Top Story Spotlight Former St. Stephens volleyball coach, LR player reflects 7 years of volleyball and life in Hickory jason.koon Feb 11, 2026 Feb 11, 2026 Updated Feb 11, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Emma Clark was a wide-eyed 18-year-old when she first arrived at Catawba Valley Community College in 2018.kAm$:?46 E96?[ D96 92D A=2J65 7:G6 J62CD @7 4@==686 G@==6J32==[ =2?565 96C 7:CDE A@DE\4@==68:2E6 ;@3[ 5:D4@G6C65 2?5 C67:?65 96C A6CD@?2= 2?5 AC@76DD:@?2= 2>3:E:@?D[ 4@24965 9:89 D49@@= G@==6J32== 2?5 72==6? :? =@G6]k^Am St. Stephens head coach Emma Clark talks with her team after a game against Hickory in 2024. Jason Koon, Record file kAm“xE 567:?:E6=J :D E96 >@DE E92E x’G6 6G6C 8C@H? H:E9:? >JD6=7 5FC:?8 E9:D E:>6 :? w:4<@CJ[” D2:5 r=2C<] “w:4<@CJ :D =:<6 >J D64@?5 9@>6] q@@?6 :D >J 9@>6 2?5 :E H:== 2=H2JD 92G6 2 DA64:2= A=246 :? >J 962CE[ 3FE 2 =@E @7 9@H x 92G6 8C@H? 2?5 E9@D6 >:=6DE@?6D H6C6 :? w:4<@CJ]”k^Am k9am%96 E:>6 @7 J@FC =:76k^9am People are also reading… Marion man charged after 200 grams of cocaine found in search of home near school Man "involved in a shooting" Friday evening found, McDowell sheriff's office says Old Fort’s B Side Bakery & Books offers fresh made breads, books and more Amtrak’s western North Carolina expansion: Bringing passenger rail back to Asheville and beyond Compassion Care Services in Marion celebrates opening; provides services for adults with disabilities McDowell County leaders hear updates, concerns about 2027 property value reappraisal Marion dam gets $2.7 million for repairs; dam behind condemned Westwood Chateau apartments Author of book on lost NC towns coming to downtown Marion for Women’s History Month McDowell County Commissioners to talk grant partnership with Freedom Life Monday Mace wins sheriff’s office in Republican primary; unopposed in general election Old Fort to get $1.24 million in FEMA money for repairs for Westerman Street McDowell County nonprofit seeking grant to help incarcerated parents and their children See video of a Burke County basketball player's buzzer beater shot from beyond half court US housing secretary, congressman visit Marion to talk about Clinchfield apartment project Election final update: Final election results are in for McDowell County kAmr=2C< H2D 2 DE2?5@FE >:55=6 9:EE6C 7@C (2E2F82 :? 