Tag Archives: 2026

Donna Lopiano

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Few individuals have had a greater influence on the advancement of women’s athletics in America than Dr. Donna Lopiano. Recognized as one of the nation’s foremost authorities on gender equity in sport, she has dedicated her distinguished career to expanding opportunities for generations of female athletes through visionary leadership, advocacy, and an unwavering commitment to educational excellence. Dr. Lopiano is President of Sports Management Resources, a nationally respected consulting firm, and serves as an adjunct professor of sports management at Southern Connecticut State University. She is the former Chief Executive Officer of the Women’s Sports Foundation and has been recognized as one of “The 10 Most Powerful Women in Sports” by Fox Sports and one of “The 100 Most Influential People in Sports” by The Sporting News. Her extraordinary contributions have earned her induction into the National Sports Hall of Fame, the National Softball Hall of Fame, the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame, and Texas Women’s Hall of Fame, among many other honors.

Beyond her accomplishments as an athlete, coach, and administrator, Dr. Lopiano became one of the nation’s leading advocates for gender equity in athletics. Through her leadership of the Women’s Sports Foundation, testimony before Congress, and decades of work promoting Title IX and equal opportunities in sport, she helped shape policies that transformed the landscape of women’s athletics in the United States. Her influence has opened doors for countless girls and women to participate, compete, and lead in athletics, leaving an enduring legacy that extends far beyond the game.

A gifted multi-sport athlete, Dr. Lopiano competed in 26 national championship tournaments across four sports and earned nine All-America honors while playing four different positions in softball. She was a member of six national championship softball teams, demonstrating the versatility and competitive excellence that would become hallmarks of her distinguished career.

Dr. Lopiano’s impact on volleyball has been equally significant. She was a four-year varsity volleyball player at Southern Connecticut State College (currently Southern Connecticut State University) from 1964 through 1968 before beginning her coaching career as the head women’s varsity volleyball coach at the University of Southern California while serving as a graduate teaching assistant during the 1969-1970 academic year. She also competed in five

United States Volleyball Association National Championship Tournaments, representing both Connecticut and Southern California club teams.

From 1971 to 1975, while serving as an assistant professor and assistant athletic director at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, Dr. Lopiano founded both the women’s and men’s varsity volleyball programs. Under her leadership, the women’s program quickly developed into a nationally ranked team that earned a berth in the 1974 Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) National Volleyball Championship Tournament. During this same period, she also chaired the United States Collegiate Sports Council Volleyball Committee, helping guide the continued growth of collegiate volleyball at the national level.

In 1975, Dr. Lopiano became the first Director of Women’s Athletics at the University of Texas at Austin, where she built one of the nation’s premier women’s athletic programs. During her 17-year tenure, Texas established a national standard for excellence in women’s collegiate athletics, and the Longhorn volleyball program captured both the 1981 AIAW National Championship and the 1988 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship. Her leadership demonstrated that a commitment to equity, opportunity, and excellence could produce championship programs while transforming the future of women’s athletics nationwide.

Through her visionary leadership, groundbreaking advocacy, and unwavering commitment to advancing opportunities for women in athletics, Dr. Lopiano has left a lasting impact on collegiate athletics, the game of volleyball, and generations of athletes whose opportunities have been expanded through her life’s work. Her extraordinary legacy continues to inspire excellence, equity, and opportunity throughout the world of sport.

 

 

 

Rick Spooner

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Rick Spooner devoted 47 years to Rumsey Hall School in Washington, Connecticut, where he served as an educator, administrator, mentor, and one of the state’s most respected scholastic volleyball coaches. Arriving at Rumsey Hall in 1969 after earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, Rick began a distinguished career that included serving as a history teacher, Dean of Students, Academic Dean, Dean of Faculty, Director of Residential Life, dorm parent, and Associate Head of School until his retirement in 2016. A native of Bristol, Connecticut, and graduate of Bristol Central High School, he later earned a Master’s Degree in Counseling from the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Connecticut in 1992, further strengthening his lifelong commitment to guiding and supporting young people.

