Queens University of Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Queens University of Charlotte is proud to announce the addition of Emily Carrara to the Queens University of Charlotte Department of Athletics. Carrara will be joining the Queens family as the new assistant volleyball coach.

“I am excited about joining Head Coach Angela McGuire and the Queens volleyball program.", said Carrara. "I look forward to this new opportunity and I believe that I can contribute to this growing program.  Queens has all the necessary tools to become a dominate volleyball program; and I am excited to be a part of it.” 

Carrara joins Queens from local high school South Mecklenburg where she was the head women’s volleyball coach this past fall. She also works on the coaching staff for the Carolinas Juniors Volleyball Club. Carrara is the assistant coach for the club’s traveling team and the head coach for the club’s non-traveling team. CJV is the premiere volleyball club in the Charlotte area and is home to over 700 of the top players in the Charlotte and surrounding areas.

While coaching, Carrara pursued her associate in applied science degree for culinary arts at Johnson and Wales University located in Charlotte, N.C. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a 4.0 GPA from the program in February of 2009. Before going to graduate school, Carrara attended Winthrop University where she graduated in 2007 with a bachelor's degree majoring in political science with a minor in both Spanish and social sciences. She graduated Cum Laude with a 3.678 GPA while being a key contributor on the women’s volleyball team.

The four-year full scholarship recipient was a member of the four-time Big South Conference Champion and NCAA tournament participant squad from 2003-2006. Carrara was named to the Big South All-Freshman Team in 2003 and to the All-Conference Second Team in 2003, 2004, and 2006. The four year captain was named to the Big South All-Academic Team and was the Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year during her senior year. Carrara won the American Legion Award in 2006 and was the Winthrop University nominee for NCAA Women of the Year in 2006.

Carrara’s recognition continued on the academic side as she was a member and President of Pi Gamma Mu, the social sciences honor society.  She was also the secretary of Omicron Delta Kappa which is the leadership honor society. Carrara served as the environment division leader of Serving Others and Reflecting and was in the Psychology, Spanish, Athletes in Action, and Grilling clubs.

“I am thrilled to announce the hiring of Emily.", said McGuire. "I have had the opportunity to know Emily for a few years and watch her emerge from a great player (at Winthrop) to a great coach. She was trained at a very high level and will bring that training to our setters and defensive players." 

"Her level of professionalism and maturity, demand for success, and thorough knowledge of the game will contribute to our team’s philosophy right away. I believe we will see an immediate impact from her coaching.”

Carrara is replacing former assistant volleyball coach Sara Christie.