Special to IFN

Two rising stars from the Lake Norman area are making waves on the sand this summer.

Carmen Markel of Mooresville and Harper Willis of Davidson have officially qualified for the 2025 USA Volleyball Beach National Championship and will compete in the 12U Open Division in Virginia Beach, Va., from July 16–21.

The tournament, hosted by USA Volleyball, draws the top junior beach volleyball athletes from across the country. 

Carmen, the daughter of Chad and Krista Markel, and Harper, the daughter of Chris and Leslie Willis, are both part of athletic families with deep volleyball roots. Chris Willis serves as the head coach for the Davidson College volleyball team, and both Krista and Leslie are former collegiate volleyball players.

The pair first met while playing for 704 Volleyball Club in Davidson under the direction of Coach Kim Vinson and Leslie Willis. This summer marked their first foray into beach volleyball — and it didn’t take long for them to shine. Carmen and Harper quickly found their footing, earning several tournament wins and capturing the attention of regional beach volleyball circles.

Their consistent performance secured them a spot at the USAV Carolina Region Championship, where they competed last month. In addition to qualifying for the USAV Beach Nationals, the duo has also earned bids to the AVP Junior National Championships — a rare feat for first-year beach players.

Their success story is one of hard work, team chemistry, and the strong foundation built in the Lake Norman volleyball community.