Girls volleyball: Brunswick's Emerson Sheets has developed into all-around threat

From the opening serve of the preseason, Brunswick setter Emerson Sheets has been the talk of the Greater Cleveland Conference. The buzz about her has only grown since then. Sheets' dramatic improvement between her junior and senior seasons is unequaled in Medina County volleyball during the rally-scoring era and virtually unparalleled for a fourth-year varsity player in the sport. "This season has been a dream come true," she said. "Hearing what people in the volleyball community are saying makes me really proud for proving what I thought I could do. I'm also proud of my team and coaches for helping me get there." The 5-foot-7 dynamo has been worth the price of admission on a nightly basis, displaying her remarkable array of skills. Jump sets, flying sets, back sets, quick sets, no-look sets and her signature sliding sets while on her knees never fail to draw positive reactions from spectators. That's not all. Sheets also is sharp as a tack when knowing when to swing away, leading the GCC with a .348 hitting percentage while ranking 18th among Division I players in Ohio with 470 assists and seventh in the league with 188 digs. "She definitely has the natural killer instinct that you can't teach," Blue Devils coach Mande Luttner said. "I mean, she comes into my classroom on game days completely jacked up and ready to go. "But the biggest difference is her deep maturity into a leader, not just a captain who knows that it's more than talent and showing off her skill. She wants to make everyone around her better and completely owns that responsibility." Sheets made an instant impression as a ninth-grader when Luttner threw her into the lineup in a late-season match for the GCC championship against Medina. The second-winningest coach in county history laughed while recalling "this competitive girl throws a tip to win the fourth set." Her sophomore season was one of change, as Brunswick switched to a 5-1 offense run by current Wheeling University starter Camryn Matus, which prompted Sheets to move to a back-row only role as a libero and defensive specialist. The shift only lasted one year, though, but its long-term effect has been a positive one for the Blue Devils because it expedited Sheets' digging abilities. She has been a plus-one defender since moving permanently to setter in 2024. "Emerson has improved so much over her four years as our setter and her defense has improved tremendously, as well," said Brunswick assistant coach Peyton Futchko, who was the starting setter on a D-I regional team with the Blue Devils. "She also has been able to consistently get her serve in, which has been a game-changer for us." Sheets has established career highs in all serving metrics, including 36 aces and 108 points while never leaving the court as a six-rotation standout. After running a 6-2 offense with Matus last season, her stamina and durability also has been very impressive. It becomes even more so when considering Sheets' right ankle, which was fractured during club volleyball season, but hasn't adversely affected her — either on the court or the softball diamond, where she is playing club ball this fall. "I also have tumbled and danced for nine years, which has definitely built up my athleticism and my ability to play each sport," said Sheets, who is 60 assists away from joining the 1,000-helper club. "That was until I decided to focus on volleyball and go that route, which was definitely a great decision." Indeed, it was. Sheets is now sorting through college offers to set at the next level, where her current coach is eager to see her continue to shine. "I could talk forever about this kid because she is better than we ever dreamed she could be right now," Luttner said. "Peyton and I always talk about how much she has matured. She can be scary if she wants to, but she is our absolute glue and uses her toughness to drive the team. "My biggest hope is that every girl in the grades below her is watching and taking notes on how to be a leader and how to play the game the right way."Contact Brian Dulik at sports@medina-gazette.com. Follow him @BrianDulik on X.