November 27, 2018
The Emmaus girls volleyball varsity and junior varsity teams celebrated their 2018 season this past Tuesday as players, coaches and parents were all on hand at Brookside Country Club for the team’s annual awards banquet.
Coach Gwen Millets’ team enjoyed another outstanding season posting a 25-7-1 overall record, including a 14-2 regular-season mark in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. In the post-season, the Hornets reached the league semifinals, the District XI championship game for the first time since 2014, and also qualified for the PIAA State Tournament for the first time in 23 years.
Senior setter Caroline Bond was named her team’s MVP. A four-year starter, Bond led the team with 976 assists and is now the school’s all-time leader in assists with 3,501. She also recorded her 1,000th career dig during the season.
“It’s nice to get recognized for all of my hard work, but that’s not what I’m excited about it and why I play volleyball,” said Bond, who also voted the league’s MVP. “I’m just so happy to be on this team for four years and I love these girls and have a good experience with all the coaches.”
“I’m also grateful that the coaches in the district felt that I was a good enough player and that’s very flattering, but I was just more excited about the awesome season that we had and a little sad that’s all over. It was good four years.”
Bond is undecided about her future plans in college, but says her top choice is Emerson College in Boston, Mass. She’s also considering Denison (Ohio), Wesleyan (Connecticut.), Ithaca (NY) and Stevenson (Maryland)
The Offensive Player of the Year Award went to Macy Van Den Elzen. The junior outside hitter led the team with 542 kills and reached a personal milestone with her 1,000 career kill in the team’s EPC semifinal loss to Nazareth.
Senior DS/L Rebecca Dalstad was named the team’s Defensive Player of the Year after leading the team with 391 digs. Dalstad also won a number of other awards, including the Academic Award and Players’ Player Award.
Dalstad was one of five seniors on this year’s team along with Bond, Georgie Duddy, Caley McLaughlin and Hannah Lingold.
Here’s a list of all of the varsity award winners:
MVP – Caroline Bond
Most Improved – Kelsie Baus
Spirit of Volleyball – Georgie Duddy/Caley McLaughlin
Players’ Player – Rebecca Dalstad
Offense Award – Macy Van Den Elzen
Defense Award – Rebecca Dalstad
Sportmanship Award – Alexis Sebastian
Lady Hornet Award – Rebecca Dalstad
Green & Gold Award – Rebecca Dalstad
Academic Award – Rebecca Dalstad
Flying Wallenda Award – Caroline Bond
JV Awards:
Offense Award – Haley Dikeman
Defense Award – Rachel Forsythe