9:89 D49@@= 367@C6 D96 DE2CE65 2E r'rr :? a_`g] $96 :>>65:2E6=J =@G65 E96 AC@8C2> 2?5 E96 4@>>F?:EJ D96 7@F?5 E96C6 2?5 D2:5 96C E:>6 2E r'rr H2D EH@ @7 E96 36DE J62CD @7 96C =:76]k^Am CVCC's Emma Clark (13) goes for the kill against Louisburg's Elizabeth Tuton (11) during the game in 2018 in Hickory. David Scearce, Record file kAm“}@ @?6 H2?E65 E@ =62G6[” D96 D2:5] “x7 :E H2D 2 7@FC\J62C[ :7 J@F 2D<65 2?J@?6[ E96J H@F=5 DE2J E96C6 2== 7@FC J62CD[ ;FDE 3642FD6 :E H2D 72>:=J @C:6?E65 2?5 9@H >F49 7F? H6 925 2?5 H6 2E6 C62==J 8@@5 7@@5 2?5 H6 H6C6 >@E:G2E65] %96 4@249:?8 DE277 H2D 2=H2JD 7665:?8 :?E@ FD :? 2== <:?5D @7 5:776C6?E H2JD E92E H6C6 3F:=5:?8 FD FA]”k^Am kAm$96 D2:5 D96 DE:== <66AD :? E@F49 H:E9 96C 4@2496D 7C@> r'rr 2?5 :E H2D E96 >6>@C:6D @7 96C r'rr 52JD E92E 3C@F89E 96C 324< E@ r2E2H32 r@F?EJ 27E6C 2 D6>6DE6C 2E v6@C8:2 $E2E6] (9:=6 pE=2?E2 2?5 s:G:D:@? x G@==6J32== H6C6?VE E96 C:89E 7:E 7@C 96C[ r=2C< D2:5 D96 =62C?65 2 =@E 7C@> E96 6IA6C:6?46]k^Am kAm“x 5@?’E =:<6 E96 4:EJ[” D96 D2:5] “%96 |p#%p H6?E C:89E E9C@F89 @FC 42>AFD] xE 5:5?’E >2<6 2?J D6?D6 7@C >6 E@ 8@ E96C6] … x’G6 366? D96=E6C65] x =:G65 :? q@@?6 :? E96 566A 8C66? 7@C6DE]”k^AmkAm%96 E:>:?8 H2D?’E :562= 6:E96C] r=2C< H2D :? pE=2?E2 :? a_a_[ 2E E96 DE2CE @7 E96 r~'xs\`h A2?56>:4 2?5 2>:5 F?C6DE 2?5 F?46CE2:?EJ @7 E92E J62C]k^Am kAm“xE H2D :?D2?:EJ[ >J >@> 23@FE 925 2? 2?6FCJD> H96? D96 5C@AA65 >6 @77[” r=2C< D2:5]k^Am St. Stephens head coach Emma Clark cheers on her team during a game against Maiden in 2024. Jason Koon, Record file kAmr=2C< 42>6 324< 9@>6 27E6C E92E D6>6DE6C[ 5:5 @?=:?6 4=2DD6D 2?5 AC6A2C65 7@C 2 EC2?D76C 5FC:?8 E96 DAC:?8 E6C>] pE E96 D2>6 E:>6[ |2C< (:>36C=J =67E r'rr E@ 8@ E@ {6?@:C\#9J?6] w6 C624965 @FE E@ r=2C< 2?5 @776C65 96C 2 DA@E @? E96 q62CD’ C@DE6C 7@C E96 a_a`\aa D49@@= J62C] $96 E@@< :E]k^Am kAm“xE H2D E96 36DE 564:D:@? x’G6 >256[” r=2C< D2:5] “%96C6 H6C6 E9C66 J62CD @7 4@==686 E92E H6C6 >J 72G@C:E6[ 9@?6DE=J] %9@D6 EH@ J62CD 2E r'rr 2?5 E96 7:CDE J62C 2E {#]”k^Am kAm{# H2D 2=D@ E96 A=246 H96C6 D96 >6E 96C 3@J7C:6?5[ ?@H @7 D:I J62CD[ $E6A96? r2CA6?E6C] %92E 92AA6?65 5FC:?8 96C r'rr 52JD] k^AmkAm“x >6E 9:> A=2J:?8 D2?5 G@==6J32== 2E {# @?6 DF>>6C[” D96 D2:5] “w6 E9@F89E 96 H2D D@ 8@@5]”k^Am kAmr=2C< D2:5 D96 82G6 9:> 2 G@==6J32== =6DD@? E92E 52J 2?5 :D DE:== H@C<:?8 H:E9 9:> @? 9:D G@==6J32== 82>6] w6 D6ED E96 32== H6== ?