Muskingum volleyball senior Emma Conrad has been named the Ohio Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Month for December. Conrad, a first-time OAC Scholar-Athlete of the Month honoree, adds to her list of awards and achievements during the 2022 season.
"Emma has undeniably set the standard for what it means to be a student-athlete," said Muskingum Volleyball Head Coach Hallie Cruzen. "Emma has developed a culture of hard work, grit, discipline, and perseverance within our program that will be seen for years to come. She's has been a leader for us since the day she set foot on campus. Her work ethic and determination are unmatched in everything she does, and it's infectious to the rest of our team."
Conrad, a two-time captain for the Muskingum volleyball team, brings excellence and leadership both to the classroom and to the court. Conrad has racked up numerous athletic and academic honors during her time at Muskingum, and she has been a steadfast leader on campus as well.
Notably, Conrad is the President of Muskingum's Psychology Club, the Mark Euken Psychology Award winner for exemplary performance in psychological studies, a member of Muskingum's Dean's List, a three-time Academic All-OAC honoree, a member of the 2022 All-OAC First Team, a 2022 OAC All-Tournament Team member, and a CSC Academic All-District honoree.
Conrad's leadership has helped propel Muskingum to two OAC Regular Season Championships during her career, and she was also a member of Muskingum's 2019 squad that advanced to the NCAA Regionals in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
"I am so proud to have been a part of this special program for four years," said Conrad. "I love this game and I have loved every second of getting to play it with my best friends who love it too. I have so much pride in what we have accomplished in four years and watching this program continue to grow. MUVB has taught me perseverance, dedication, and grit and has shaped me into who I am."
During the 2022 season, Conrad posted numerous career-highs while also etching her name into Muskingum's record book. Conrad moved into seventh on Muskingum's all-time assist list with 1,763, and she also posted career-highs for a single season in assists (859), digs (309), kills (115), blocks (47), and service aces (32) this year. Conrad's stellar play was an integral part of Muskingum's success this season, which saw the program reach their fifth straight OAC Tournament semi-final appearance. Muskingum finished the year with an 18-8 overall record, the program's ninth straight winning season. The Muskies were also recognized at the national level this year, receiving votes for three straight weeks in the AVCA Division III Top-25 Poll.
This season also provided Conrad the chance to play against her sister, Grace Conrad, a setter on Ohio Northern's volleyball team. Muskingum hosted the Polar Bears on senior day, and the two teams matched up again in the first round of the OAC Tournament.
"Volleyball has always been a staple of our family dynamic and my sister and I's relationship," said Conrad. "It was so special to be on the court with her on senior day and in the OAC tournament even though we were on opposite sides of the net. It's difficult when we are both trying to win but also both want each other to succeed at the same time. Our game in the OAC Tournament was emotional because we both knew it would be the last time we would ever be on the same court after a lifetime of playing this game together."
The family competition brought the best out of the sisters as they both tallied 45 assists each on Muskingum's senior day. In the OAC Tournament, Emma got the best of her sister and the Polar Bears, registering a career-high 53 assists and 26 digs. Emma's stellar play led Muskingum to 3-1 win over Ohio Northern, sweeping the season series 2-0 over the Polar Bears.
After graduating in the spring with her degree in Psychology, Conrad will look to pursue a Master's Degree in social work while also being a school-based counselor.
Sponsored by Printing Concepts, the OAC Scholar-Athlete of the Month award honors an exceptional student-athlete on a monthly basis. Student-athletes eligible to receive the award include juniors and seniors competing in a sport that is in-season and who display sportsmanlike conduct and have a grade point average of at least 3.0.
