Karen Dutton Adams was one of the most decorated two sport athletes in the history of Greensboro College - excelling both on the volleyball and tennis courts. Dutton Adams was a nine time All-Conference selection, earning seven honors in tennis and two in volleyball.
A native of Elon College, NC, Dutton Adams began her tennis career in the number five singles position and number three doubles position. Her impact was immediate, as she was named to the Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference First Team in singles and Second Team in doubles as a freshman in 1998. By the time she concluded her career in 2001, Dutton Adams had a lock on the number one singles spot. She also played as high as number one double during her four years with The Pride.
Dutton Adams led the Greensboro tennis team to 36 wins, including a school record 17 as a senior. The 2001 team also set records for best winning percentage at .850, matches played with 20 and match win streak with eight. The doubles duo of Dutton Adams and Jennifer Lea broke the school record for most doubles wins in a career with 44.
Dutton Adams had a distinguished career on the volleyball court as well. She earned Second Team All-Conference honors in 1999, and garnered First Team and All-Tournament recognition in 2000. Dutton Adams finished her career with school records in assists in a season with 1,281 in 2000 and double-doubles in a season with 21 in 2000.Â
During her time with The Pride volleyball team, Greensboro won the 1997 Dixie Tournament Championship and took home the regular season Dixie title in 1999 and 2000. The 1999 and 2000 teams ranked as high as fourth in the South Region. Overall, Dutton Adams helped Greensboro accumulate an overall record of 97-42.
For her four year career as an outside hitter and setter, she recorded 576 kills, 2,756 assists, 169 service aces, 1,305 digs and 236 total blocks. Statistically, her best season came in 2000, when she finished the year with 93 kills, 1,281 assists, 46 service aces, 365 digs and 63 blocks.
In 2000, Dutton Adams won the Greensboro College Fred Joseph Award, honoring athletic excellence. She was also awarded the Greensboro College Craven Williams Award in 1999 and 2001, honoring both academic and athletic achievements.
In addition to the Craven Williams Award, Dutton Adams was named to the Greensboro College Academic Honor Roll all four years. She also earned Dixie Academic All-Conference honors all four years in volleyball and was a multiple All-Region Academic honoree in volleyball and tennis.   Following the 2000-01 academic year, Dutton Adams was recognized as having the highest female academic average at Greensboro College with a 4.0.
