Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh seniors reflect on prolific careers ahead of Saturday's Senior Day
10/25/2018 11:12:00 AM | Volleyball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — It will be an end of an era for the Lehigh University volleyball team when this season comes to a close. The two members of the senior class, who happen to be two of the most prolific players in program history will be graduating in the spring and will soon play their last match inside the confines of Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. The two seniors played a big role in all four of their years at Lehigh, including two Patriot League Tournament berths. Both players saw their first action in the same match on Aug. 28, 2015 against Northern Arizona in Harrisonburg, Va. and have been on the same path ever since. The 2018 season has already been the most successful for the two seniors and have seen their roles as team leaders in the way the team has performed under new head coach Alexa Keckler. Lehigh's 12-1 record to start this season was the best start to a season in program history and are already on track to finish with the Mountain Hawks' best record during the Patriot League era. These seniors will be remembered for their immense passion and love for the game of volleyball, their ability to bring the best out of their teammates and their contributions to making Lehigh's volleyball program what it is today.
Lehighsports.com caught up with both of the Mountain Hawk seniors in advance of Saturday's Senior Day.
#5 – Emily Develle – Libero – Pasadena, Calif. – Finance/Marketing
Develle will leave Lehigh with a legacy as one of the top liberos in the history of Lehigh Volleyball. The way she conducts herself on the court, the way she leads, and her incredible talent are just three of many ways she has made an impact on this program. Develle has seen action in all 115 matches dating back to her very first collegiate start on Aug. 28, 2015. As a rookie, Develle tallied 319 digs as the team's second libero, racking up 31 aces and 72 assists and finished the season with 18 matches of double-digit digs. She was the Coaches Award winner for 2015. Her sophomore season, she had 470 digs, recording double-digit digs in 27 of her 30 matches. Develle was named Lehigh Volleyball's Outstanding Athlete of 2016. In her junior season, she ranked third in the Patriot League in digs with 476, ranking fourth all-time in Lehigh single season history. She was named to the All-Tournament team at season's end. Develle is currently ranked second all-time in Lehigh volleyball history in career digs with 1,625 currently 68 behind Rachel Charles (2010-13) who had 1,693 for her career. In the classroom, Develle owns a 3.37 GPA in Finance/Marketing. She's been named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll twice and the AVCA Academic Team twice.
Coach Keckler on Develle: "Emily's ability to be such a strong defender on the court bleeds outside of that as a senior captain, she does a great job of holding our team accountable and she has surely left a legacy of great leadership, strong work ethic and our team and program is forever grateful for that."
What's your favorite Lehigh Volleyball memory up until this point?
ED: My favorite Lehigh Volleyball memory was when we played in a pre-season tournament at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas my junior year. I have lots of family and friends that go to TCU. My youngest brother was a freshman at the time, so it was awesome to have all that support in the stands. My aunt and uncle, who also live in Fort Worth had the team over for dinner one night and it was so great to have family, friends, and teammates all together in one place.
Describe the relationship with your teammates and fellow senior Megan Polak.
ED: My teammates have become some of my best friends. I respect each one of them not only as players, but as young women. I am particularly close with the junior class and am forever grateful that I was given three years to play with them.
Megan and I have been side-by-side through everything over the past four years. I know Meg has a great future ahead of her and I am proud of her for all the work she has put in academically and athletically while at Lehigh.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
ED: I remember preparing for Senior Day for the girls who were seniors when I was a freshman. It feels like yesterday, and I cannot believe it's our turn. Though I am excited for the festivities that Senior Day brings, it is just another great opportunity to get on the court and fight for another win. We still have a lot of work to do as a team this season, so I'm not really that focused on the fact that I am nearing the end of my career. If anything, it is all the more reason to get after it on a day-to-day basis.
What will you miss most about Lehigh Volleyball?
ED: There is so much I will miss about Lehigh Volleyball and my teammates are pretty high on that list.
But what I will miss the most is playing the amazing sport that volleyball is. I have had so much fun playing this sport and there is truly nothing better than the competition that it brings.
How proud are you of the strides the Lehigh Volleyball program has taken and continues to take?
ED: Our program has been through a lot over the past four years, but every single up and down has only made our team stronger and tougher. Looking back at the past three years, I would have never imagined our program would be where it's at now. The program is headed in such a positive direction and I look forward to supporting from the sidelines after I graduate.
What are your postgraduate plans?
ED: Working on it!!
#10 – Megan Polak – Setter – Kirtland, Ohio – Behavioral Neuroscience (Minor in Hispanic Studies)
Polak has been a big part in the development of Mountain Hawk volleyball players since the beginning of her Lehigh career in 2015. The senior is one of the leading setters in program history and has set up many outstanding hitters for success during her tenure. She had a strong rookie season, tallying 337 assists in 29 matches. As the starting setter her sophomore year, Polak finished the season with 870 assists and had 185 digs in 30 matches. She tallied 59 assists in a 3-2 win over George Washington (10/11/16). Her junior year saw Polak finish with 975 assists, 9.03 per set, 30 service aces and a career-best 217 digs, 93 kills and 28 total blocks. She is currently fifth in program history for career assists with 2,571. In the classroom, Polak carries a 3.95 GPA, has finished on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll three times, Academic All-Patriot League twice and was a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection in 2017, becoming just the second player in program history to achieve the honor. She's been named to the AVCA Academic Team twice, Dean's List six times, and has achieved a 4.0 GPA three times. Polak is a three-time letter winner and was Lehigh volleyball's Scholar-Athlete Award winner twice.
