Naturally, we had plenty of newness to explore with the Class of 2030. This group is about to enter our coverage jurisdiction as rising freshmen this fall, but Emick is enjoying a head start in the spotlight. This crafty middle blocker set a high bar for her 2030 peers at Sunday’s showcase, packing a ton of heat during hitting lines. Emick also embraced the chance to spar with older competition in our scrimmages. Connecting with a rotating cast of setters can be daunting, but Emick’s willingness to grow in this area showed maturity beyond her years. She looks like an athlete eager to join the Iowa PowerPlex gym in 2027.

Humboldt surprised folks with its historic run to last season’s state championship match. By the looks of what the Wildcats return and what they’re adding in the freshman class, they won’t be sneaking up on anyone for awhile. Emick is a middle hitter packed with potential based on what we saw from her at the Prep Dig Iowa Stock Up Showcase during July in Clive. There’s height, long arms, bounce off the court and fundamentals coming together to create an intimidating force in the middle of the net. Emick is definitely a player to watch.