Red Oak standout Carbaugh signs with BU Volleyball

Bruin head volleyball coach Trish Siedlik announced today the signing of 5-10 middle blocker/rightside hitter Liz Carbaugh (Red Oak, Iowa/Red Oak HS) to a letter of intent to continue her academic and volleyball careers at Bellevue University beginning in the fall of 2022. 

Carbaugh, the daughter of Leslie and David Carbaugh, was a four-year letterwinner for coach Angie Montgomery at Red Oak High School. 

She amassed 404 kills and 146 blocks during her high school career, twice helping the Tigers qualify for the Iowa State Tournament, including a semifinal appearance in 2019. 

Carbaugh earned first-team all-conference and all-district honors during her senior campaign and was also named first-team all-KMAland while landing a spot on the all-tournament team at the KMALand All-Star game. 

A versatile athlete, Carbaugh helped her Red Oak squad qualify for the Iowa State Tournament in basketball and was a two-time state qualifier in track. 

She set the school record in the long jump with a leap of 17-10 in the district qualifier while placing ninth at state in the long jump. Carbaugh was a member of the school record-holding sprint-medley relay team in 2021, running the 400-meter split in 56 seconds. 

An excellent student, Carbaugh was named to the High Honor Roll all four years of her high school career while twice earning academic all-conference honors.

She played club volleyball for coach Alan Byers at Southwest Iowa 3rd Degree. 

"Liz has the ability and drive to be a great volleyball player," said Siedlik. "Not only does she have untapped athletic potential, but her personality and character fit in seamlessly with our group, which is critical for our success. She is a natural and fluid jumper. We are excited to watch Liz grow and develop within the Bruin volleyball program." 

Liz Carbaugh Honors and Awards:

• 2021 Hawkeye 10 1st Team All-Conference
• 2021 All-Express Volleyball 1st Team
• 2021 1st Team KMAland
• 2021 1st Team KMAland All-Defense
• 2021 KMAland All-Star Volleyball Series Participant & All-Tournament Team
• 2021 Hawkeye 10 Conference Runner-Up
• 2020 Hawkeye 10 2nd Team All-Conference
• 2020 Hawkeye 10 Conference Champion
• 2020 Class 3A State Quarterfinalist
• 2019 Hawkeye 10 Conference Champion
• 2019 Class 3A State Semifinalist
• Career Stats: 404 kills, 0.337 hit %, 146 blocks, 72 digs

Bellevue ended the season with a 26-8 overall record, finishing second in both the NSAA regular season as well as the NSAA Tournament. This season also marked the 14th time BU has advanced to the NAIA National Tournament and the first time the Bruins have advanced out of pool play action into bracket play since 2000. The Bruins defeated No. 16 Ottawa (Ariz.) and No. 8 Corban before falling to top-ranked Jamestown in the NAIA Final Eight. 

The Bruins ended the 2021 season ranked No. 9 in the final NAIA Top 25 Poll.