Coach Keckler on Polak: "Megan has done amazing work on the court and in the classroom in four years. She sets a great precedence academically and she never stops working. She continues to push herself every day in practice and she certainly has a great mindset for the game and scouting the game. We will surely miss her as well."
What's your favorite Lehigh Volleyball memory up until this point? Why?
MP: My favorite memory of Lehigh Volleyball was the team trip to Texas, where we played against TCU and Duke. During this trip, the team played some of its most competitive and best volleyball (almost beating Duke - RIP set No. 3), was surrounded by the supportive and wonderful families of some of our team members, and had the most amazing Tex-Mex food from a taco truck.
Describe the relationship with your teammates and fellow senior Emily Develle.
MP: It has been a pleasure to be a member of a team in which the players are not only friends, but family. We've overcome challenges and have found success both on and off the court; we have grown together as a unit and have shared many novel, sometimes peculiar, and often humorous experiences.
Regarding my fellow senior, Emily, it has been an honor to grow alongside her in our journey at Lehigh and to see her embrace her leadership roles and find success in the various facets of her life. She has played an invaluable leadership role on the team and, during her collegiate career, had an immense impact on the team reaching the success it has today. I look forward to hearing about her continued success in her future endeavors!
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
MP: I am grateful for the opportunity Lehigh University and Lehigh Volleyball has given me. It was not an easy journey, with many obstacles and challenges along the way, but, ultimately, it was time in which I experienced great joy, success, and growth! It is bittersweet to be nearing the end of my competitive collegiate career, but, moving forward, I will always carry with me fond memories of the program and use the lessons learned to help me accomplish my new goals for the future.
What will you miss most about Lehigh Volleyball?
MP: I will miss most the opportunity to travel and play the sport I love alongside teammates that share my same passion and joy for volleyball.
How proud are you of the strides the Lehigh Volleyball program has taken and continues to take?
MP: I am proud of this program for both the competitive and cultural transformations it has made during the past four years and that it continues to make. Not only have I witnessed and been a part of the team finding greater success and continually improving its play on the court and in the Patriot League, but I have also witnessed the internal growth in the mindset of each girl that has ultimately led to an improved culture on the team. While this culture shift is still progressing, it was an honor to be a part of the initial shift and to see each girl take an active role in establishing the foundation of an inclusive, honest, tough, competitive, and supportive atmosphere.
What are your postgraduate plans?
MP: After graduation, I plan to attend graduate school to become a Physician Assistant, with a specialization in Pediatrics. I also hope to continue playing volleyball by competing in adult leagues and tournaments. I would also love to get a cat for company!
Lehighsports.com caught up with both of the Mountain Hawk seniors in advance of Saturday's Senior Day.
#5 – Emily Develle – Libero – Pasadena, Calif. – Finance/Marketing
Develle will leave Lehigh with a legacy as one of the top liberos in the history of Lehigh Volleyball. The way she conducts herself on the court, the way she leads, and her incredible talent are just three of many ways she has made an impact on this program. Develle has seen action in all 115 matches dating back to her very first collegiate start on Aug. 28, 2015. As a rookie, Develle tallied 319 digs as the team's second libero, racking up 31 aces and 72 assists and finished the season with 18 matches of double-digit digs. She was the Coaches Award winner for 2015. Her sophomore season, she had 470 digs, recording double-digit digs in 27 of her 30 matches. Develle was named Lehigh Volleyball's Outstanding Athlete of 2016. In her junior season, she ranked third in the Patriot League in digs with 476, ranking fourth all-time in Lehigh single season history. She was named to the All-Tournament team at season's end. Develle is currently ranked second all-time in Lehigh volleyball history in career digs with 1,625 currently 68 behind Rachel Charles (2010-13) who had 1,693 for her career. In the classroom, Develle owns a 3.37 GPA in Finance/Marketing. She's been named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll twice and the AVCA Academic Team twice.
Coach Keckler on Develle: "Emily's ability to be such a strong defender on the court bleeds outside of that as a senior captain, she does a great job of holding our team accountable and she has surely left a legacy of great leadership, strong work ethic and our team and program is forever grateful for that."
What's your favorite Lehigh Volleyball memory up until this point?
ED: My favorite Lehigh Volleyball memory was when we played in a pre-season tournament at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas my junior year. I have lots of family and friends that go to TCU. My youngest brother was a freshman at the time, so it was awesome to have all that support in the stands. My aunt and uncle, who also live in Fort Worth had the team over for dinner one night and it was so great to have family, friends, and teammates all together in one place.
Describe the relationship with your teammates and fellow senior Megan Polak.
ED: My teammates have become some of my best friends. I respect each one of them not only as players, but as young women. I am particularly close with the junior class and am forever grateful that I was given three years to play with them.
