At the end of her junior season, Emily Olson delivered a speech to her teammates on the North Branford girls’ volleyball squad, stating why she wanted to become a captain. Emily had been a member of the varsity team since her freshman year and was looking to “take charge” as a senior, much like the captains who had preceded her.

Emily’s willingness to help her teammates, coupled with her abilities on the court, earned her that coveted position of captain. Emily is leading the Thunderbirds as a captain alongside fellow senior Mackenzie Burwell and junior Marissa Ricardo this year.

“In my speech, I talked about my dedication to the team, how much I loved the sport,” Emily says. “I think what helped make me captain is I’m always loud on the court. I’m always supportive to anyone who is just joining or has been a part of the team. I always involve myself with volleyball. It’s high on my priority list. Even when I was a freshman, I wanted to be up to date and help out whenever I can.”

Emily started playing volleyball as an 8th-grader at North Branford Intermediate School. Emily had some friends on the volleyball team and decided that she wanted to give the sport a try.

When she entered high school, Emily promptly landed a starting spot as a hitter for the T-Birds’ varsity team. That year, North Branford’s captains were seniors Nina Robertson and Dana Deluca, along with junior Samantha DeAngelo. Emily quickly formed a connection with all three captains, making her transition to the high school circuit that much easier.

“They were playing for four years, and I was only playing for one. They helped me with anything. They helped develop my skills,” says Emily. “If I messed up on the court, they didn’t get mad about it. They supported me at all times. I thought that was really important.”

Emily admits that it was difficult to get the hang of the volleyball’s fundamentals during the early stages of her career, although she was aided by the support of her teammates. Emily also spent a lot of time training outside of the high school season by hitting in her backyard and competing for the Elevation Volleyball Academy travel team. Emily spent two years in that program before joining the CT Juniors Volleyball program.

As she enters her senior year, Emily is seeing the dividends of her effort. Emily says that she feels more confident and better prepared every time she takes the floor.

“I had a really strong arm, but I didn’t know how to use it at the time,” Emily says. “Now, as a senior, I’m a lot closer to all the players. I know how to run plays and the strategy that goes into it. I can understand how to communicate with people and what kind of people need what kind of assistance.”

Head Coach Tori Ramada has seen Emily’s progression throughout the past few seasons. Ramada credits Emily for being able to take constructive criticism, while also going out of her way to help out North Branford’s younger players get better. Ramada is expecting Emily to keep working hard to lead the T-Birds to a successful campaign in 2020.

“Emily is very passionate about the game. During a match, she always knows what’s going on and what can come next,” says Ramada. “The drive Emily has on and off the court makes her a great leader to her fellow teammates. It definitely brings the morale and energy up during matches. She has so much knowledge and passion for the game. It has been great coaching and working with Emily.”

Emily’s favorite aspect of playing volleyball for North Branford is the dynamic among her teammates. Whether the T-Birds are hyping each other up or concentrating silently prior to a match, everyone on the squad is always bonding, and Emily feels that those connections are truly special.

“It has been so important to me. I’ve made some of my best friendships on this team. Hopefully, I get to keep talking to them through college,” Emily says. “Even the girls in my grade, I got to watch everyone grow from my freshman year to my senior year. It’s been so important all the friendships I’ve made and all the bonding moments. Little stuff like that is what makes the team special for me.”

Emily is still deciding where she wants to go to college. She is considering UConn and planning to major in either marine biology or pharmaceutical science. Emily also hopes to continue playing volleyball at the club or intramural level in college.

Emily is a big believer in the importance of communication and positivity on the volleyball court. If someone makes a mistake, Emily tries to use that as a learning experience to the team’s benefit. As her senior season approaches, Emily feels excited to get back out there and lead the T-Birds, while playing a sport that she loves.

“It means a lot to me because of all the friends I’ve made. I don’t like switching around when it comes to sports. I like dedicating myself to playing just one,” says Emily. “I’m glad that volleyball has been a constant in my life. Whenever I need it, volleyball has always been there. I’ll always have volleyball.”