Pride in the PSUAC with Penn State Fayette's Emma Eckert
This story is part of a year-long series of feature stories written by PSUAC student-athletes and coaches, highlighting their experiences in the PSUAC.
By Emma Eckert, women's volleyball student-athlete at Penn State Fayette
Choosing Penn State Fayette did not happen by accident for me. From the moment I toured the campus, I knew I was somewhere special. I wasn’t just looking for a college, I was searching for a home away from home. Fayette’s volleyball program, its small-campus closeness, and the unmistakable warmth of “Fayette Family” drew me in immediately. I didn’t just choose PSU Fayette volleyball; I chose a community that believed in me before I fully believed in myself. What I didn’t realize then was just how deeply I would come to lean on them.
My freshman year would become the most defining chapter of my college journey. The morning after my very first college conference game, my younger brother, Ian, who had fought a long and difficult illness, passed away. His death was not sudden, but losing him at such a pivotal moment in my career left me rethinking my life. In the days that followed, I questioned everything: my future, my role on the team, my purpose in life, even whether I belonged at Fayette at all. My faith was being tested, and school felt overwhelming, but I had one thing: Volleyball.
That weekend, I reflected back to the memories I shared with Ian. Volleyball had always been a constant throughout his sickness: my practices, games, and tournaments were things he cheered for me at and things he loved watching me pursue. Deep down, I knew he would have never wanted me to stop. So the day after his funeral, with a new mindset, I walked into practice. I didn’t go because I was strong. I went because I needed to be somewhere familiar, somewhere grounding, somewhere that felt like hope. The court became my refuge—the one place where I could breathe again, and my teammates, who didn’t even realize how much I needed them, helped hold me up simply by being there.
Over the next four years, volleyball became more than a sport. It became a source of strength, a classroom for resilience, and a space where I grew into myself. I developed not only as a player but as a leader, a teammate, and a student learning how to turn pain into purpose. The confidence I rebuilt on the court followed me into the classroom, where I pursued a degree in psychology inspired by everything I had lived through: grief, healing, connection, and the incredible personal therapy that is college sports.
Now, as a senior preparing to graduate with my bachelor’s degree in psychology, I can clearly see how every moment at Fayette has prepared me for what comes next. I plan to continue my education and earn a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling, hoping to help others navigate the hardest moments of their lives, just as I had to navigate mine. The challenges I faced didn’t just change me, they foreshadowed my calling.
No story about my time at Fayette would be complete without mentioning the campus community that held my girls and I together. The “Fayette Family” isn’t just a phrase; it’s an experience. It looks like teammates shouting encouragement during 6 a.m. campus runs, coaches somehow knowing you’re stressed before you even speak, and everyone mysteriously ending up at Sheetz after late-night practices. It’s the kind of place where you can’t cross campus without being stopped at least three times: once for a conversation, once because someone insists you try their food, and once because somebody definitely saw you trip in your uggs and wants to make sure you’re okay. In every season, both the hard ones and the joyful ones, this community made sure I was never alone.
My journey at Fayette is one of courage, faith, and transformation. I came looking for opportunity and found purpose. I faced loss and discovered strength. I embraced that Fayette Family and became part of what makes it so special. Fayette shaped who I am today, and everything I’ve gained here: on the court, in the classroom, and within myself. It's something I will carry for the rest of my life.