Megan and I have been side-by-side through everything over the past four years. I know Meg has a great future ahead of her and I am proud of her for all the work she has put in academically and athletically while at Lehigh.
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
ED: I remember preparing for Senior Day for the girls who were seniors when I was a freshman. It feels like yesterday, and I cannot believe it's our turn. Though I am excited for the festivities that Senior Day brings, it is just another great opportunity to get on the court and fight for another win. We still have a lot of work to do as a team this season, so I'm not really that focused on the fact that I am nearing the end of my career. If anything, it is all the more reason to get after it on a day-to-day basis.
What will you miss most about Lehigh Volleyball?
ED: There is so much I will miss about Lehigh Volleyball and my teammates are pretty high on that list.
But what I will miss the most is playing the amazing sport that volleyball is. I have had so much fun playing this sport and there is truly nothing better than the competition that it brings.
How proud are you of the strides the Lehigh Volleyball program has taken and continues to take?
ED: Our program has been through a lot over the past four years, but every single up and down has only made our team stronger and tougher. Looking back at the past three years, I would have never imagined our program would be where it's at now. The program is headed in such a positive direction and I look forward to supporting from the sidelines after I graduate.
What are your postgraduate plans?
ED: Working on it!!
#10 – Megan Polak – Setter – Kirtland, Ohio – Behavioral Neuroscience (Minor in Hispanic Studies)
Polak has been a big part in the development of Mountain Hawk volleyball players since the beginning of her Lehigh career in 2015. The senior is one of the leading setters in program history and has set up many outstanding hitters for success during her tenure. She had a strong rookie season, tallying 337 assists in 29 matches. As the starting setter her sophomore year, Polak finished the season with 870 assists and had 185 digs in 30 matches. She tallied 59 assists in a 3-2 win over George Washington (10/11/16). Her junior year saw Polak finish with 975 assists, 9.03 per set, 30 service aces and a career-best 217 digs, 93 kills and 28 total blocks. She is currently fifth in program history for career assists with 2,571. In the classroom, Polak carries a 3.95 GPA, has finished on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll three times, Academic All-Patriot League twice and was a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection in 2017, becoming just the second player in program history to achieve the honor. She's been named to the AVCA Academic Team twice, Dean's List six times, and has achieved a 4.0 GPA three times. Polak is a three-time letter winner and was Lehigh volleyball's Scholar-Athlete Award winner twice.
Coach Keckler on Polak: "Megan has done amazing work on the court and in the classroom in four years. She sets a great precedence academically and she never stops working. She continues to push herself every day in practice and she certainly has a great mindset for the game and scouting the game. We will surely miss her as well."
What's your favorite Lehigh Volleyball memory up until this point? Why?
MP: My favorite memory of Lehigh Volleyball was the team trip to Texas, where we played against TCU and Duke. During this trip, the team played some of its most competitive and best volleyball (almost beating Duke - RIP set No. 3), was surrounded by the supportive and wonderful families of some of our team members, and had the most amazing Tex-Mex food from a taco truck.
Describe the relationship with your teammates and fellow senior Emily Develle.
MP: It has been a pleasure to be a member of a team in which the players are not only friends, but family. We've overcome challenges and have found success both on and off the court; we have grown together as a unit and have shared many novel, sometimes peculiar, and often humorous experiences.
Regarding my fellow senior, Emily, it has been an honor to grow alongside her in our journey at Lehigh and to see her embrace her leadership roles and find success in the various facets of her life. She has played an invaluable leadership role on the team and, during her collegiate career, had an immense impact on the team reaching the success it has today. I look forward to hearing about her continued success in her future endeavors!
Describe the feeling going into Senior Day. What are some of the thoughts going through your mind as you're nearing the end of your collegiate career?
MP: I am grateful for the opportunity Lehigh University and Lehigh Volleyball has given me. It was not an easy journey, with many obstacles and challenges along the way, but, ultimately, it was time in which I experienced great joy, success, and growth! It is bittersweet to be nearing the end of my competitive collegiate career, but, moving forward, I will always carry with me fond memories of the program and use the lessons learned to help me accomplish my new goals for the future.
What will you miss most about Lehigh Volleyball?
MP: I will miss most the opportunity to travel and play the sport I love alongside teammates that share my same passion and joy for volleyball.
How proud are you of the strides the Lehigh Volleyball program has taken and continues to take?
MP: I am proud of this program for both the competitive and cultural transformations it has made during the past four years and that it continues to make. Not only have I witnessed and been a part of the team finding greater success and continually improving its play on the court and in the Patriot League, but I have also witnessed the internal growth in the mindset of each girl that has ultimately led to an improved culture on the team. While this culture shift is still progressing, it was an honor to be a part of the initial shift and to see each girl take an active role in establishing the foundation of an inclusive, honest, tough, competitive, and supportive atmosphere.
What are your postgraduate plans?
MP: After graduation, I plan to attend graduate school to become a Physician Assistant, with a specialization in Pediatrics. I also hope to continue playing volleyball by competing in adult leagues and tournaments. I would also love to get a cat for company!
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