Class 1A Feature Athlete (Oct. 13)

Name: Emerson Trahan
High School: Serra Catholic
Grade: 11
Position: Setter

Background Info: Trahan is a three-year starter for Serra Catholic. She was named 2nd team WPIAL All-Star last year as a sophomore, as well as a unanimous all-section 1st team selection. She has played club volleyball with Pittsburgh Elite since she was nine. She has also played softball and lettered for Serra as a freshman and sophomore. She has been able to maintain being a High Honor Roll student throughout her academic career and is a member of the National Honor Society. After graduation, she plans to attend college but is undecided on a major.

Quotes from Serra Catholic coach Keith Trahan: "As a freshman, Emerson was able to learn from and play with the best high school setter I have coached, Bri Pasternak. I think that was invaluable for her development. Setting is the toughest, most mentally demanding, and in my opinion the most important position in volleyball. If you have a good setter taking every second ball, you are much more likely to be successful. If you have an elite setter who can consistently better the ball, you have a chance to move into the top tier of teams in the region. We have that in Emerson. I have had four great setters during my time at Serra, and four more back in South Carolina. When Em is done with her high school career, she could go down as the best and most successful. I like to say that the business of setting is setting, and that for me starts with hands and the ability to put the ball where your hitters need it. Em has some of the best hands in WPIAL. She can flip the ball from pin to pin, both in system and out. She can erase poor passes with her athleticism and strength. Her passers take comfort in knowing she will better the ball. Her hitters take comfort knowing she can get them the ball from anywhere on the floor. It has been great to watch her this year. We have elite passing to go with elite hitters at each position who play above the net with ease, and Em has been the catalyst. She is averaging around 30 assists a game. Also, she is a top three server, a topspin master, and one of our best defensive players. She is usually a key part of the pinball defense for which we are pretty well known and first or second most likely to dive into the bleachers, wall, or bench to make a save. She has been instrumental in the great year we are having and are looking to continue with a deep run in the playoffs."