Utah Tech University Athletics

At Utah Tech 2023 (Senior): Appeared in all 26 matches for the Trailblazers ... played in 102 sets and made eight starts ... led the team with 327 digs with an average of 3.21 per set ... ranked fourth on the team with 16 service aces ... finished fourth on the club with 79 assists ... added one kill against Fresno State (9/8) ... set a career high with eight assists vs. Fresno State (9/8) ... tallied a career-high 28 digs at Weber State (8/25) ... matched her career high of three service aces in a pair of matches, vs. Southern Utah (10/2) & vs. UT Arlington (10/21) ... went for a career best seven attacks against Stephen F. Austin (10/19) ... earned Academic All-WAC honors.

At Utah Tech 2022 (Junior): Saw time in all 23 matches and played in 86 total sets ... posted double figures in digs 10 times, highlighted by a career-high 24 in a victory over Idaho State (9/16) ... registered a season-high three aces against Seattle U (Oct. 22) ... finished the year with 200 digs, 34 assists and 12 aces.
 
Before Utah Tech: Played two seasons at USU-Eastern, where she was a two-time SWAC Defensive Player of the Year and first team all-conference selection … collected 11 SWAC and two NJCAA national defensive player of the week awards … finished fifth in the nation in digs/set (6.22) in 2021 on her way to All-America honors, and led the NJCAA with 716 total digs in 2020 … was named 2021-22 USU-E Female Athlete of the Year and was inducted into the USU-E Hall of Fame in 2023 … prepped at Lone Peak High School, where she was part of three-straight Utah 5A state championship winning teams from 2016-2018 … played club volleyball for the Aces, Club Utah and Club V teams. 

More on Emma: Born in California ... parents are J.R. and Nicole Taylor Ricks … husband’s name is Caleb Shelton ... also recruited by Louisiana, North Alabama, George Washington and Central Michigan … favorite team is the San Francisco 49ers … favorite athlete is Jenia Grebennikov … favorite band is Imagine Dragons … favorite food is Massaman curry … her biggest influence as an athlete is her high school and club coach Reed Carlson … currently majoring in exercise science. 

Why Emma chose Utah Tech: “I chose Utah Tech because I was very impressed by the authenticity of the coaching staff. The values of the team and staff aligned with mine which was a priority for me. Since choosing to play here it has been nothing short of amazing.”