Emma Farrell was enjoying a relaxing day at Seaside Beach when she received her first contact from the Wake Forest Volleyball staff, an email that immediately led to a phone conversation.
“I started talking with them later in the recruiting process,” Farrell explained. “I got an email while I was at the beach. When I talked with them, I felt very connected. I could sense that they wanted the best for me and this was going to be a great connection here that would help me build myself up for the rest of my life.”
With much of the recruiting process still virtual, Farrell building a relationship with the Wake Forest staff through phone conversations and Zoom meetings was crucial.
“A lot of it was online,” she said. “Our class had to choose based on what we knew about the schools and the coaches. The coaches consistently talked with me and I could sense their passion in the program and how they wanted to build it.”
Farrell is already making a huge impact for the Demon Deacons – earning Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Freshman of the Week in September and helping pace Wake Forest to crucial conference victories.
“It was super cool,” Farrell said about the ACC award. “I didn’t even really know I won it and didn’t at first understand what it was. My coaches and teammates all congratulated me, and now my roommate, Paige (Crawford) has won it too, which is awesome. I’m excited for her. It’s nice that we are being recognized and it shows our hard work is paying off.”
Farrell leads the entire ACC in digs per set (4.61) and stands as the team leader with 355 on the season.
“She’s a huge reason we can score and do the things we do from a defensive standpoint,” Wake Forest head volleyball coach Randi Smart noted. “The way she plays this game defensively, it’s fun to watch. She plays like the best shortstops you’ll ever see. She doesn’t need to take a certain amount of steps or lead with a certain foot, she’s just an athlete. She makes the game look so easy.
“I love all parts of Emma Farrell, but one of the things I love most is you never see how difficult it is to be good at her position. You just see the beauty and you see the excitement.”
Despite just being a freshman, Farrell is playing at an elite level.
“She has changed us defensively, no doubt,” Smart said. “When the ball is in her area, it’s a done deal. She is so good at her job. She is a…
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