The Case Western Reserve University volleyball team didn’t just walk away with two victories Sept. 7—they delivered a historic moment for their leader. Head Coach Karen Farrell celebrated her 500th career win that day as the team swept both Allegheny College and Earlham College, a testament to the winning culture Farrell has built over her 22-season career.
From her initial tenure as head coach at CWRU from 1995 to 1998, to her return in 2006, Farrell has dedicated decades to shaping the university’s volleyball program into a formidable force. Throughout this time, she’s led the Spartans through numerous achievements—and a fair share of challenges.
Following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 team had 17 players who were considered rookies, as they’d never played a collegiate match before—resulting in the team losing a lot of close battles on the court.
“Our players were determined to improve quickly and were inspired to work hard to turn things around,” Farrell said. “In 2022, the team’s record was 22-6, which was the highest winning percentage in the team’s history, and the team was ranked sixth in the region—but just missed out on an at-large bid to post-season play.”
This disappointment fueled another nine months of work and effort, and in 2023, the veteran team posted a 22-9 record, ranked fifth in the region, and earned selection to the NCAA Tournament for the third time for the program (previously in 2010 and 2015).
“The vision that we had when things weren’t going our way in 2021 for a more competitive experience—and the patience to rebuild with talented and motivated players—has led us to new heights with the current team and a confidence, grittiness and urgency that we haven’t seen since our 2015 season,” Farrell said.
Looking ahead
This year’s team is off to the best start in program history, a feat Farrell attributes to her coaching staff. Described by Farrell as the “most committed” in the game, the Spartans’ staff has been named University Athletic Association’s Coaching Staff of the Year multiple times for their expertise and exceptional support of the players and the program.
“We have also been fortunate to have a number of former players join our coaching staff at different points when they graduated and their master’s programs or professional programs allowed, which is a nice bridge—and they have always provided me with great feedback from a recent grad perspective,” Farrell said.
“I am so lucky to work closely with people I trust who share their ideas and thoughts on improving our team,” she added, “who support my decisions, work hard to maximize our team’s potential and also use their humor to lighten the mood through the most trying times.”
In addition to her coaching duties, Farrell serves as associate athletic director, senior woman administrator, deputy Title IX coordinator, and athletic designee for inclusion and diversity. In each of her roles, Farrell said she tries to represent voices that aren’t regularly heard—and looks for opportunities for spaces to be inclusive.
“Some weeks are more challenging to balance my time on the various administrative fronts with the demands of coaching, but I value the impact I can have on a broader scale, and I appreciate being able to step outside of my coaching role and connect with colleagues as we work to support our students in their experience,” Farrell explained.
Read on to learn more about Farrell in this week’s five questions.
1. Name a spot in Cleveland you haven’t checked out yet, but would like to visit.
West Side Market—living on the eastside and not venturing much past University Circle, it sounds like it would be far.
2. Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Neither—my peak hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., which is great for all of the meetings that fall into that timeframe but not so much for evening practices and matches.
3. What’s an interesting fact about you most people don’t know?
Our family has two rescue dogs and I love walking dogs at the City Dogs Kennel in Cleveland. I have met the most selfless and kindest people in the volunteer community there. I highly recommend it for anyone who loves dogs and wants to make a difference for the most loving souls who end up abandoned.
4. From where do you draw your biggest inspiration?
I am most inspired by the transformation from the 17-year-old girl we recruit in high school to the 22-year-old woman who moves on from CWRU and the amazing lives they create for themselves. I am grateful to support that tremendous growth in the time they are with us.
5. What’s your favorite thing about CWRU?
I love working with our highly motivated students and collaborating with dedicated colleagues across the campus.