Cara Braun Season 2023

2023 SEASON (As A Redshirt Freshman): Played seven matches as a reserve in her first tour of duty with the Scarlet and Black, posting 28 kills (1.65/set), three digs and two blocks across 17 sets… Made her Aztec debut in a season-opening victory over Cal State Fullerton at the Hotel Vance Rose City Showdown in Portland, Oregon, where she finished with one kill, one dig and a solo block (8-25-23)… Totaled three kills on four attempts in one set vs. UC Santa Barbara at the SDSU Invitational (9-2-23)… Set career highs with 14 kills and a .346 hitting percentage while adding a block assist in a tough five-set loss at eventual Mountain West tournament champion Fresno State (10-12-23)… Also launched five put-aways at Nevada (10-14-23)… Ended the year with four kills and a season-best two digs vs. UNLV (11-18-23).

2022 SEASON (As A Freshman): Did not compete ... Utilized redshirt season.

HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated in 2022 from Valley Christian High in Chandler, Arizona, where she won four varsity letters for indoor volleyball competition as an outside hitter and right-side hitter … Garnered Arizona Conference 3A Player of the Year and 3A Metro Region Offensive Player of the Year accolades following her senior campaign after leading the Lady Trojans to the 2021 Arizona 3A state championship with a 33-3 overall record … Was named MaxPreps Player of the Match in the championship final vs. Snowflake High thanks to her double-double of 15 kills and 10 digs in a 3-0 sweep … Blasted a team-high 415 kills (4.2/set) in her final season, hitting at a .333 clip to go with 208 digs (2.1/set) and 56 service aces, according to MaxPreps … Totaled 1,290 kills and hit .344 during her prep career, helping Valley Christian to an additional pair of runner-up state finishes in 2019 and 2020 … Received all-conference recognition in each of her four seasons, including first-team plaudits in 2019 and 2021 … Also earned first-team Metro 3A all-region honors (2018, 2020) and collected her first Metro 3A Offensive Player of the Year certificate in 2019 … Additionally appeared on Prep Volleyball’s Frosh59 list … Won three letters in beach volleyball as well, leading Valley Christian High to a runner-up placement at the state finals in 2022 … Excelled in the classroom, meriting first-team Arizona all-academic distinction and landing on her school’s honor roll all four years … Chose the Aztecs over a plethora of schools, including Rutgers, SMU, TCU, Tulane, UNLV, VCU, Wake Forest, Army West Point, College of Charleston, Dayton, Northeastern and Northern Arizona.

PERSONAL: Caroline Braun was born in Mesa, Arizona … Enjoys yoga, reading, babysitting and playing the flute … Lists American sprinter and hurdler Sydney McLaughlin as her favorite athlete Has worked as a teacher’s aide for preschoolers and kindergarteners … Plans to major in special education at San Diego State.