CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – A Champaign native could get the chance to play volleyball internationally this summer.

Caroline Kerr, who graduated from St. Thomas More, received an invitation to train with the 2025 Women’s U23 National Team for the NORCECA U23 Pan American Cup.

Kerr was recognized as an All-American in 2024 as a redshirt sophomore at the University of Tennessee. She achieved more than 1,000 assists during the season for the second consecutive year.

She’s one of just 18 athletes invited to the U23 camp in Anaheim, Calif., from July 18-25.

She looks forward to representing Central Illinois on a big stage, as she has been for years with the Vols.

“I think it’s just really cool to be able to wear that with pride,” Kerr remarked. “Especially in the SEC, there are not too many Champaign, Illinois, out there. So I take a lot of pride in it, being from Illinois and being from Champaign, and I credit much of my success to the training I’ve been fortunate enough to have while growing up.”

12 of the 18 athletes will be chosen to represent the United States July 25-August 2 in Leon, Mexico. 

Caroline’s younger sister, Addison Kerr, just wrapped up her senior year with the Sabers and is committed to play college volleyball at Southern Illinois.