RONCALLI GRAD: Emma Halter completed her first year as a key player as a freshman on the University of Texas’ national championship team.
(PHOTOS COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS)
FROM Wednesday, December 28, 2022 edition
By Al Stilley
Editor
Emma Halter returned home to the Southside one week before Christmas Day.
For the first time that she woke up in her parents’ home in quite a while, she came face to face with reality. That same day, she began her Christmas shopping for family and local friends. She is the daughter of Kathy and Gary Halter.
“I woke up and realized that I’m living my real-life dream,” the 2022 Roncalli High School graduate said in an exclusive interview Dec. 20 from home. “Ever since I was four years old, I wanted to be on a national championship team.”
Halter, Indiana’s 2021 Volleyball Player of the Year, saw her dream come true Dec. 17 in Omaha, Neb., when the University of Texas Longhorns swept the University of Louisville, 3-0 (25-22, 25-14, 26-24), for the program’s fourth NCAA championship.
The 5-5 freshman dynamo from the Southside added energy, quality, and depth to the Longhorn’s back row. She played each set and had five digs against the Cardinals.
Halter accounted for 26 digs throughout the Longhorns six tourney wins. Their first four matches were on their home court. They defeated Fairleigh-Dickenson, Georgia, Marquette, and Ohio State to make it to the Final Four where San Diego won the first set, 28-26 before Texas recovered to take the next three sets.
“I think we had the jitters for some reason,” Halter said. “That was a good thing because it really showed we wanted to win. Once our nerves were good, we were alright. Once we got our touches, the jitters were gone.”
The Longhorns took a permanent lead after being tied 9-9 in the first set, never trailed in the second set, and scored the final four points to win the third set, 26-24.
Halter was one of the first Longhorns to reach the court andcelebrate as confetti rained down on the court.
Halter’s dream came true because of her talent, her faith, and her willingness to adjust to a different role on the court. At Roncalli, she was the team’s leader as the libero, but at UT she was in a mix with a back row of a senior, two sophomores, and two freshmen.
“It was a pretty hard transition,” she said. “I had to change the way a played (from libero to defensive specialist). There were so many good leaders who helped me. I improved my technical skills, but I still brought my energy, my desire to improve and my faith.”
She continued, “I learned how to be a leader at Roncalli which prepared me well. In high school playing two sports (volleyball and basketball), I never had any time. And that helped me stay on top of things. Here we had classes, lifting, practice, games, and a two-hour study table three times a week, so it was a matter of time management.”
Halter also faced taking final exams before the Elite 8 and made it through that tension-filled week.
She talked about her faith earlier in the season with Ethan Kruse of His Huddle. The University of Texas is where she longed to be.
“Faith influences my volleyball career more than anything else because I know without it I would not be where I am today. God has given me the gift of being an athlete, so I make it a focal point in my life not to waste every opportunity to use it. He gives me the ability to be mentally and physically strong. God gets me through every battle.”
Halter emphasized, “God led me to Texas because of the culture there, the motivated female athletes, the amazing coaching staff, and the fantastic education I will have the opportunity to receive.”
The dynamo from Roncalli continues to carry her endless energy and faith on and off the court.
Once our nerves were good, we were alright. Once we got our touches, the jitters were gone.”
The Longhorns took a permanent lead after being tied 9-9 in the first set, never trailed in the second set, and scored the final four points to win the third set, 26-24.
Halter was one of the first Longhorns to reach the court andcelebrate as confetti rained down on the court.
Halter’s dream came true because of her talent, her faith, and her willingness to adjust to a different role on the court. At Roncalli, she was the team’s leader as the libero, but at UT she was in a mix with a back row of a senior, two sophomores, and two freshmen.
“It was a pretty hard transition,” she said. “I had to change the way a played (from libero to defensive specialist). There were so many good leaders who helped me. I improved my technical skills, but I still brought my energy, my desire to improve and my faith.”
She continued, “I learned how to be a leader at Roncalli which prepared me well. In high school playing two sports (volleyball and basketball), I never had any time. And that helped me stay on top of things. Here we had classes, lifting, practice, games, and a two-hour study table three times a week, so it was a matter of time management.”
Halter also faced taking final exams before the Elite 8 and made it through that tension-filled week.
She talked about her faith earlier in the season with Ethan Kruse of His Huddle. The University of Texas is where she longed to be.
“Faith influences my volleyball career more than anything else because I know without it I would not be where I am today. God has given me the gift of being an athlete, so I make it a focal point in my life not to waste every opportunity to use it. He gives me the ability to be mentally and physically strong. God gets me through every battle.”
Halter emphasized, “God led me to Texas because of the culture there, the motivated female athletes, the amazing coaching staff, and the fantastic education I will have the opportunity to receive.”
The dynamo from Roncalli continues to carry her endless energy and faith on and off the court.
