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11/20/2019 11:00 PMEmily Cole took a liking to volleyball right away when she started playing the sport in 6th grade. Emily really enjoyed the team aspect of volleyball and how all six players need to be in sync in order to succeed on the court. Now a senior at North Branford, Emily has spent the last four years fostering chemistry among the Thunderbirds as a member of the volleyball squad.
Emily stepped into the setter’s position at the beginning of her career. She was a natural at that spot and found that she loved dishing out assists to her teammates.
“Once I started in 6th grade, coach pulled me aside, and I’ve always been a setter since. I got to enjoy the position over the years, and I’m happy I stuck with it,” Emily says. “I found a lot of joy in the position. As a setter, I’m in control of the court and people depend on me. I feel very humble about that, which made me enjoy it the most.”
Emily found her home as the setter for North Branford. Emily likes the responsibility that comes with the position and has a knack for floating the ball into the right spot, so one of her teammates can finish the job.
“I’ve always been told by my coach that I have the perfect setter hands. I’ve never understood what it means, but I guess I have soft hands,” says Emily. “As the setter, I like being in control of the court. Being the setter is like being the quarterback of the team, so you have to have good work ethic, be determined, and have passion. I think that’s what made me good for the role.”
Head Coach Tori Ramada says that Emily proved a true team player this season. Ramada was pleased with how Emily and fellow senior Sofia Cavalier performed in their roles as dual setters for the T-Birds.
“When I saw Emily set for the first time last year, I knew she was a natural. Her fingers touch the ball so delicately, you could never hear the contact,” Ramada says. “Emily worked hard for her position these last two years. During the middle of the season, we decided to change the court rotation to two setters on the court instead of one, and Emily was able to adjust to it right away. She played a great role as the quarterback of the court and always looked for the best interest of the team.”
It was a new experience for Emily to share the setter’s duties with someone else. While it took a little time to get everything squared away, Emily and Cavalier found their footing through effective communication.
“We definitely had a few collisions mentally and physically, but we worked it out,” says Emily. “We worked well together, because neither of us got upset when we weren’t the one setting.”
Emily finished the season with 126 assists, putting her in the top 10 in the Shoreline Conference for that department. She also had 24 aces. As a result of her performance, Emily earned All-Shoreline Conference Honorable Mention this fall.
“I felt amazing when I got it,” says Emily. “I felt I made a difference in the team because, being the setter and able to contribute in that way, getting recognized made me feel really good about myself and the team in general and how far we’ve come.”
In addition to setting up the hitters, Emily needed to be on the same page with her other teammates, as well. Emily routinely worked with North Branford’s libero and the rest of the back line to ensure that everyone was in the right spot on the floor.
“I feel like I’m the bridge. I’m involved in every play, so it’s important to work with everybody,” Emily says. “Not every pass will be perfect, so we have to work together, so I can get the ball up.”
It means a lot to Emily that she made an impact for North Branford in her senior season, especially considering what she’s gone through the past few years. Earlier in her career, Emily endured two injuries that forced her to miss some time. In between her freshman and sophomore years, Emily suffered a shoulder injury in an auto accident. After she was cleared to resume physical activities, she cut one of her knees open while running a drill in the bleachers.
However, there was nothing that could prevent Emily from competing alongside her T-Birds’ teammates in her final campaign at North Branford.
“I missed half of the [sophomore] season, and I thought it would be tough to come back, so I put in 100 percent to fight for my spot on the team. It really helped with my fight and personality,” says Emily. “It made me realize how much I love volleyball. Not being able to play was very upsetting. Being out made me realize how much this sport means to me.”