The number six is considered the most harmonious number with all the others. The number six is also the number worn by Appalachian State volleyball player Emily Corrigan.
A senior outside hitter from John’s Creek, Georgia, Corrigan brings to the team a relentless attack that is hard to ignore.
During the Appalachian Invitational about a week ago, the first game started off a little rough for the Mountaineers. Losing the first two sets quickly to a favored Missouri team, there was one voice that stood out a little louder than all the rest: Corrigan’s.
That voice led the Mountaineers back into the game to force a fifth set. When a Liberty team, that wasn’t favored to win, took the game a set longer than expected, there was Corrigan’s voice again. Once again, she led the team to victory in the final set.
No matter the place, time, or circumstance, Corrigan’s voice carries the Mountaineers.
After the invitational, Corrigan was named to the all-tournament team for her outstanding role not only as a player but as a teammate and a leader. She said that being a leader requires a few distinct responsibilities.
“We have to take ownership of our mistakes, our leadership responsibilities, and our strengths and potential,” Corrigan said.
Corrigan certainly has many strengths in her bag full of tricks, as she is never far away from leading the team in any particular statistic.
With 12 kills against Western Carolina, 12 against Missouri and 22 against Liberty, Corrigan is definitely no stranger to the leader boards.
On the year, Corrigan has averaged 3.35 kills per set, second on the team behind standout outside hitter Jess Keller. She has also maintained a strong presence on the defensive end, accumulating 21 blocks on the year, also second on the team behind middle blocker Ashton Gregory.
Even when number six misses the leaderboard, though it is rare, she is constantly encouraging her teammates and challenging them to do better. There is no room for complacency in Corrigan’s eyes–there is only hard work and dedication.
“Emily is a very solid person and you always know what you’re going to get from her,” Keller said.
Being a solid person not only comes in handy for Corrigan on the court but off as well. A leader doesn’t start being a leader when he or she starts a specific action and stop when they’re done with that action. A leader continues to lead until there is no one else or nothing else to lead, Keller said.
“She’s a very compassionate teammate and really cares for others and reaches out to other people, which is something we always look to her for,” Keller said.
However, Corrigan doesn’t recognize herself as a specific leader on the team. She understands it’s important to lead and encourage, but referring to herself as a leader doesn’t happen very often.
Corrigan considers it her role on the team to keep the team relaxed and playing hard. By doing this, and by pushing her teammates harder during the games and at practice, Corrigan finds that she’s also really pushing herself.
With a hitting percentage of .370 against Charlotte and being fluent in almost every position on the court, Corrigan refuses to give anything less than her best, which has been shown in her performance so far this season.
Corrigan and the Mountaineers will face off in a home Sun Belt contest against Texas State on Saturday. The match is set for 6:30 p.m. at the Holmes Center.
Story by: Noah Gerringer, Intern Sports Reporter