When Marcelle Baez-Carlo was six, she was introduced to volleyball.
Her sister, Alanis, was a volleyball player and Baez-Carlo would go to her matches and practices.
"One day I went on the court and just started playing," she said.
Baez-Carlo did not stick with volleyball from that moment. She was on the swim team from 7-10 years old before she went back to the sport. Her mom is a swim instructor, so she had always been around the pool.
"We knew she loved it. Marcelle would go into the backyard with the volleyball and practice passing," Carlos said. "We would say, 'that's her sport for sure.'"
The entire Baez-Carlo family is full of athletes. Marcelle's dad, Carlos, played basketball at Southern New Hampshire college for four years and her mom is a swim instructor. After college, her dad played for the Puerto Rico national team.
Marcelle remembers her first volleyball game like it was yesterday. "I was six years old and it was amazing," she said. "When I was little, I was focused on enjoying the game."
With a family full of athletes, she knew she would be involved in sports, especially since she was always the tallest kid on her teams.
Not only is volleyball a primary sport for women and little girls in Puerto Rico, but a major goal of athletes from the country is to play college athletics in America.
Prior to coming to Chattanooga, Marcelle was given the chance to play for the Puerto Rico National Team.
She found out the incredible news from getting a phone call from a number she didn't recognize. "I was in the room and I told her to pick up the phone," her dad said.
It was the Puerto Rico Volleyball Federation telling her that she was going to be a member of the Puerto Rico National Team.
The team went to Peru, Mexico, Egypt and is planning on going to Columbia in December for the U23 Pan-American Games.
"Being on the national team was an amazing experience," Marcelle said. That privilege gave me the opportunity to go to different countries, meet different people and explore different cultures of volleyball. It was the best experience I had in my life."
Many athletes in Puerto Rico dream of coming to America to have a better education and be a better athlete. Marcelle mentions that at home, they have great colleges and amazing athletics, but coming to America is an extra opportunity.
"I came to Chattanooga because one of the daughters of my dad's best friends went to college here. I chose UTC because this college has an amazing education, the volleyball program is amazing, the city is amazing, I love this place so much. I did not expect that this experience would be so amazing. I wake up every morning excited to be on the court with my teammates, to be in class and to be out, because I love this place."
Marcelle's trip to Chattanooga was out of the ordinary. She was being recruited and had to come to the Scenic City during a worldwide pandemic.
"I was really nervous because I couldn't travel to any college. I trusted in UTC and trusted different videos and all of the things I saw. It was hard, but I needed to trust in myself. I chose the best option."
She was not looking for a college with a lot of Puerto Ricans because she wanted to grow on her own. She is the only international player on the team, but she has someone close to home right nearby. Julimar Alvarado '15.
Marcelle's family discussed the city and the program with Alvarado throughout the recruiting process and got incredibly positive feedback.
"It's exciting to have that opportunity to mentor somebody," Alvarado said. "I'm able to guide Marcelle through some of the things that I went through.
"My time as an athlete at Chattanooga was amazing. It taught me a lot about life and how I do things now in the real world. It was a great experience."
"Having Julimar here is so amazing," Marcelle said. "Whenever I have a problem or something going on, I have her here. She makes me feel safe."
For Marcelle's parents, it's a different type of security. "I've known Julimar since she was born," Carlos said. "I feel safe at home because I know someone in Chattanooga is taking care of my daughter."
Marcelle knows that being in Chattanooga on the volleyball team is not just for herself. "I think that coming from Puerto Rico is a huge responsibility for me. I am representing that the Latino community can do great things."
Her teammates have welcomed her and her culture with open arms. Not only have they accepted her since day one, they also actively engage and try to learn Marcelle's language.
In the middle of this season, Marcelle's parents were able to surprise her prior to a home match. "We are a united family," said Marcelle's mom, Wilmarie. "In our culture, we are always together. When she played in Puerto Rico, we were able to go to all of her games and I know she missed that."
One of the things she had to adjust to was the different style of volleyball. She mentioned that practices in the U.S. are a lot different than they are back home. In Puerto Rico, they have two one-hour-long practices. Everyone at practice is always screaming and has a lot of energy all of the time. That's where Marcelle gets her energy.
"For me, it means a lot that Marcelle is at UTC," said Carlos. "When you see your kids make their dreams come true, you feel satisfied. She worked hard for it, and she made it."
Baez-Carlo was one of the best blockers in the Southern Conference in just her first season. She led the league with 1.30 blocks per set. She also posted 11 blocks in a match, the most by a Moc since 2003.
Marcelle is currently majoring in social work with hopes to work in a children's hospital after pursuing a professional volleyball career post-graduation.
