Carlson joined the Colonel staff in June of 2016 after five seasons of professional playing experience overseas and a prestigious collegiate career at the University of Washington.
"Kindra is familiar with our system and will help our players and our program reach new heights,” Harold said. “Above all of her volleyball accolades, Kindra is a stud as a person. I have worked with her at camps and I know she will do great things here at Nicholls and be a true asset to our family. I couldn't be happier to have Kindra join us.”
A native of Eaton, Colo., Carlson most recently played professionally in Berlin, Germany, where she was the fourth overall scorer during the 2014-15 German season and voted MVP in seven matches. She was also named MVP of the Hainaut, France Tournament. Prior to her time in Germany, Carlson played professionally in Greece, France and Puerto Rico, earning a number of individual accolades.
She trained with the U.S. National Team in both 2011 and 2013 and served as head coach of the T-Street Volleyball Club during that time. Coaching in Southern California, Carlson led a 16’s team to a bronze division first-place finish in 2011 and a 15’s team to a bronze division third-place finish in 2013.
A standout at Washington, Carlson earned Second Team All-American honors in 2009 and 2010, and was one of just two opposite side hitters on the All-American Team. She was named to the All-Pac-10 Team and the All-Pacific Region Team in both 2009 and 2010 and led the Huskies in kills with a career-best 471 over her senior campaign.
Carlson averaged 4.17 kills per set to rank fifth in the Pac-10 and 26th in the NCAA. Her kills total was ninth most in a single season in UW history and her 553 points rank sixth on UW's top-10. She ranks eighth in school history with 1,251 career kills and third with 1,470 career points. Carlson also ranks eighth with 3.59 career kills per set, and is ninth all-time with a .299 career hitting percentage. She hit a career-best .317 in 2010 and hit over .400 in 11 matches.
Carlson led the Huskies in kills in 23 matches, and her 4.89 points per set ranked 20th nationally. She finished third in the Pac-10 in service aces with a career-best 34 and had seven double-doubles over her senior campaign in kills and digs. Carlson was named to the All-Seattle Region Team in the NCAA Championships and was the MVP of the Bulldog Invitational hosted by Georgia, after totaling 53 kills in three straight-set wins. She was also named to the Pittsburgh Blue & Gold Invite All-Tournament Team and set a single-match career-best with a .619 attack percentage against Florida Gulf Coast.
The daughter of Ted and Sheri Carlson, Kindra has an older sister, Krista.
THE CARLSON FILE
HOMETOWN: Eaton, Colorado
EDUCATION: University of Washington, 2010
VOLLEYBALL EXPERIENCE
2014-15: Berlin, Germany (Professional Player)
2013: Paulo, Greece (Professional Player)
2013: U.S. National Team (Player/Trainee)
2013: T-Street Volleyball Club (Head Coach)
2012: Beziers, France (Professional Player)
2011: U.S. National Team (Player/Trainee)
2011: T-Street Volleyball Club (Head Coach)
2011: Bayamon, Puerto Rico (Professional Player)
2007-10: University of Washington (Collegiate Player)
