2013 Women's Volleyball Roster
Charles, Rachel
Jersey Number 5
Rachel Charles
- Position:
- Libero/DS
- Class:
- Senior
- Major:
- Earth & Environmental Sciences
- Hometown:
- Farmington Hills, Mich.
- High School:
- Marian Catholic High School
Bio
WHY LEHIGH? "As soon as I walked onto the campus, I knew Lehigh was the college I could see myself at for the next four years. Lehigh is known for its outstanding academic program and was a place where I could continue to play volleyball at a high level."
ON THE STUDENT-ATHLETE EXPERIENCE? "It is an absolute privilege to be a part of the Lehigh student-athlete atmosphere. It's awesome to have the other athletes and students at the games cheering you on!"
2011 (SOPHOMORE SEASON)
Breakout year, earning Patriot League Libero of the Year honors…Played in all 29 matches…Finished second in the Patriot League with 444 digs…Led the league with 55 service aces (0.53 per set)…Tied for the most digs by any Patriot League player in a single match (of 2011), recording a career-high 32 in a four-set victory over Princeton (9/17)…Had 25 digs against Army (9/23)…Tied a career high with six service aces against Lafayette (10/7)…Over the summer, was selected as one of 48 scholar-athletes to participate in the U.S. Women’s National A2 Team Program.
2010 (FRESHMAN SEASON)
BEFORE LEHIGH
Rachel Charles is a 5'6" libero/defensive specialist from Marian Catholic High School and Legacy Volleyball Club. As a three-year varsity captain, Charles led her team to the three straight state finals, including a Class A State Championship in 2009 where her team finished the year with a record of 77-2 and ranked tenth nationally by Prepvolleyball. In 2009, Rachel was voted Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Michigan, the only libero in the country to receive this prestigious award, and was runner-up for Miss Volleyball in the state of Michigan, the only libero to ever make it into the top 5 in voting. Rachel was a four-time All-League selection, three-time All-State selection, and was selected to the Observer and Eccentric Newspaper first team in each of the last three years, as well as a two time nominee for Detroit News First Team.
CAREER STATISTICS
ON THE STUDENT-ATHLETE EXPERIENCE? "It is an absolute privilege to be a part of the Lehigh student-athlete atmosphere. It's awesome to have the other athletes and students at the games cheering you on!"
2013 (SENIOR SEASON)
Named the Patriot League Libero of the Year for the third-straight season…named first team All-Patriot League…finished her career as Lehigh's all-time career digs leader, tallying 1,693 throughout her four years in brown and white… claimed the top spot in the record books on Sept. 7 when she recorded her 1,358th career dig against Wright State, surpassing Sue Snyder's '95 who previously led the way with 1,357 digs...also graduates as Lehigh’s all-time digs per game leader with an average of 4.54 per set …ranks fifth on Lehigh’s career service aces list with a four-year total of 157… ranked 15th in the nation in service aces per set with a season average of 0.45…finished the season with a team-leading 421 digs and 41 service aces…recorded a season-high six service aces and 31 digs in a 3-2 come-from-behind win at rival Lafayette…earned the team’s Athlete of the Year award at the end-of-season banquet.
2012 (JUNIOR SEASON)
Named the Patriot League Libero of the Year for the third-straight season…named first team All-Patriot League…finished her career as Lehigh's all-time career digs leader, tallying 1,693 throughout her four years in brown and white… claimed the top spot in the record books on Sept. 7 when she recorded her 1,358th career dig against Wright State, surpassing Sue Snyder's '95 who previously led the way with 1,357 digs...also graduates as Lehigh’s all-time digs per game leader with an average of 4.54 per set …ranks fifth on Lehigh’s career service aces list with a four-year total of 157… ranked 15th in the nation in service aces per set with a season average of 0.45…finished the season with a team-leading 421 digs and 41 service aces…recorded a season-high six service aces and 31 digs in a 3-2 come-from-behind win at rival Lafayette…earned the team’s Athlete of the Year award at the end-of-season banquet.
2012 (JUNIOR SEASON)
Named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll…Earned the Patriot League’s Libero of the Year for the second-consecutive season…Was named second team All-Patriot League…Led the team with 473 digs and 28 service aces…Had 23 digs in a five-set match against Rutgers…Registered 21 digs and four service aces at Princeton,…Collected 29 digs in the five-set victory at American, the first time Lehigh had ever defeated the Eagles in Washington, D.C….Recorded a season-high 34 digs over five sets at Bucknell before following that with a 32-dig performance that also included a season-high four service aces in a four-set victory at Colgate, handing the Raider’s their first Patriot League loss of the season and snapping their eight-game winning streak against League opponents…Registered 31 digs in a four-set match against Holy Cross…Had 16 digs and an assist in the Patriot League Tournament semifinal match against top-seeded Colgate...Named Athlete of the Year at the team’s annual end-of-the-year banquet.
