‘Now I get to watch my baby play here’: Setter on Southeastern’s 2001 team now cheers for daughter at state tournament

NORMAL, Ill. — Carrie Shaffer couldn’t help herself.

Shaffer, a setter on the last Augusta Southeastern team to reach the state volleyball tournament, sent a note to her daughter, Abigail, on Thursday night to offer thoughts about what to expect in Friday morning’s semifinal match.

Well, maybe more than a note.

“I sent her a text message about a page long,” Carrie admitted. “Notice how big the gym is. Notice how loud the girls have to talk. Notice where the girls are standing. Pay attention to these girls and how fast they’re moving. Anticipate the ball coming to you. Never be surprised if the ball comes.

“It was this whole big list of instructions that she probably already knows, but it makes me feel better knowing that I told her.”

Abigail, a sophomore, successfully received 10 serves and never came off the floor during the Suns’ 25-16, 25-23 victory over Springfield Lutheran. She is being groomed to replace Ani Kerr as Southeastern’s setter next season.

Coach says mother, daughter very similar

Carrie, whose maiden name is Leasman, now works for Southeastern School District 337 as the administrative assistant for Todd Fox, the district’s superintendent. She has previous head coaching experience at Illini West.

Suns coach Tim Kerr coached Carrie on the 2001 team that finished fourth in the Class A state tournament, and he says Abigail’s career is following her mother’s path. Carrie was a solid defensive player during her junior season but moved to setter as a senior, splitting the duties with Stacey Van Fleet as they set hitters Marcy Dixon and Michaela Fray.

“They’re both a little on the small side in terms of volleyball,” Kerr said. “Watching some of those videos from 2001 this week, boy, were they alike. Both incredible passers. Great athletes. Good setters. 

“When Carrie was a senior, our setter moved out of town. In emergency fashion, we had to create a setter out of Carrie. We played the old school 4-2 (two setter) alignment, and when she wasn’t setting, Carrie played defense. Abigail is very, very similar. Really similar players and attitudes. Great competitiveness and love of the game. There’s no denying the genetics there for sure.”

Kerr also remembers Carrie being one of his most superstitious players. She has been making ham and turkey sandwiches for every postseason match.

“I’m sure we’ll have those sandwiches again (Saturday),” Kerr said. “She’s just a great person to have in our corner.”

Volleyball often main topic at Shaffer house

Carrie’s superstitions also carry over to the matches.

“As parents, we have a special seating order that we’re not going to break now,” she said. “We also wear the same outfit. We feel like that’s us doing our part.”

Abigail admitted after Friday’s match she looks to the crowd on occasion to get a glimpse of her mother.

“I just want to see how she’s reacting,” she said with a smile.

“There’s times when I can tell she doesn’t want to look up in the stands, because she knows what her mom would say,” Carrie said. “I hope and pray she knows how proud I am of her.”

Volleyball often remains the topic at the Shaffer house when the matches end.

“We really bond over volleyball,” Abigail said. “I get a lot of tips, and this week especially, I’ve gotten a lot of tips. Volleyball is a really big part of our life. We really do like to talk about it.”

“She doesn’t always like to hear what I have to say, but that’s OK,” Carrie said. “I have to hold back sometimes, because I know she’s got great a coaching staff anyway. She doesn’t need me to tell her anything. It just makes me feel better knowing I’ve told her some of that stuff.

“The last two weeks have just been nuts. We have been up and down and excited and nervous and trying not to talk too much about the chances of making it this far. We didn’t want to jinx ourselves.”

Mom asked multiple times if 2001 team or 2021 team is better

Being a player’s mom, Carrie said, beats being a player at the state tournament.

“When I walked in (Redbird Arena) today, it gave me goosebumps,” Carrie said. “I don’t even think they know how important this is, but maybe I don’t even know how important it is either. How cool it is that I played here? Now I get to watch my baby play here. That’s more exciting.”

Carrie says she has been asked several times in the past few weeks if the 2001 team or the 2021 team was better.

“We played pretty good defense, but these girls want to run a really fast offense,” Carrie said. “And they keep swinging, no matter the score. They don’t give up. It’s hard to say, but (the 2021 team) probably might be just a little bit better than our team was.”

Carrie then grinned and said, “But we would have liked to have a shot at them.”