Lauren Carlini playing in Turkey

Volleyball Diane Nordstrom

Badger for Life: Lauren Carlini

Catching up with the fourth-year professional

Volleyball Diane Nordstrom

Badger for Life: Lauren Carlini

Catching up with the fourth-year professional

MADISON, Wis. -- It's hard to believe its been four years since Badger fans have had the thrill of watching Lauren Carlini, Wisconsin's only four-time All-American, run the UW offense at setter.

After wrapping up her career as a Badger, Carlini has played professionally - both internationally and with the U.S. National Team. The 6-foot-1 setter has played two years in Italy, one season in Russia and is currently playing with THY Volley in Istanbul, Turkey.

Why Wisconsin?

"I initially started going to Wisconsin camps because of Maria Carlini, because we had the same last name of course! But I ended up creating a great relationship with the coaching staff and fell in love with the team and campus year after year of attending summer camps. I knew at Wisconsin I was going to get the full experience; great academics, top notch athletics, and of course, a good time off the court. It was truly the entire package and it had my heart from day one."

How did Wisconsin prepare you for professional career?

"Besides the obvious of high-level training, great coaching, and playing in a really tough conference and having to grind it out every night, I would say it was the intangibles I learned that have really helped me in my professional career.

"Yes, you can be a great player and have a lot of talent, but, if you don't have or learn certain skills before going to play professionally…. It's going to be tough mentally, physically, and especially emotionally. I'm so grateful to Kelly Sheffield and the staff because they prepared me to become a professional and each season they challenged me in new and different ways, knowing the path I was wanting to take post-college.

"Understanding my personality and what I need as a person/player, it has helped me work through some tough times overseas because they've given me the tools to be resilient, independent and when I'm feeling off kilter, to get back to the basics and grind it out.

What are some of the most important things that you learned at UW and how have your used that in life after college off the court?

"I think one thing that I underestimated while I was at Wisconsin was how many incredible, top-notch athletes and staff we truly had access to. Now that I'm out of college, there's a ton of us connected through social media, but I wish I knew the importance of those connections and how valuable those conversations were at the time.

"Whether other athletes are also playing professionally or if they are in the working world, it is so important to maintain those connections and conversations because we all came from the same place and had (most likely) similar experiences at Wisconsin -- it creates a bond and it's really cool to still be able to stay in contact with fellow Badgers."
Gallery: (10-26-2020) Lauren Carlini in Turkey

How is professional play different from college?

"Professional volleyball is different in a few aspects. First, the culture isn't quite the same just because we are here as a job and teams change almost every single year. So, although it is a team sport, I have found it is a little more individualistic than what college was because in college, everyone is trying to attain the same exact goal for years on end. Overseas, it's about getting better, winning, and trying to put yourself in the best position to play on the top teams/make the most money while you can.

"On the technical/tactical level, the players are very experienced and the type of volleyball differs a bit. Lots of tactics and learning how to play to different teams and player's strengths. It's so physical but there's a lot of small nuances with reading the game and trying to gain the smallest of advantages that I never thought about in college."

How are you and your team handling COVID-19?

"Although I already got COVID in the United States during the summer, I feel very safe and protected here. We get tested every 14 days, unless you come into direct contact with someone who has tested positive...in that case you go and get tested immediately. Results are received within 24 hours.

"For attendance at matches, we are only allowed one guest per player and those people have to be socially distanced and wearing masks in the stands. So, it's pretty quiet in the gyms!

"Everyday we walk into the gym we have to have our temperature checked but we do not wear masks during practices. Our team has been super diligent and thus far, avoided anyone getting COVID.

"In terms of daily life, everyone in Turkey wears masks all the time. If you go to any store, restaurant, shop, you name it, you have your temperature checked and there is hand sanitizer everywhere! Every single table, in and out of stores, etc. I feel super safe playing and living in Istanbul."

What is best part of playing in foreign country (traveling, level of competition, etc.)

"Woof, I'm not sure I can choose just one thing but I would have to say it's truly the full experience. Okay, fine, pull my leg, it's of course the cuisine and eating and finding super trendy cafes/ restaurants and eating my way through cities. Honestly, the middle of my day between practices consists of bookmarking and finding new places to eat and explore. Very rarely, especially this season in Istanbul am I going to the same place twice.

"Besides eating my weight in Turkish breakfast though, I think the best part about playing overseas is really getting immersed into the culture and breaking down stereotypes and getting to know your teammates. You can learn so much just being here and seeing how they go about life/how things are done. It's interesting to compare stories with your foreign teammates and I love being able to hear about their lives. I've come to find we are not all that different."

Where else have you played and what honors have you received as a professional?

"Professionally, this is my fourth season, woah, that's weird to say. But my first season was in Scandicci, Italy, just outside Florence, which has become one of my favorite cities in the world. My second season I stayed in Italy but played in Novara, Italy about 45 minutes west of Milan. Last year, I played in Moscow, Russia, and now I'm in Istanbul, Turkey.

"My first year with Scandicci, we had a great season and ended up qualifying for Champions League. My second season in Novara, we had an incredible team with tons of talent and ended up winning Champions League, which is the competition of the top teams in all of Europe. That was just an incredible experience and feat, and the pinnacle of European professional volleyball."

What do you do during the off season?

"What's an off season? Never heard of her. Haaaa, of course it would be nice to get more than two weeks off per year, but if I have to sacrifice free time in order to play for my country and get to do what I love everyday. I will happily make that trade without a single thought. It's been a ride and I'm hoping that I won't have any free time/off season for at least another four years!"

How do you follow Badger Volleyball?

"Being overseas with an 8-9 hour time difference, it's definitely a challenge to stay as tuned in as I'd like to. Bless us for social media because that's really the main outlet for how I stay connected and know what's going on. Wisconsin Volleyball does an amazing job of posting anything and everything about players, practices, matches (when we can actually play them again) and we are really lucky to have resources and great people who are involved with these accounts. I know all of us alums and fans thank you for all the hard work and content, we appreciate it!"

How do you stay in connection with former teammates?

"Again, thank god for social media. Truth be told, this is something that I know I need to be better at in general -- getting in touch with teammates and catching up. Luckily, we all stay in touch via Instagram, Facebook and the birthday wishes of course. This summer I actually lived with Haleigh Nelson and Sarah Dodd so that was so much fun to quarantine with them ... even though sometimes Haleigh made me work way too hard in the kitchen for her eight-course meals and clean out the fridge every day and a half. Luckily Dodd was there with her comedic relief along with her refusal to eat scraps of whatever Haleigh found in the fridge!

What is your advice to current players?

"My advice to current players is pretty simple -- enjoy every single moment you have at Wisconsin. It goes by faster than you'd think and you will never be able to replicate or be in an environment where every single person is bought in to a singular goal. Culture is the word that comes to mind. That culture; everyone being best friends and spending every waking moment together, the unity of chasing championships and the sense of family all wrapped into one. You won't find it anywhere else ever again. So, embrace the times and the moments you have together because those fond memories will bond you to each other and to Wisconsin forever."
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Players Mentioned

Sarah Dodd

#8 Sarah Dodd

L/DS
5' 4"
Senior
Pleasant Prairie, Wis.

Players Mentioned

Sarah Dodd

#8 Sarah Dodd

5' 4"
Senior
Pleasant Prairie, Wis.
L/DS