This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
11/21/2017 11:00 PMIf her first season is any indication of future success, then it looks like there are going to be plenty of victories and accolades in the cards for Emma Appleman and the Guilford volleyball team.
Emma recently completed her freshman year as an outside hitter with the Indians, becoming one of the first freshmen to earn a spot on the varsity roster in Head Coach Laura Meyer’s tenure. Emma helped Guilford finish with its best regular-season record in program history at 18-2, after which the Indians reached their first SCC Tournament final since 2011 and then advanced to the Class L State Tournament semifinals. Emma’s contributions to Guilford’s success were immense as she had collected 148 kills with 112 digs and 62 aces through the quarterfinal round of states.
“This year has been such a great experience. The girls are so supportive of me,” says Emma. “The stats I have are because of the people and passers around me. It’s truly a team sport, and I also can’t thank the parents and fans enough. We have a good setter [senior Julia Hyman], and she’s helped me with my hitting. It’s been about technique for me, which I’ve used as a foundation, and it’s helped get me to the level I’m at.”
Coach Meyer describes Emma as an athlete who features a diverse array of abilities, along with an intensity that’s contagious among the Indians.
“Emma is a freshman that plays all the way around. She has a consistent hit and makes plays many athletes cannot,” Meyer says. “She is a big asset on our team. The way she plays and hustles makes everyone on the team hustle the same way.”
Emma says that her desire to thrive is what ignites her competitive fire on the floor. She gets a big boost from playing alongside a supportive group of teammates who constantly play their hearts out.
“I’m a pretty competitive person, and we all want to win so bad. We want to go after every ball and get every touch,” Emma says. “Effort is what really counts on the team. We compliment each other on hustle, on mistakes, and all that matters is that we at least make the effort.”
Emma feels that Guilford’s historic campaign has not only set a benchmark for more success for her next three seasons, but it will also raise the expectations of future teams who will want to replicate what the Indians achieved in 2017.
“This year will impact us for years. The competition will be harder, because they see what we can do now,” Emma says. “But the girls here will also compete harder, and those teams in the future will do so, too, because they want to be like this team.”
Looking forward, Emma says she wants to keep leaving everything out there for the green and white as Guilford continues its pursuit of championship glory.
“I want to give as much as I have to this team and be supportive of the girls,” says Emma. “I hope to continue it the next few years to make us a good team. I couldn’t ask for a better team. They really care for you as a person.”