New setter lifts spirits of Indian team

Thursday, December 8, 2016
McCook Community College players and coach Hayley Kobza (seated at right) welcomed new volleyball teammate Ashley Carson (seated, left) into the program on Tuesday. Courtesy photo.

No hope, no shot, not even a prayer of having any success.

In other words, negative noise simply has gone nowhere when facing an amazing student-athlete like Ashley Carson.

"I probably couldn't hear half of it anyway," the new McCook Community College volleyball player joked after her official signing on Tuesday at Peter & Dolores Graff Events Center.

Her singular positive focus becomes contagious after about five minutes with the Ord High School senior.

"She liked them (her new McCook teammates) and wow, they liked her," Indians coach Hayley Kobza recalled about the recent open tryout where Carson earned a place in McCook's program. "Plus they were in awe of how well she played."

Kobza barely noticed Carson could not hear from no left ear any more than she can see out of an eye that's not there.

It was all lost before birth when an artery blockage prevented proper facial development.

Yet a word like "lost" has rarely been used since Ashley's six-week premature birth.

She's never lost her positive outlook despite eight surgeries to improve deformities in her nose, jaw, cleft lip and palate.

"Let's get it done and move on," Ashley said about all the medical work.

She's never lost her love for volleyball through three years of being a reserve on Ord's terrific volleyball team.

The Chanticleers played for a Class C-1 state volleyball against Kearney Catholic in 2015.

Ord High School senior Ashley Carson was part of a Class C-1 state finalist volleyball team in 2015 and started this fall as the Chanticleers earned 25 wins. Courtesy photo.

"If anything, it made Ashley a better player because she was going up against those girls every day in practice," mom Kathy explained.

Ashley got her chance to be Ord's starting setter, and she helped the Chanticleers score another 25 wins.

However, she's never lost her annoyance about not getting the Chants another state title shot. They fell in the district title match to Omaha Concordia last month.

"We've lost to the last two state champs," Ashley said with a slight frown on her usually smiling face.

Finally, the 5'6" Carson never lost her confidence even though not a single college recruited her.

Twin sister/outside hitter Andrea Carson had already signed with Bellevue University.

Older sister Nicole Carson just finished an NCAA volleyball career for the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

And dad Neal Carson was a former top Nebraska State Games volleyball performer -- although the family preferred not to make TOO big of deal about that fact.

So volleyball has always been a Carson family passion which drove Ashley into one Nebraska town she had never visited before.

"It was my first time to come to McCook," she admitted. "I like it. It's bigger (than Ord) and still has a small-town feeling."

A "who's that?" reaction soon spread among McCook coaches like Kobza, Nebraska High School Hall Of Famer Dennis Troester and everyone else conducting the November tryouts.

"Afterwards, we met and I asked who would be the one player that everyone would love to sign," Kobza said. "And they all said No. 17 which was Ashley."

"She's a left-handed setter who is extremely rare," the coach added about adding more talent to McCook's program. "I'm so happy and fortunate that nobody else had signed her."

Carson hasn't lost her desire for one more high school season. She'll compete in her other favorite sport -- track and field -- which featured winning a 1600-meter relay state medal last spring. It will likely be the final season of competing with twin sister Andrea.

"They've always been very competitive and very supportive of each other," Kathy Carson said. "It has been part of their success."

"But Ashley's also a big believer in teammates." mom said.

"She is great at connecting with players. She's an amazing setter," Kobza added. "We have three really good ones now."

Ashley's even made a strong mark beyond her home state.

Last spring, she won the National Federation of State High School Association's High School Spirit of Sport Award.

About 2,100 attended a Reno, Nev., ceremony where Ashley was honored.

"But she's very humble," Kobza said.

"Not once have I ever heard Ashley complain or say a negative word," Ord assistant coach Karla Callan stated.

Ashley has also maintained a 4.46 grade-point average that ranks third in her Ord High School graduating class at last report.

She takes as much pride in staying busy with all sorts of church and community activities.

"That fits in perfectly with our team," Kobza said as several Indian volleyball players were reading to McCook grade-school students on Tuesday.

"I want to continue work like that (in McCook)," Ashley confirmed.

Perhaps her career aspirations best complete Ashley's story. She's interested in something medical but not exactly sure.

"I just want to help people," she concluded.

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