At the conclusion of his career, he was honored as a Master Teacher and awarded the prestigious Rumsey Medal of Honor. Following his passing in 2019, Rumsey Hall honored his extraordinary contributions by dedicating Spooner House Dormitory, Spooner Field, and Spooner Pond in recognition of his family’s enduring legacy. In 2026, the school also dedicated the boys’ varsity hockey rink locker room in honor of his son, Stephen Spooner ’94, and Rick’s devotion to Rumsey Hall continues to be recognized through an annual endowment established in his name by the Ehret Family.

Rick possessed a lifelong fascination with the heritage and culture of Japan. During the early 1980s, he created a Japanese History course for ninth-grade students that remained a popular part of Rumsey Hall curriculum until his retirement. He incorporated Japanese philosophy and traditions into both the classroom and athletics, where students affectionately addressed him as “Sensei,” while he warmly referred to them as his “grasshoppers”. Quiet by nature and thoughtful in his approach, Rick was known as an exceptional listener whose door was always open. His calm demeanor, practical wisdom, honest advice, and unwavering encouragement earned the respect of generations of students and athletes who viewed him as both mentor and confidant.

Rick’s greatest contribution to Connecticut volleyball began in 1975 when he founded the girls’ volleyball program at Rumsey Hall and became the varsity head coach for nearly five decades. Under his leadership, the program developed into one of the region’s most successful and respected scholastic programs. His varsity teams achieved undefeated seasons in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, and 2005. Those accomplishments were especially remarkable because Rumsey Hall’s varsity roster-comprised primarily of eighth- and ninth-grade students-consistently competed and defeated high school programs made up of older athletes.

The inaugural Rumsey Hall Volleyball Tournament was also established in 1975, and through Rick’s dedication it grew into one of the school’s signature athletic events. In recognition of his exceptional leadership, the tournament was officially renamed the Rick Spooner Classic in 2002, and its 50th anniversary was celebrated in 2026. Coach Spooner’s teams captured tournament championships in 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005-2015, for an impressive total of 20 titles. His teams also won the Upland Volleyball Tournament in Pennsylvania in 1999, 2001, 2004, 2006, and 2009. Following Rick’s retirement, his daughter Allison Linley ’89, a former player, teacher, and junior varsity coach at Rumsey Hall, continued his legacy as varsity head coach for more than a decade.

An accomplished player himself, Rick competed for many years in Connecticut men’s leagues as a setter for both the Litchfield County Volleyball Club and the New Milford “Big T” team, which he also captained. Through his leadership as an educator, mentor, and scholastic coach, Rick Spooner left a lasting impact on Rumsey Hall School and on generations of student-athletes whose lives were shaped by his guidance. His unwavering commitment to excellence, quiet wisdom, and enduring love for the game established a tradition of success that continues to inspire the volleyball community today.

 

Stephen W. Banks

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Volleyball has been an integral part of Stephen’s life for nearly five decades. His passion for the sport began at Stonington High School in 1975, where as a member of the “Spikers”, his team defeated the “Red Army” for the intramural championship. He continued playing volleyball throughout the 1980s at the Westerly Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), earning the Cliff Smith Sportsmanship Award in 1988. Steve also competed at the Club A level with the Westerly and Groton Volleyball Clubs while enjoying beach leagues and tournaments on both hardwood and sand. As he puts it, “the spirit was willing, but the body could not compete at a high level”, he retired from competitive play in 2016. Away from volleyball, Steve continues to run every day and has completed both the Ocean State Marathon in Rhode Island and the Kona Marathon in Hawaii while raising money for the American Stroke Association. More recently, he has taken up golf and continues his search for that elusive first hole-in-one.

Steve began his scholastic coaching career at Fitch High School in 1994 as the junior varsity coach before taking over the varsity program in 1996. Following a brief retirement in 2021, he returned to Fitch in 2024. Throughout his coaching career, he successfully balanced the demands of coaching, family, and a 47-year career as an Environmental Engineer for the Towns of Stonington and Ledyard. His dedication to volleyball also extended beyond high school season through camps, clinics, and leagues for middle school and high school athletes in the Groton and Westerly area. He continually sought opportunities to grow as a coach by attending numerous coaching clinics, including Gold Medal Squared, while acknowledging that he learned just as much from his players and fellow coaches over the years.

