Emma Hickey ’26 Serves Joy and Teamwork as a Student-Athlete
For junior Emma Hickey ’26, being part of a team is as natural as going in for the dig. Hailing from a long line of family players and coaches, Emma has played volleyball since she was in grade school. Her skill as a libero, love for the sport, and desire to uplift others led Emma from her hometown of Granger, Indiana, to Valpo’s NCAA Division I volleyball program. Since her first match, she’s shone brightly and with humility — a true Beacon.
Back when Emma was still making her college choice, that “Valpo feeling” sealed the deal when it came to competing at the collegiate level. “The recruiting process is not easy and the COVID-19 pandemic only made it more difficult,” Emma says. “But when I talked to [Head Coach Carin Avery], I loved how excited she was. Talking to her was so easy and comfortable, and when she explained the environment here — the campus, the team — it sounded exactly like what I wanted… Hearing all of those things about Valpo’s community and campus culture, I can confirm after coming here that it’s very true.”
The team culture that Coach Avery described to Emma during their first conversation is one that she’s lived in since day one. The synergy between teammates thrives and grows in a supportive environment where the health of the team is championed over individual performance. “Our team always says ‘this is your family’, especially to our teammates who are far from home. We’re all like sisters and that’s exactly how we treat one another. We would do anything for each other. Everyone works hard, everyone wants to get better, and we all do it for each other — not ourselves,” Emma explains.
“Besides winning with the girls, my favorite part of being on the team is the team. The relationships you build as a student-athlete make those wins and milestones mean so much more,” Emma says. “When Coach Avery hit 500 career wins, it was so exciting for the entire team. It’s special to be part of that and it feels good to be able to do that for her.”
Emma recently celebrated being named Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Scholar-Athlete First Team for the second year in a row — and has been named the fastest player in Valpo history (tied with the fastest player in MVC history) to surpass 2,000 career digs. At the end of her third season, she had bumped that number up to 2,078 career digs — the fifth-most in program history. It’s safe to say that Emma’s team was celebrating right there with her.
The atmosphere that Coach Avery and her team built turned the demands of college volleyball into an experience that’s unique to the program but can also speak to the entirety of Valpo Athletics. “The athletics community at Valpo is so supportive, even beyond volleyball. All of the athletes are close. It’s awesome how each sport supports other sports, too,” Emma shares. It’s a testament shared by many Valpo student-athletes, whether it’s asking how a recent match went or filling the student section with brown and gold during a home game.
The support for student-athletes extends well beyond the court. As a civil engineering student, Emma is very familiar with balancing a buzzing schedule with academic rigor. “It’s hard missing a lot of classes. For me personally, civil engineering has quite a bit of homework. It’s definitely an adjustment, but it’s one that you can manage,” Emma says. “All of the professors in the [College of Engineering] in general have been so helpful. They really want to see you succeed.” Even with late game nights and travel, Emma was able to intern with DLZ, an engineering consulting firm in South Bend, Indiana, where she gained hands-on experience reviewing plans, conducting inspections, creating reports, and more. Being able to take part in a real-world role despite her other commitments was essential to affirming Emma’s calling toward civil engineering and her major of choice.
Over the course of Emma’s Valpo experience, the support and camaraderie of her team, friends, and professors have been at the core of so many wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. From winning her first home game to the special moments Coach Avery would plan for the team while on the road, her family here at Valpo has been there through it all. It’s no surprise that putting yourself out there and really getting to know your peers is at the top of her list of advice for future students. “Valpo is a smaller campus and I think that’s nice because you can meet a lot of great people. You can have real connections with them,” she says. “Those connections make all the [difference].”
Ready to become part of our Valpo family and experience the difference for yourself? Explore our majors, athletics, and pillars of Valpo life to get started. We can’t wait to welcome you home!