2011 (SOPHOMORE SEASON)
Breakout year, earning Patriot League Libero of the Year honors…Played in all 29 matches…Finished second in the Patriot League with 444 digs…Led the league with 55 service aces (0.53 per set)…Tied for the most digs by any Patriot League player in a single match (of 2011), recording a career-high 32 in a four-set victory over Princeton (9/17)…Had 25 digs against Army (9/23)…Tied a career high with six service aces against Lafayette (10/7)…Over the summer, was selected as one of 48 scholar-athletes to participate in the U.S. Women’s National A2 Team Program.
2010 (FRESHMAN SEASON)
Led the team with 355 digs and service aces with 33…Recorded a team-high nine digs in her first collegiate match against Duquesne…Had 23 digs in each match against Robert Morris and Radford…Collected a game-high 20 digs against Jacksonville…Dug a team-high 24 balls against Delaware State…Registered a game-high 22 digs at Holy Cross…Recorded a season-high 30 digs and added two service aces in a five-set duel with Army.
BEFORE LEHIGH
Rachel Charles is a 5'6" libero/defensive specialist from Marian Catholic High School and Legacy Volleyball Club. As a three-year varsity captain, Charles led her team to the three straight state finals, including a Class A State Championship in 2009 where her team finished the year with a record of 77-2 and ranked tenth nationally by Prepvolleyball. In 2009, Rachel was voted Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Michigan, the only libero in the country to receive this prestigious award, and was runner-up for Miss Volleyball in the state of Michigan, the only libero to ever make it into the top 5 in voting. Rachel was a four-time All-League selection, three-time All-State selection, and was selected to the Observer and Eccentric Newspaper first team in each of the last three years, as well as a two time nominee for Detroit News First Team.
CAREER STATISTICS
Year | GP | K | E | TA | PCT. | SA | SE | DIG | BS | BA | TB | A |
2010 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 15 | .067 | 33 | 31 | 355 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53 |
2011 | 29 | 4 | 6 | 26 | -.077 | 55 | 49 | 444 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 55 |
2012 | 26 | 5 | 3 | 29 | .069 | 28 | 33 | 473 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 64 |
2013 | 25 | 1 | 5 | 18 | -.222 | 41 | 28 | 421 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 87 |
Totals | 102 | 11 | 14 | 88 | -.034 | 157 | 141 | 1,693 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 277 |
GETTING TO KNOW RACHEL
Nickname: Ray
What’s your favorite thing about Lehigh? The campus
Major & Why: Earth & Environmental Science. I find the field very interesting and it’s a growing field for my generation.
Major & Why: Earth & Environmental Science. I find the field very interesting and it’s a growing field for my generation.
Favorite Class at Lehigh: Environmental Geology
Favorite Place on Campus: Drinker House (Residence Hall) 312
Favorite Food: Crab Legs
Favorite Color: Turquoise
Favorite Musical Artist: Goo Goo Dolls
Favorite Movie: Fired Up!
Favorite TV Show: Breaking Bad, Teen Mom
Favorite Website: Great Day To Be An Athlete
Favorite Pro Team: Detroit Tigers
Favorite Athlete In Another Sport: Justin Verlander
Hobbies: Watching TLC
Magazine Cover I'd Like To Be On: People
Place I'd Like To Visit: Italy
Favorite Food: Crab Legs
Favorite Color: Turquoise
Favorite Musical Artist: Goo Goo Dolls
Favorite Movie: Fired Up!
Favorite TV Show: Breaking Bad, Teen Mom
Favorite Website: Great Day To Be An Athlete
Favorite Pro Team: Detroit Tigers
Favorite Athlete In Another Sport: Justin Verlander
Hobbies: Watching TLC
Magazine Cover I'd Like To Be On: People
Place I'd Like To Visit: Italy
Talent I’d Most Like To Have: Public Speaking
Dream Job: Mom
I Wear My Jersey Number Because: It’s been my number on every team since freshman year of high school.
If I Didn't Play Volleyball, I Would Play: Soccer
If I Had $1 Billion, I Would: Buy an island and build a mansion
I Wear My Jersey Number Because: It’s been my number on every team since freshman year of high school.
If I Didn't Play Volleyball, I Would Play: Soccer
If I Had $1 Billion, I Would: Buy an island and build a mansion
2025 Lehigh Volleyball Season Preview
Friday, August 29
Lehigh Sports Central: Volleyball
Wednesday, September 25
Season Preview: Volleyball
Wednesday, August 28
Volleyball's Natalie Luscomb and Makena Smith represent USA in 18th Annual Global Challenge
Tuesday, October 31