Over the course of his noteworthy coaching career, Steve compiled a 396-178 record, good for a 70 percent winning percentage. His teams captured nine Eastern Connecticut Conference (ECC) League Championships and ten ECC Tournament titles while producing 14 All-State players. Fitch qualified for the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) State Tournament in 25 of his 27 seasons, winning the first-round tournament matches in 23 of those appearances. His teams advanced to the Class L Championship Match in 2003, the Class LL Championship Match in 2008, and made numerous CIAC semifinal and quarterfinal appearances. Steve was selected twice as a Senior All-Star Coach and was named The Day newspaper Coach of the Year six times. He also served as Groton Middle School Tournament Director for 25 years, directed the Westerly YMCA High School Volleyball League, and consistently challenged his teams by scheduling one of the state’s strongest non-conference schedules.

Throughout his career, Steve emphasized sportsmanship, hard work, fun, and respect while building lasting friendships with players, coaches, and colleagues across Connecticut. He reflects with gratitude on the many memorable matches and the mutual respect shared among opposing coaches, noting regardless of the outcome, they could always shake hands and compliment one another’s teams. His hope has always been that he helped his players reach beyond their limitations while achieving excellence both on and off the volleyball court.

His former Athletic Director, Mike Ellis, perhaps summarized Steve’s legacy best when he wrote, “Congrats on a superlative career at Fitch. Your teams were always competitive but more importantly they always played with class. I am so proud to have worked with you.” Steve has long embraced two of John Wooden’s guiding principles: “Teamwork is not a preference; it is a requirement”, and “Success is never final and failure is never fatal.” Those values have shaped both his coaching philosophy and the culture of the Fitch Volleyball program.

Steve’s commitment to developing young people extended beyond competition. Fitch Volleyball annually presents the “Art Carmichael Award” to the team’s best hitter in memory of a friend and pioneer of New England volleyball. The program also raises money for cancer research and supports local food banks, encouraging players to look beyond themselves and make a positive impact on their community. He credits the love and unwavering support of his wife and family as an essential part of his distinguished coaching journey. Through his leadership, sportsmanship, and unwavering commitment to his student-athletes, Stephen Banks has left a lasting impact on Fitch High School Volleyball and on the generations of young people throughout his career.

Linda Sagnelli

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For nearly four decades, Coach Linda Sagnelli dedicated her life to collegiate athletics, building successful programs while impacting the lives of countless student-athletes. When she retired on June 1, 2023, she concluded an extraordinary 38-year career as a Division I head coach. Her first 14 seasons were spent at Iona College (currently Iona University) in New Rochelle, New York, followed by 24 seasons at Central Connecticut State University, where she established herself as one of the most accomplished coaches in school history. Throughout her career, she was fortunate to have the support of her parents and her husband, John, who are now deceased. Today, she remains grateful for the love and encouragement of her son, Matt; his wife, Lisa; her daughter, Erin; and Erin’s boyfriend Tevin. She credits their love and unwavering support as an important part of her remarkable coaching journey.

Sagnelli’s playing career and education began at C.W. Post College, where she earned a degree in Physical Education in 1983. A three-time captain and team Most Valuable Player (MVP), she led the 1982 team to the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) Regional Championship while earning tournament MVP honors. That memorable season culminated in a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament berth, a national Top 10 ranking, and an impressive 47-5 record. Following her collegiate career, Sagnelli competed professionally in Sweden before being inducted into the C.W. Post Hall of Fame in 2008.

Linda began her collegiate coaching career at Iona College, where she spent 14 seasons as head volleyball coach, compiling a 126-184 record while earning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Coach of the Year honors in 1992. Beyond coaching, she held leadership roles as Assistant Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator, experiences that prepared her for the next chapter of her career.

Prior to the 2000 season, Sagnelli was named Head Volleyball Coach at Central Connecticut State University. During her 24 seasons leading the Blue Devils, she compiled a 347-291 record and a .544 winning percentage, becoming CCSU’s winningest volleyball coach and the winningest female head coach in the University’s Division I era. Under her leadership, the Blue Devils captured two regular-season championships, qualified for the Northeast Conference (NEC) Tournament 18 times, and advanced to five conference championship matches. Sagnelli was named NEC Coach of the Year four times and Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Coach of the Year once while coaching the program’s first NEC Player of the Year, Madelyn Kaprelyan. During her tenure, she mentored 25 First Team All-NEC selections, 42 Second Team All-NEC honorees, one NEC Player of the Year, five NEC Rookies of the Year, and two Libero of the Year recipients. Her teams also earned the NEC Team Sportsmanship Award five times, reflecting the culture of respect and excellence she established within the program.

