HALL OF FAME FEATURE: Kasey Carpenter Ogden '08

Kasey Carpenter Ogden ’08 was a key piece to Averett University volleyball’s success during her playing days, helping the Cougars get to the 2006 NCAA Tournament. Yet, for as much as she helped the Cougars as a player, Ogden said Averett made a long-lasting impact on her and her life even years later. Now she is paying it forward to young players that were once in her shoes while coaching at a volleyball club in Richmond, Virginia. 

Although she found success as a player, Ogden believes she was more naturally built to be a coach. That foundation was partially laid while at Averett. Ogden grew up in a house of coaches and her father coached her in high school, so she knew what she wanted in a coach and a program when she began her college search. Her interactions with then Averett head coach Danny Miller played a big part in why she chose to come play for the Cougars in college.

“I know the importance of a good coach versus not a good coach and what I wanted in a coach versus what I did not want in a coach,” Ogden said.  “So when I met Miller, it was one of these things where I was like, ‘This is where I want to be.’” 

It paid off for Ogden, who is being inducted into the Averett Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 8 during Homecoming. She still holds multiple program setter records to this day. Ogden ranks third all-time for assists with 4,292 and ranks first all-time in the 30-point set scoring era. She also holds the career record for assists per set (11.09) and the single-game record for assists. Ogden played in 387 sets over 133 matches and finished with 199 career kills, 178 service aces, 722 digs and 75 blocks. She earned all-conference honors in three of her four seasons after making the USA South First Team in 2006 and Second Team in 2005 and 2007. Ogden was also named to the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) All-State Second Team in 2006.

One of her most memorable volleyball moments came during her sophomore season when Miller shared with her after the match against Emory & Henry that she set the program’s single-match record for assists with 73.  

“I remember being on the bus and he calling me up to the front of the bus just me, you know everybody kind of quiet listening to music and he very quietly was like, ‘Hey, I just want you that this happened, you broke the record tonight,’” Ogden said. “I just remember being like, ‘What?’ He said, ‘Yeah, you did good job and I wanted to tell you.’”

Ogden says that moment was important for her because of how Miller wanted her to know that she had done a good job, but he did it in a way it didn’t take away from what the team had accomplished that day. 

“I will never forget that conversation with me and him being in the front of that bus and that moment we shared,” she said. 

Many of her favorite Averett moments include the volleyball team, both on and off the court. 

“The memories all go back to being a part of a team and your teammates and what you did on and off the court together,” Ogden said. 

She can close her eyes and distinctly remember the teams 2006 trip to the NCAA Tournament where the team went to dinner at Rainforest Cafe in San Antonio, Texas, and how much fun that experience was with her teammates and coaches. 

“I know some people may not want to hear about that part of it because it’s like, ‘Oh well, what happened about the game?’ but it was all about the team and your teammates and the atmosphere of the program,” she said. “That’s something that I remember more than anything else.” 

One thing she is particularly proud of during her time at Averett is the team’s success in 2006 where it was the USA South regular season champion and the USA South Tournament champion, earning the Cougars a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

“Nobody looked at us because of Christopher Newport University and how top-notch they were,” Ogden recalled. “You know it was a public school versus a little private school for the conference championship. … I’m pretty sure no one but us thought that we could beat them and we did.” 

Ogden says there is one quote in particular that was used by Miller throughout the historic 2006 season was “A&E is up to me.” The motto basically meant your attitude and your effort are the only things in a team sport that you can control. That has stuck with her so much that she has said it to all the teams she has coached and to her own children more times than she can count. 

“My playing days and just different things, different interactions with Coach Miller and how we were as a team, it all has shaped me on how I want to be a coach versus how I don't want to be,” she said. 

Everything has started to come full circle for Ogden as her son has started talking about trying out for the junior varsity volleyball team at his high school next year. 

She says the support that she has received from her family, friends and kids that she coaches since it was announced she was being inducted into the Hall of Fame has been overwhelming, and this time has been so special for her and everyone involved. 

“I didn't think that something like this would ever happen to me, and now that it is happening, it's been really special,” Ogden said.