BE's Emma Lawrence scores state volleyball 'Player of the Year' title

Emma Lawrence has tried to savor every academic and athletic moment she has experienced at Bishop England High School. Even though she’s been successful at that task, she admits her four years at the Daniel Island-based school have flown by and almost seem to be a blur.

She’s a senior and has experienced incredible success in both areas. She’s been all-state in volleyball, track and field and has shone in the academic arena as well with a GPA slightly north of 4.0 that gives her a ranking of 32 in her class of 178 students.

She’s received yet another honor as the holiday season nears. She was recently named the Class AAA state volleyball player of the year by the Coaches Association of Women’s Sports (CAWS).

“I honestly didn’t think I was worthy of this honor. Montana Swanson won the award last year and she was an amazing player,” Lawrence said of her former teammate who graduated in May 2016. “To win this is quite an honor. To follow in her footsteps is quite an accomplishment.”

The Bishops won a national record 17th straight state championship last month, and Lawrence had a big role with 112 spikes, 335 kills and 342 dinks while recording 112 service points and 34 aces.

Lawrence has played on the varsity team for three years and has specific memories from each championship. But there’s no better feeling than going out a winner at the state championship match.

“There is pressure playing at Bishop England and there was pressure to keep the streak going,” Lawrence said. “We have high expectations. There are a lot of schools where you don’t have the pressure. But we don’t let the pressure bother us or let the success go to our heads.”

“This year was probably the most memorable year,” she added. “Moving up a division (to Class AAA) made us a little nervous, so to come out on top was really rewarding.”

Lawrence’s days of playing volleyball competitively are over. She is considering playing the sport at the intramural level in college. She still has some unfinished business as a member of the BE track and field team. She was the state champion in the 1,600-meter run last spring as a junior and finished second in the 800-meter run.

“I would like to set the school record in the (1,600) and 800,” she said.

She still isn’t 100 percent settled on a college, but don’t be surprised if she’s wearing the orange of the Clemson Tigers this fall when she matriculates.

“I have heard back from only Georgia and Tennessee, right now,” she said. “But I’ll probably end up going to Clemson because it’s close to home. It’s sort of like a community school because so many students from Bishop England and other area schools go there.”

Lawrence is one of three area players who made the CAWS Class AAA all-state team. She is joined by teammate Rhetta Moore and Hanahan’s Madison Malloch.