Emma Rose’s volleyball journey began with family. Inspired by watching her older sister, Marina, discover success in the sport, Emma first picked up a volleyball in middle school. What started as a shared interest quickly became a passion of her own, leading to an outstanding playing career that took her from Connecticut high school volleyball to one of the finest setter careers in Iona College (now Iona University) in New Rochelle, New York , where she enjoyed one of the finest setter careers in program history before returning to the game as a coach, mentor, and volleyball broadcaster at Fairfield University.
Emma began her volleyball career with the Husky Volleyball Club before continuing at Coventry High School and later competing for the Connecticut Juniors Club. At Coventry, she established herself as one of Connecticut’s premier players while competing in the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) Class S. A four-year varsity starter and team captain in both junior and senior year, she was named her team’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), earned four North Central Connecticut Conference (NCCC) All-Conference selections and three Connecticut All-State honors, and was selected MVP of the Senior All-Star Game. Emma was coached at Coventry by Ryan Giberson, while Connecticut Women’s Volleyball Hall of Fame Class of 2017 inductee Mike Brienza, her club coach with the Connecticut Juniors, played a particularly influential role in her development. Believing in Emma’s potential to compete at the Division I level, Brienza encouraged her to pursue that opportunity and helped pave the way for her collegiate career.
Emma continued her career at Iona, where she became one of the most accomplished setters in program history under head coach Patric Santiago. A four-year contributor and floor leader, she graduated as Iona’s all-time assists leader in the rally-scoring era and ranked second all-time overall with 3,260 career assists. She averaged 7.69 assists per set throughout her collegiate career, ranking seventh in program history, while also finishing second in service attempts (1,646), ninth in services aces (120), and appearing in 424 career sets, the ninth-most in program history at the time of her graduation.
Emma’s senior season in 2018 stands among the finest individual seasons in Iona volleyball history. She was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Setter of the Year while earning All-MAAC First Team, MAAC Championship Team, and MAAC All-Academic Team honors. She also received MAAC Player of the Week recognition and finished the season ranked 11th nationally in assists per set by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), averaging 11.65. Her 1,188 assists ranked fourth in Iona single-season history, while her assists-per-set average established a new program record. During the season, Emma became Iona’s all-time career assists leader in the rally-scoring era and delivered several remarkable performances, including 58 assists against Canisius University, 57 against Rider University, and 53 in the MAAC Championship match against Canisius. She concluded her senior campaign with 10 double-doubles, a career-high 207 digs, and a personal-best 19 digs against Rider.
Beyond her outstanding playing career, Emma has remained deeply committed to the growth of volleyball. Since graduating from Iona, she has continued to play competitively while coaching youth and adult athletes through clinics in New York City and at collegiate summer camps. Passionate about developing the next generation of players, she has dedicated herself to mentoring young athletes and sharing the lessons she learned throughout her own volleyball journey. In 2023, she further expanded her contributions by serving as a guest speaker on leadership and team culture and as a color commentator for the MAAC Women’s Volleyball Championship hosted at Fairfield University.
Through her outstanding achievements as a player, her dedication as a coach and mentor, and her continued service to the sport, Emma Rose has built a legacy that extends well beyond her accomplishments on the court. Whether coaching young athletes, mentoring the next generation, or serving as a color commentator, her passion for volleyball, commitment to developing others, and love of the game continue to inspire future generations while helping strengthen the future of volleyball in Connecticut.