Under Coach Sagnelli, CCSU Volleyball also enjoyed exceptional success in the classroom and the community. Beginning in 2007, the Blue Devils earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for 17 consecutive seasons, the sixth-longest active streak in Division I at the time of her retirement. During her final seven years, the program recorded the highest team GPA in the CCSU Athletic Department six times, while numerous student-athletes earned College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic

All-District recognition and All-NEC Academic honors. Sagnelli also fostered a

strong partnership with Smalley Elementary School in New Britain, leading school supply drives and encouraging her players to tutor students weekly, reinforcing the importance of service beyond the volleyball court.

Coach Sagnelli’s commitment to collegiate athletics extended well beyond her own program. She served on numerous athletic department and university committees and was recognized as a member of CCSU’s inaugural Women of Influence class. Nationally, she contributed to the advancement of the sport as an AVCA Top 25 voter and served on the AVCA Regional All-American Committee, Regional Ranking Committee, AVCA Head Coaches Committee, and the NEC Volleyball Committee. While championships, awards, records, academic excellence, and service define an extraordinary career, Coach Sagnelli’s greatest legacy lives on in the generations of student-athletes she mentored. Through her leadership, integrity, and unwavering commitment to excellence, Coach Linda Sagnelli left a lasting impact on Central Connecticut State University, the game of volleyball, and everyone fortunate enough to be part of her program.

Heather Kursman

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Heather Kursman’s love of sports began long before volleyball became her life’s work. As a young girl growing up in Bloomfield, Connecticut, she could often be found playing catch with her father in the street or sorting through her baseball card collection, memorizing players’ statistics. As a beneficiary of Title IX, she was among the first girls to participate in both Little League and Babe Ruth baseball in Bloomfield. A three-sport letter winner in high school, Heather continued to pursue her passion for athletics at the University of Connecticut, where she earned a degree in Sports Marketing and Management. While attending UConn, she worked part-time for the University’s Recreation Department, gaining valuable early experience in officiating and athletic program supervision. Following graduation, she played volleyball with the Connecticut Sports Club, where she was first introduced to officiating adult matches. Encouraged by program director and collegiate official Matt Manliguis, she pursued officiating more formally and connected with Barbara Startup, a member of the Connecticut Women’s Volleyball Hall of Fame’s Founder Class of 2011, marking the beginning of her extraordinary career in volleyball officiating.

For more than four decades, Heather has been one of Connecticut’s most respected, dedicated, and influential officials. Her officiating experience spans every level of the sport, from middle school competition to high school state championship matches, as well as collegiate volleyball through National Association for Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS), the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), USA Volleyball, and Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) programs. Heather was also one of the founding officials for boys’ high school volleyball in Connecticut, helping establish and grow the sport throughout the state. Her extensive experience includes officiating the Unified Games, Nutmeg Games, the Town of Newington Men’s League, Travelers, Pratt & Whitney, Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) and Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), the Town of Bloomfield Co-Ed League, and the IBM tri-State Volleyball League, among many others. For more than 40 years, she has also served as Coordinator of both the women’s and men’s volleyball programs for the South Windsor Parks and Recreation Department, continuing her lifelong commitment to developing opportunities for athletes of all ages.

Heather’s contributions to volleyball extends far beyond officiating matches. She currently officiates both boys’ and girls’ high school volleyball in Connecticut while serving as Head Rater for the Connecticut Board of Volleyball Officials (CBVO), mentoring, and evaluating officials throughout the state. She also serves as Scheduling Coordinator for CBVO-North and as President and Scheduling Coordinator for CBVO-Boys. In addition, Heather serves on both Executive Boards, the State Board, and the Boys’ Volleyball Committee, represents volleyball officials on the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) Advisory Board, serves as the CIAC State Tournament Assigner for the Boys’ State Tournament, and acts as a liaison for new officials entering the profession. Her leadership and dedication have helped strengthen and support volleyball officiating throughout Connecticut.

