Here For A Reason
September 28, 2023 | Volleyball
STARKVILLE - Karli Schmidt had a purpose in joining Mississippi State's volleyball program.
The senior might be one of the most experienced players on the court, but she's a newer face in the Newell-Grissom Building. Schmidt made a life-altering move in the offseason, choosing to join the Bulldogs after a three-year career at Kansas. Now, she's carrying everything that she knows with her into a breakout season.
"I'm here for a reason," Schmidt said. "I want to kind of create a new identity for myself. I have a lot to prove, and I want to find that here at Mississippi State."
Schmidt has certainly already made a name for herself as a force to be reckoned with on the Bulldogs' explosive offense. She leads the team with 152 kills through 12 matches and has tallied 169 total points so far this year. Schmidt is also averaging an impressive 3.45 kills per set and has posted a 0.256 hitting percentage.
"I feel like having that experience on my back already has kind of helped me to find success here in the SEC," Schmidt said.
Although her opponents have changed, much has stayed the same for Schmidt. She's still putting in the same work with the goal of contributing to her team's success.
"It's pretty similar to what I've had before," Schmidt said. "I go to weights, I do my scout, I come to practice, so I mean in that aspect it's all the same."
Some of the biggest and most rewarding parts of Schmidt's life now that she's sporting the Maroon and White? Her new teammates. The group of players share a strong bond - and according to Schmidt - make even the most difficult parts of their day-to-day lives delightful.
"This is such a fun group to work with," Schmidt said. "It's very enjoyable to me to come in every single day to practice. I even love going to weights, and everything that goes into preparing for our matches is just a really enjoyable experience for me."
Alongside her fellow Bulldogs, Schmidt's new coaches have made a huge impact on her life in ways that extend far past the court.
"We just have such a positive culture on this team," Schmidt said. "The coaches just really instill a lot of great values in us, and they want the best for us as people, as volleyball players."
The Bulldogs sit at 1-1 through their first two SEC matches of the season, and they're ready to continue attacking the net. The team posted an impressive 7-3 record in non-conference play against some tough competition, something that Schmidt believes prepared them well for a loaded schedule of challenging SEC foes.
"I think our coaches really set us up for success going into the SEC season," Schmidt said. "I feel like we got some good competition going into SEC play, and I think as a team we're all just kind of able to get some confidence."
The confidence has certainly shown in the Lansing, Kansas native, as she's putting together a year unlike any other through her collegiate volleyball career. Many more opportunities remain for the offensive weapon to continue leading the Bulldogs to success, and from the sound of it, they are all ready for whatever they will face.
"At this point I'm in that competitive mindset, the team's in that competitive mindset," Schmidt said. "We want to come in and work hard just because the SEC is so competitive, top to bottom."
There are still plenty of matches remaining in conference play, but Schmidt still has her eyes set on bigger goals for both herself and her team. The NCAA Tournament looms in the not-so-distant future, and Mississippi State hopes to make its return with a hungry squad and a fiery offense.
 "At the end of the day, we want to be a top contender and a force to be reckoned with," Schmidt said. "I want the same for myself."
Until that time comes, Schmidt will continue doing what she does best: lighting it up on the court and putting opposing defenses to work.
