Brooke McCarley

In high school, McCarley was outstanding in both basketball and volleyball. Volleyball was her sport of choice and she was a five-year starter for the Valley Cubs. As a freshman, she helped Alexandria to a runner-up finish at the 1992 Class 4A state volleyball tournament and was named to the all-tournament team. In each of the next three volleyball seasons, Alexandria claimed 4A state championships. McCarley was all-tournament again as a sophomore then was named 4A state tournament most valuable player as a junior and again as a senior.

As a senior, McCarley recorded 549 kills, 370 blocks and 93 service aces as Alexandria finished 45-11. Her career totals included 2,423 kills and 868 blocks.

Following her senior season, she was named statewide player of the year for all classes by the Alabama Volleyball Coaches Association. She was also Alabama’s Gatorade volleyball player of the year.

In basketball, McCarley was named to the all-tournament team at the Calhoun County tournament three times and was named by the coaches as best offensive player as a senior in 1996. She was honorable mention all-state as a sophomore, second-team all-state as a junior and first-team all-state as a senior. As a senior, she averaged 21 points and 12 rebounds per game.

Auburn volleyball coach Liz Bitzer offered McCarley a scholarship. McCarley accepted, then redshirted in the 1996 season. In 1997, McCarley led the Tigers with 526 kills for the season. More than 20 years later, that figure remains atop Auburn’s single-season kills list. Auburn finished 19-10 overall and 10-5 in the SEC, good for second in the SEC West.

Bitzer retired following the 1997 season. Former Auburn assistant Kris Grunwald became head coach for two years and his teams were second in the SEC West twice. McCarley’s kill totals from the 1998 and 1999 seasons are among Auburn’s top seven overall. She still holds Auburn’s single-season record for average kills per set at 4.83 and is in the top eight three more times.

McCarley helped Auburn and Grunwald to a 22-9 overall record and 9-6 SEC mark in 1998. In 1999, the Tigers were 19-11 overall and 8-7 in the SEC. McCarley finished her junior season needing slightly more than 300 kills as a senior to become Auburn’s career leader in kills.

McCarley’s career average of 4.40 kills per set still leads Auburn all-time. Her career total of 1,704 kills is Auburn’s third highest. She also ranks third in attack percentage and in total attacks. At Auburn, McCarley was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection three consecutive seasons, earning that recognition in 1997, 1998 and 1999.