Heather’s outstanding service has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Connecticut High School Coaches Association (CHSCA) Boys’ Volleyball Official of the Year Award, the Boys’ Connecticut Volleyball League Official of the Year Award, and the Town of South Windsor Parks and Recreation Ben E. Award. Throughout her career, she has remained guided by a steadfast belief that youth sports should always place young athletes first. Her unwavering commitment to sportsmanship, positive competition, and the enjoyment of the game has reflected the values that have defined her distinguished career in Connecticut volleyball.

Beyond her many contributions to volleyball, Heather enjoys supporting her alma mater, the University of Connecticut, as well as fishing, gardening, playing cards, spending time with her dog, Vegas, reading a good mystery, and traveling to the Caribbean with her wife, Theresa. Through her leadership, integrity, and lifelong dedication to officiating, Heather Kursman has left a lasting impact on the sport of volleyball and has helped shape the standard of excellence for officials throughout Connecticut.

 

Isabelle Taylor

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Growing up in Darien, Connecticut, Isabelle was immersed in volleyball from an early age. With two older sisters who played for the Darien High School program, she spent countless hours in the gym watching them compete and occasionally peppering with Connecticut Women’s Volleyball Hall of Fame Class of 2012 inductee Laurie LaRusso during junior varsity timeouts. Although volleyball had always been part of her life, it was not until her freshman year of high school in 2012 that she proudly wore the Blue Wave varsity uniform herself. The Darien volleyball community quickly became an extension of her family, and those early experiences helped shape both the player and the person she would become.

Isabelle gained confidence during her sophomore season in 2013 as a captain and starting six-rotation outside hitter. Known for her passion, composure, and relentless defensive play, she embraced the biggest moments with confidence and determination. After playing club volleyball for CWVBHF Class of 2017 inductee Mike Brienza, with the Connecticut Juniors, she returned for her junior season with a more refined and tenacious style of play.

Her 2014 season proved to be one of the finest in Darien volleyball history. Isabelle helped lead the Blue Wave to both the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference (FCIAC) Championship and the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) Class LL State Championship while earning tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors, Connecticut High School Coaches Association (CHSCA) Player of the Year, Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year, First Team All-State, and First Team All-FCIAC recognition. In the Class LL State Championship match, she delivered one of the defining performances of her high school career, recording 22 kills.

As a senior in 2015, Isabelle continued to lead the Blue Wave as team captain and team MVP, helping Darien capture another FCIAC Championship. She finished the season with a .472 hitting percentage and concluded her high school career with 858 kills. Despite suffering a significant knee injury late in the season, she continued to demonstrate leadership, determination, and commitment that defined her career. Isabelle concluded her high school career with additional honors, including CHSCA Player of the Year, FCIAC Player of the Year, and First Team All-State recognition. While her individual accomplishments were remarkable, she has always viewed her success as a reflection of the commitment, trust, and belief shared among her teammates.

Following her high school career, Isabelle continued playing volleyball at Claremont McKenna College in California. After spending her freshman season recovering from her knee injury, she returned to the court as an important contributor for the Athenas as a six-rotation outside hitter.

In 2017, Isabelle helped lead Claremont McKenna to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III National Championship – the first national title in program history. She was a starter throughout the regional and national tournaments and, in the NCAA championship match against Wittenberg, recorded nine kills and led the team with 16 digs to help secure the championship. Following the match, Laurie LaRusso was among the first to reach out and congratulate her, bringing Isabelle’s volleyball journey full circle.

After her junior season, Isabelle made the difficult decision to end her competitive volleyball career as recurring knee injuries prevented her from competing without significant pain. Although her playing career ended earlier than she had hoped, the lessons she learned through volleyball would shape the next chapter of her life.

Following her graduation from Claremont McKenna College, Isabelle earned her Master of Social Work from New York University, graduating in May 2024. She currently works as a mental health therapist while training to become a psychoanalyst, with the goal of supporting high-level female athletes, particularly those navigating injury and recovery. Her own experiences as an athlete have fueled a passion for helping others through the challenges of competition, identity, and healing.

From watching her sisters compete in the Darien High School gym, to championship seasons as a player, to now helping athletes through her professional work, volleyball has remained a constant source of connection, growth, and purpose. Isabelle is deeply grateful to be part of her sisters’ and Darien’s volleyball legacy and for the invaluable support and guidance of her parents, teammates, Laurie LaRusso and Mike Brienza.

 

 

 

Emma Rose

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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.