Emma Hickey

#1 Emma Hickey

Pos. L
Ht. 5-8
Yr. Fr.
Hometown Granger, Ind.
High School (Prev. School) Penn

2023: Appeared in 121 sets over all 33 matches as a sophomore ... tallied 628 total digs, averaging 5.19 digs/set ... ranked eighth nationally in total digs and 15th in digs/set ... ranked second in MVC in total digs and fourth in digs/set ... moved into 10th in Valpo's 25-point era in both total digs and digs/set ... became fastest player in Valpo history and in MVC history to reach 1,000 career digs, doing so in her 49th career match Sept. 26 against UIC ... finished sophomore campaign with 1,363 career digs, already 14th-most in program history ... concluded year with nearly 400 more digs than any other D-I sophomore ... at end of season, only 15 D-I juniors had more career digs ... reached double figures in digs 30 times, including 13 efforts of 20+ digs and surpassing 30 digs on four occasions ... paced team in digs 27 times ... opened season with 21 digs in Aug. 25 sweep of Akron ... started at outside hitter for the first time in her career in Aug. 26 sweep of ULM, narrowly missing a double-double with nine kills on .412 hitting and nine digs ... split time between libero and outside hitter, registering six kills and 12 digs in Sept. 1 sweep of Western Illinois ... named to All-Tournament Team at Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational Sept. 15-16 after tallying 55 digs over three matches ... posted 34 digs in five-set win over Missouri State to open MVC play Sept. 22 ... named MVC Defensive Player of the Week Sept. 25 ... registered double-double Sept. 26 against UIC, finishing with 30 digs and 10 assists, the latter matching her career best ... recorded 28 digs at Drake Sept. 30 ... needed just three sets to pick up 31 digs in sweep at Missouri State Oct. 21 ... 31 digs is tied for second-most in a three-set match in program history ... notched 28 digs against Murray State Oct. 28 ... tallied a season-high 39 digs in five-set win at Bradley Nov. 3 ... 39 digs is tied for third-most in a five-set match in program history ... named to MVC Scholar-Athlete Second Team ... named a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District recipient.

2022: Appeared in all 129 sets over 33 matches as a rookie ... named to the All-MVC Second Team and the MVC All-Freshman Team ... set Valpo and MVC records for digs by a freshman with 735 ... led the Valley and ranked fourth among all NCAA D-I players with 5.70 digs/set ... no other D-I freshman was within 200 digs of her season total ... tied for the second-most total digs by a D-I freshman in the last 12 seasons ... moved into a tie for third in the 25-point era and a tie for fourth overall in Valpo’s single-season record book ... ranks sixth in the MVC single-season record book as well ... improved average to conference-best 6.00 digs/set in MVC-only play ... also averaged 1.18 assists/set (152 total assists) and tallied 26 service aces, second-most on the team ... picked up at least 10 digs in 31 of Valpo’s 33 matches, including 23 efforts of 20+ digs ... led Valpo in digs 29 times ... opened career by earning All-Tournament Team honors at the Youngstown Invitational Aug. 26-27 ... averaged 5.36 digs/set over Valpo’s three wins at YSU, including 22 digs on Aug. 26 in a win over Delaware State and 28 digs the next day in a win over the host Penguins ... named MVC Defensive Player of the Week following opening weekend as well ... narrowly missed a double-double in Sept. 3 win over Northern Illinois, posting 21 digs and nine assists ... recorded season-best three service aces in Sept. 9 sweep of Morgan State ... registered 25 digs in win at Akron Sept. 9 and 28 digs in win at Cleveland State the next day to close the Akron Invitational ... showcased her consistency throughout MVC play, registering at least 14 digs in all 18 Valley matches and hitting the 20-dig mark 15 times ... opened conference action with 27 digs against UNI Sept. 23 and 25 digs in win over Drake the next night ... stood out as Valpo swept the central Illinois road swing, tallying 23 digs and eight assists in Sept. 30 win at Illinois State and 26 digs and nine assists in Oct. 1 win at Bradley ... named MVC Freshman of the Week Oct. 3 ... racked up 37 digs in win over Belmont Oct. 8 ... named MVC Defensive Player of the Week Oct. 10 ... posted 28 digs in return engagement at Belmont Nov. 4, and followed the next night with 30 digs at Murray State ... set Valpo and MVC season highs with 42 digs in five-set win over Bradley Nov. 11 ... 42 digs is the most in program history in a five-set match and second-most in program history in any length match ... 42 digs also were tied for fourth-most in a single match by a D-I player in 2022 ... also tallied 10 assists against the Braves for her first career double-double.

Prep: The first recruit in program history to earn a spot on one of the AVCA’s three High School All-American teams, as she was named a Second Team All-American following her senior year ... helped Penn reach #1 ranking in the state as a senior ... an AVCA All-Region selection and First Team All-State as a senior ... earned Second Team All-State honors earlier in her career ... three-time First Team All-Conference selection ... stood out in club play for NIVA Jrs as well ... named an All-American at 18s Nationals in the American division ...  an All-American at 17s Nationals in the Premier division ... named MVP of the 17 open Beast of the Southeast tournament.

Personal: Major is civil engineering ... daughter of Lou and Michelle Hickey.