Schlagheck first St. Catherine player to sign NCAA Division I letter-of-intent

Northville native earned Division 2 All-State honors as a senior

Brad Emons
Hometown Life
Northville native Emma Schlagheck, a senior right-side hitter at Wixom St. Catherine of Siena Academy, earned Division 2 All-State honors this season.

For the first time in the school's 10-year existence, Wixom St. Catherine of Siena Academy has produced an NCAA Division I scholarship athlete.

Emma Schlagheck, a 6-foot senior from Northville, recently signed a volleyball letter of intent to play at the Unviersity of Albany (N.Y.) after leading St. Catherine (41-7-1) to an MHSAA Division 2 quarterfinal berth.

“It’s kind of crazy how it happened," Schlagheck said. "I wasn’t in contact with the University at Albany at all. The goal was to get a scholarship and it was during a tournament in Indianapolis that Kevin Cardoza, assistant coach for the Great Danes, noticed me. I toured several schools, but at UAlbany, everything felt right. The players were welcoming and it was easy to see a great coaching bond with players. It was a quick easy decision after that visit.”

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As a senior, Schlagheck finished with 258 kills and 101 blocks as St. Catherine captured its third consecutive district and second straight regional title. She also earned first team Division 2 all-state and all-Catholic League honors.

Emma Schlagheck signed her NCAA Division I letter of intent with the University of Albany (N.Y.).

“Emma is a very strong and dynamic player who has been a key contributor in our program's success for the past few years,” St. Catherine coach Malia Gabel said. "She is a hard worker, a powerful force at the net and consistent player in the back row, which allows for her to be a key factor in an entire match. We are so excited for Emma to continue her academic and athletic career with the University at Albany and cannot wait to watch her succeed at the next level.”

During the final three seasons of her four-year varsity career, Schlagheck finished with a total of 801 kills with a .369 hitting percentage. She also had a total of 290 digs and 279 blocks during her sophomore, junior and senior year.

She began playing volleyball in eighth grade and was immediately recruited to play on a national level with Elite West, part of the Michigan Elite Travel Club. Her final travel season kicks off next with the Team 18 Mizuno.

Schlagheck possesses a 9-foot, 11-inch approach jump and a block up to 9-5.

“I’m super-excited," said Schlagheck, who was on the JVA Ultra Ankle Watchlist for 2017 and 2018. "I’ve always been such a team player and volleyball is s a team-oriented sport. Volleyball has helped me grow personally as it has brought another aspect of friendship and leadership. Volleyball is such a sport of communication as you have to know where everyone is on the court, so you don’t run into a teammate.”

Schlagbeck is one of five incoming recruits for the 2019 season for the Great Danes, who finished 16-11 overall in 2018 before losing to Stony Brook (N.Y.) in the America East championship final.

“Emma caught our eye," Albany coach M.J. Engstrom said. "She blocks well, has lots of shots from the right side and I think she’s a good athlete, so there are lots of other things we can do with her. In volleyball, teams usually run the middle on a slide, but with left-handed Emma, we can run a flare, where the player comes in from the right side to hit off the setter. It’s a play that is extremely difficult to block and extremely unusual and we look forward to working on it with Emma.”

Although Schlagheck said many of her teachers and coaches have been influential, it's her father Larry who has been a true inspiration.

“I’ve always admired his work ethic and he helped me so much through the recruiting process," she said. "I learned so much about the business world such as how to send out a good email; or have a good call. I know that is all going to help me later in life.”

Contact Brad Emons at bemons@hometownlife.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BradEmons1.