@H]k^Am kAmQw6VD C62==J 86EE:?8 36EE6C[Q D96 D2:5]k^Am k9amr@>:?8 7F== 4:C4=6k^9amkAmr=2C< 2?5 E96 q62CD 82G6 E96 $@FE9 pE=2?E:4 r@?76C6?46 2 G@==6J32== =6DD@? :? a_a`] {# H@? E96 4@?76C6?46 E92E 72== 2?5 25G2?465 E@ E96 $H66E `e] r=2C< H2D 2 3:8 A2CE @7 E92E DF446DD[ =625:?8 E96 E62> H:E9 `bc E@E2= 3=@4<D 2?5 255:?8 `hd <:==D]k^Am Lenoir-Rhyne’s Emma Clark, left, celebrates with teammates during a match against Coker in 2021. Photo courtesy of Lenoir-Rhyne Athletics kAmr=2C< A=2J65 EH@ >@C6 J62CD 7@C E96 q62CD 2?5 62C?65 2 32496=@C’D :? ADJ49@=@8J] p7E6C E2<:?8 E96 DF>>6C 2?5 72== @7 a_ab @77[ D96 3682? 8C25 D49@@= 2E {#]k^AmkAm“x’> H@C<:?8 E@H2C5D >J 4=:?:42= >6?E2= 962=E9 4@F?D6=:?8 2?5 x’> 5@:?8 2 7@4FD :? D49@@= 4@F?D6=:?8[” r=2C< D2:5]k^Am k9amu:?5:?8 96C A=246 2E $E] $E6A96?Dk^9amkAmsFC:?8 96C 3C62<[ r=2C< =2?565 2 ;@3 2E $E] $E6A96?D 2D E96 D49@@=’D @?=:?6 724:=:E2E@C 2?5 G@==6J32== 4@249] $96 2=D@ 96=AD 4@249 E96 EC24< 2?5 7:6=5 E62>]k^AmkAmu@C r=2C<[ H@C<:?8 2E $2:?E 92D 366? 2 9F86 36?67:E :? D6G6C2= 5:776C6?E H2JD]k^Am kAm“%9:D :D E96 36DE ;@3 x 4@F=5 92G6 8@EE6? 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E9:?8D 86E 92C5] x’G6 366? E9C@F89 E96 9:89D 2?5 =@HD 2?5 x C62==J C6=2E6 E96C6]”k^Am kAm$96 D2:5 4@249:?8 2E $E] $E6A96?D 96=A65 96C :?E68C2E6 96C G@==6J32== =:76 H:E9 96C 42C66C 8@2=D 2?5 E92E 96C DEF56?ED 2?5 A=2J6CD 92G6 E2F89E 96C >@C6 E92? D96 6G6C 4@F=5 92G6 E2F89E E96>]k^Am kAm“x E9:?< E92E A2CE @7 =:76 :D =62C?:?8 H9@ J@F 2C6[” D96 D2:5] “%92E’D 2 =:76=@?8 ;@FC?6J[ 3FE x 766= =:<6 E96 >2;@C:EJ @7 >J =62C?:?8 23@FE H9@ x 2> 92D 92AA6?65 :? E96 A2DE E9C66 J62CD 3642FD6 x’> 2=H2JD ECJ:?8 E@ 36EE6C >JD6=7 D@ x 42? 36 AC6D6?E 7@C E96 8:C=D]”k^AmkAmr=2C< :D?’E DE6AA:?8 2H2J 7C@> 4@249:?8 7@C6G6C] $96 DE:== 9@A6D E@ 4@249 EC2G6= @C C64C62E:@? G@==6J32== :? E96 7FEFC6 2?5 92D?VE CF=65 @FE 4@249:?8 9:89 D49@@= 32== 282:?] $96 D2:5 E96C6 :D 2? @G6C=2A 36EH66? 4@249:?8 2?5 E96 >6?E2= 962=E9 7:6=5 E92E D96 36=:6G6D :D 8@:?8 E@ >2<6 96C 2 36EE6C 4@F?D6=@C]k^Am kAm“r@249:?8 :D D@ >F49 >@C6 E92? ;FDE 4@249:?8[ ;FDE E96 7F?52>6?E2=D[” r=2C< D2:5] “xE’D =:E6C2==J 4@249:?8 =:76 D<:==D 2?5 >6?E2= E@@=D] ]]] %96 }@] ` AC:@C:EJ 7@C 2 4@249 D9@F=5 36 E96:C H6==\36:?8]”k^Am Jason Koon is the Sports Editor for the Hickory Record and can be reached at jason.koon@lee.net. 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter Sent weekly directly to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. jason.koon Author email Follow jason.koon Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. 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