Kelsi Carlston came back home where her collegiate volleyball career began to join Coach Atoa's staff as an assistant for spring of the 2005 season. In just her first year she helped lead the Wolverines to an 18-11 overall record and the Division I Independent Tournament Championship.
Carlston, a former two year captain for the Wolverines from 1995-1997, spent three years at Park City High School, leading the school to the state tournament two out of three years. She was an assistant in 2002 and was handed over the reigns of the program from 2003-2004. At Utah Valley State Carlston's primary responsibilities are spearheading the recruiting efforts, helping Atoa developing players on both sides of the net, and overseeing the academics of each girl on the team.
Carlston has also coached club volleyball for two years within the Intermountain Association. In 2004, she was a coach for Klub Boom, and in 2005 she was coach and area director for the Players Club.
Carlston had a fine playing career for the Wolverines from 1995-1997, yet it was also plagued with injuries. After spending her freshman season as an outside hitter, she was forced to redshirt due to torn ligaments in her right shoulder. With a back injury and a shoulder that never healed for her sophomore season she moved to the back row and helped the team as an excellent defensive specialist.
Carlston received a Bachelor's degree in Integrated Studies from Utah Valley State in 2001 and a Master's degree in Education from the University of Phoenix in 2004. She served a LDS church mission to the Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission and also served six months in the Georgia Macon Mission. Carlston is a certified professional snowboard instructor and taught snowboarding for six years at Park City Mountain Resort.
A graduate of Mission Viejo High School in Mission Viejo, California, Carlston was a three year letterwinner. She played for the Saddleback Valley Volleyball Club. Carlston comes from good athletic bloodlines. Her father raced for the Brigham Young University Ski Team, and her mother was a professional long board surfer. Her sister, Camber, skied at the collegiate level, and her brother, Chase, competes as an amateur surfer.
