Brandywine first-year volleyball coach Carrie Bidwell says that junior Sydney Carlson “has got a lot on her shoulders.”

The 5-foot-6 junior, who is a two-year varsity starter, must make plays on the court and lead some inexperienced teammates.

“She definitely is an impact player,” Bidwell said. “She’s trying to be a leader on the team. When she gets there we’ll have the final piece to the puzzle.”

Carlson has the skill set to teach others how to become better volleyball players and she is not afraid to be vocal when struggles take place during a match.

“I just have to keep the whole team up and cheer them on when they do something good and pick them up when they have a bad play,” said Carlson. The

Bobcats own an 8-12 record.

An example of that guidance from Carlson took place on Wednesday after Buchanan beat Brandywine, 25-7, 25-18, 25-8.

“I told them the first and third game weren’t so good, but the second game we were amazing,” Carlson said. “I told our team, and coach also said it, to focus on (the second game) and we’ll work on getting better.

“We have a lot of new players up on varsity. The whole team knew we had to come out strong (against Buchanan) and show them what we’ve got. They’re a very good team. I think if we fix a few things we’ll be able to compete with them when we play them again.

“I want to win for the seniors because it’s their last year. My expectation for the team is to win districts.”

Being humble helps Carlson relate to her teammates. She knows she has plenty of room for improvement despite totaling five kills and seven digs against the Bucks.

“I feel that I’ve improved with my passing and diving (for digs) and my hitting has gotten stronger,” Carlson said. “But I need to be smarter with where I put the ball. I’m learning new techniques on where to tip balls.”

Carlson didn’t have a chance to show off any technique when a Buchanan kill went maximum velocity toward her body in the second game.

She just smiled after the match when talking about that moment.

“I’m fine,” she said. “The ball hit me in the shoulder and everyone thought I got hit in the head. I thought it was embarrassing.”

No kill can make Carlson get off a volleyball court. She said she is glad that she decided to start playing the sport in the eighth grade.

“My friends were doing it so I said to myself that I may as well try it,” Carlson said.

“I’ve been playing softball since I was five, but I enjoy (volleyball) more.”