Cala Haffner has already worn a USA jersey on the international stage. Saturday night, the Carroll junior and Texas commit gets another chance to help the Chargers finish what they started: a third consecutive Class 4A state championship, with a 35-1 record and Center Grove standing in the way.
A Different Kind of Exciting
Carroll lost several seniors from last year’s championship team. The expectations did not leave with them.
For Haffner, that is part of what makes this run feel different.
“This one is almost kind of more exciting for me… we definitely had high expectations for us and we knew we could make it here,” she said.
The Chargers have kept the standard while changing how the work feels. “It’s definitely we’re still like working super hard… but adding a little bit more fun to the whole process,” Haffner said.
What the USA Jersey Taught Her
Haffner has competed with USA Volleyball’s U19 and U23 national teams, experience few high school players ever get.
“Seeing myself in that USA jersey has been something I never take for granted,” she said.
The value has not stayed overseas. Haffner sees it showing up in the Carroll gym. “Bringing back what I’ve learned at an international stage… has really helped advance our level at Carroll,” she said.
Leading From the Back Row
As a junior, Haffner has moved into a more vocal role. A libero sees the whole floor, and she sees her job as making sure her teammates see it too.
“I need to share what I see through my eyes so that they can better themselves too,” she said.
“I want to be a calming factor to them.”
— Cala Haffner
What the Loss Taught Carroll
Carroll’s only loss came against Chicago Marist on Sept. 24. It ended a 71-match winning streak. The Chargers have not lost since.
Haffner points to that night as a lesson, not a scar.
“We learned that no matter how good the team is on the other side, we still need to play our game,” she said. “We leaned on each other and used each other through the hard moments to power through.”
One More Match
Carroll meets Center Grove at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the Class 4A championship. The Trojans block more and dig more. The Chargers hit more efficiently than anyone left in the field.
Haffner’s message is simple.
“We need to focus on playing ourselves and playing for each other,” she said.
Her job is ball control under pressure. Her goal is to keep everyone else steady while she does it. If she does, Carroll is one match from three straight.
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