grateful to have been on this team for three years. Going into my fourth, I’m just excited to see what we can do.”