Arab High School Volleyball Player Karli Walker Named ITG Next Alabama Female Athlete of the Month for October 2022
A star on the court for an Arab volleyball team that has been among the best in Class 5A this season, Karli Walker has been voted our ITG Next Alabama Female Athlete of the Month for her play during September, receiving 66.89% of the votes.
The Knights entered the week of October 17 with an impressive 44-12 record on the year and have consistently been one of the top teams in Class 5A all year. Walker is a big reason why they’ve been so good, as are numerous others, including Laney Kelley, Sami Kate Hudson, and Marissa Pope.
Walker, a senior, seemingly gets better each time she steps on the court for the Knights.
“Karli is one of many who have a huge impact on our team, but the difference in Karli is how dependable she is,” Arab volleyball coach Amy Hudson said. “She is our constant. When things are going good, she is great. When things head in a bad direction, she is our go-to.
“She is never drastically up or down, she is consistently even-keeled from start to finish, and that is something that is hard to find,” Hudson added. “She is an incredible leader, not necessarily a vocal leader, but she leads by example on and off the court, and when she does have something to say, her teammates listen.
“All the things that coaches look for in special players – leadership, coachability, dependability, mental toughness – she possesses. These are the things that make her a special player, and a player who is going to be impossible to replace.”
In September Walker compiled 227 total kills, as well as 42 digs, 40 blocks, 28 serving aces, 8 assists, and 6 receptions. Her overall numbers are equally impressive: 436 kills, 90 digs, 80 blocks, 60 aces, 17 assists, and 14 receptions, along with an average of 3.3 kills per set and a 52.8% kill percentage.
As the Knights enter the playoffs, Walker no doubt will continue to make her impact on the court.
“As we head into the postseason, I look for Karli to do what she does best: be our constant, our ‘go-to,’” Hudson said. “She has been our kill leader and block leader for the vast majority of our games. She has become a dependable server for us, and she can even play some defense. I look for her to be the calm in the storm when we need her to be, and she will.”
Congratulations to Arab volleyball standout Karli Walker, our ITG Next Alabama Female Athlete of the Month.