By Al Stilley
Editor
Emma Halter returned home to the Southside one week before Christmas Day.
For the first time that she woke up in her parents’ home in quite a while, she came face to face with reality. That same day, she began her Christmas shopping for family and local friends. She is the daughter of Kathy and Gary Halter.
“I woke up and realized that I’m living my real-life dream,” the 2022 Roncalli High School graduate said in an exclusive interview Dec. 20 from home. “Ever since I was four years old, I wanted to be on a national championship team.”
Halter, Indiana’s 2021 Volleyball Player of the Year, saw her dream come true Dec. 17 in Omaha, Neb., when the University of Texas Longhorns swept the University of Louisville, 3-0 (25-22, 25-14, 26-24), for the program’s fourth NCAA championship.
The 5-5 freshman dynamo from the Southside added energy, quality, and depth to the Longhorn’s back row. She played each set and had five digs against the Cardinals.
Halter accounted for 26 digs throughout the Longhorns six tourney wins. Their first four matches were on their home court. They defeated Fairleigh-Dickenson, Georgia, Marquette, and Ohio State to make it to the Final Four where San Diego won the first set, 28-26 before Texas recovered to take the next three sets.
“I think we had the jitters for some reason,” Halter said. “That was a good thing because it really showed we wanted to win. Once our nerves were good, we were alright. Once we got our touches, the jitters were gone.”
The Longhorns took a permanent lead after being tied 9-9 in the first set, never trailed in the second set, and scored the final four points to win the third set, 26-24.
Halter was one of the first Longhorns to reach the court andcelebrate as confetti rained down on the court.
Halter’s dream came true because of her talent, her faith, and her willingness to adjust to a different role on the court. At Roncalli, she was the team’s leader as the libero, but at UT she was in a mix with a back row of a senior, two sophomores, and two freshmen.
“It was a pretty hard transition,” she said. “I had to change the way a played (from libero to defensive specialist). There were so many good leaders who helped me. I improved my technical skills, but I still brought my energy, my desire to improve and my faith.”
She continued, “I learned how to be a leader at Roncalli which prepared me well. In high school playing two sports (volleyball and basketball), I never had any time. And that helped me stay on top of things. Here we had classes, lifting, practice, games, and a two-hour study table three times a week, so it was a matter of time management.”
Halter also faced taking final exams before the Elite 8 and made it through that tension-filled week.
She talked about her faith earlier in the season with Ethan Kruse of His Huddle. The University of Texas is where she longed to be.
“Faith influences my volleyball career more than anything else because I know without it I would not be where I am today. God has given me the gift of being an athlete, so I make it a focal point in my life not to waste every opportunity to use it. He gives me the ability to be mentally and physically strong. God gets me through every battle.”
Halter emphasized, “God led me to Texas because of the culture there, the motivated female athletes, the amazing coaching staff, and the fantastic education I will have the opportunity to receive.”
The dynamo from Roncalli continues to carry her endless energy and faith on and off the court.
Once our nerves were good, we were alright. Once we got our touches, the jitters were gone.”
The Longhorns took a permanent lead after being tied 9-9 in the first set, never trailed in the second set, and scored the final four points to win the third set, 26-24.
Halter was one of the first Longhorns to reach the court andcelebrate as confetti rained down on the court.
Halter’s dream came true because of her talent, her faith, and her willingness to adjust to a different role on the court. At Roncalli, she was the team’s leader as the libero, but at UT she was in a mix with a back row of a senior, two sophomores, and two freshmen.
“It was a pretty hard transition,” she said. “I had to change the way a played (from libero to defensive specialist). There were so many good leaders who helped me. I improved my technical skills, but I still brought my energy, my desire to improve and my faith.”
She continued, “I learned how to be a leader at Roncalli which prepared me well. In high school playing two sports (volleyball and basketball), I never had any time. And that helped me stay on top of things. Here we had classes, lifting, practice, games, and a two-hour study table three times a week, so it was a matter of time management.”
Halter also faced taking final exams before the Elite 8 and made it through that tension-filled week.
She talked about her faith earlier in the season with Ethan Kruse of His Huddle. The University of Texas is where she longed to be.
“Faith influences my volleyball career more than anything else because I know without it I would not be where I am today. God has given me the gift of being an athlete, so I make it a focal point in my life not to waste every opportunity to use it. He gives me the ability to be mentally and physically strong. God gets me through every battle.”
Halter emphasized, “God led me to Texas because of the culture there, the motivated female athletes, the amazing coaching staff, and the fantastic education I will have the opportunity to receive.”
The dynamo from Roncalli continues to carry her endless energy and faith on and off the court.
University of Texas’ Emma Halter (2) displays her skills as a freshman defensive specialist against the University of Louisville.
Former Roncalli standout Emma Halter (2) joins her University of Texas teammates in celebration of winning the NCAA national women’s volleyball championship in Omaha, Neb.
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