Indiana University Athletics
Emily Fitzner: Senior Spotlight
10/12/2022 10:30:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Emily Fitzner was one of the first big recruits during the tenure of head coach Steve Aird. The lone First Team Under Armour All-American in program history, Fitzner became the face of a recruiting class that included Haley Armstrong and Ashley Zulauf.
After a coaching change at USC, a school she'd been committed to since the end of her freshman year, Fitzner's club coach lined up a long list of potential matches.
The combination of playing in the Big Ten Conference and working with Aird was enough to draw the young setter out of San Diego and into Bloomington.
Her brother, Evan, played basketball for the Hoosiers in the 2018-2019 season and IU became the destination for the youngest of the Fitzner family after graduating from Torrey Pines High School in 2019.
"Playing the Big Ten was a huge dream of mine so I thought why not," Fitzner said. "Steve is a great head coach and loved to talk to him and love his philosophy."
Fitzner made an immediate impact along Armstrong in the 2019 season, the first for Indiana Volleyball in Wilkinson Hall.
Running a 6-2 system, Fitzner paired nicely with Victoria Brisack to begin Aird's second season in charge of the Hoosiers.
Her freshman year saw her record 738 assists, 25 aces and 199 digs. She had six double-doubles and an impressive stat line with 52 assists and 15 digs in a match against Maryland.
Being a setter in the Big Ten, especially as a freshman, is no easy task. Years of high-level club and high school volleyball ensured she wasn't going in blind.
But there were still ups-and-downs as there is for any freshman.
"It's definitely a difficult role because I never thought I was going to play my freshman year," Fitzner said. "I always expected upperclassmen to play over you. I'm always thankful for those upperclassmen I had because they helped me a lot mentally going into games."
The next year was anything but ideal for everybody. The COVID-19 pandemic shut the world down in the Spring of 2020, sending everyone home.
It took a long time for college athletics to return. The Big Ten Conference pushed all Olympic sports to a spring and conference-only schedule in the Spring of 2021.
The Hoosiers, a young team featuring eight freshmen, struggled to a 5-15 record against all Big Ten opponents.
Fitzner appeared in all 18 matches and recorded 190 assists on the season including 49 digs and nine aces. She was an Academic All-Big Ten selection.
"It was tough having that year taken away from you" Fitzner said. "When I was home, I was still training as much as I could. Just trying to stay in shape because when we did come back, we could have an advantage if we were all in really good shape."
Even after moving into more of a serving role following the emergence of now-sophomore setter Camryn Haworth, Fitzner's role in the program is equally as great.
She's played the most matches of any player on IU (95) and continues to inch closer to becoming the next member of the century club.
The roster for the Hoosiers in 2022 is still relatively young. Despite being in her fourth season, Fitzner, along with Armstrong and Zulauf, have only played two real seasons at the collegiate level.
Those three have been vital to the overall development of the team and the program.
"I love them, they're awesome," Fitzner said. "They're two of my roommates. We are all super close. It has been tough as upperclassmen not playing as much but knowing our roles and helping the freshmen out as much as possible."
Fitzner was named a team captain in 2022 alongside Paula Cerame and Haworth. A role she doesn't take lightly, Fitzner will do anything to help teammates on-and-off the court.
She's closing in on 100 career appearances for the Hoosiers and should cross that mark in the coming weeks.
Following her graduation next May, Fitzner has her post-grad options open. The idea of playing overseas and working in Europe entices her but she knows her heart will take her back home to San Diego eventually.
A career in interior design likely awaits her whenever she wraps up her outstanding volleyball career.
"It flies by," Fitzner said. "The girls I'm with this year are incredible and it's been a great experience."
Career Numbers (as of Oct. 11):
- 95 Appearances
- 17 Kills
- 938 Assists
- 44 Service Aces
- 281 Digs
- 14 Total Blocks
Her Thoughts:
On her family:
"I grew up wanting to be like them. I was a gym rat growing up. I love talking to them about sports because they've all played college athletics."
On playing in the Big Ten Conference:
"I thought coming to the Big Ten would be a really cool experience and it has been so far."
The Future:
Fitzner keeps the option open of playing volleyball overseas while also beginning her career working in design. She is on pace to graduate in the spring of 2023 with her degree in interior design. Paired with the opportunity to work, her desire to travel makes the idea of living in Europe for a little bit even more enticing.
Ultimately, Fitzner plans to end up back in her hometown of San Diego. Her mother owns a design company that she started a couple years ago. A career in that same company or on the commercial side is the route she envisions her future taking after volleyball.
After a coaching change at USC, a school she'd been committed to since the end of her freshman year, Fitzner's club coach lined up a long list of potential matches.
The combination of playing in the Big Ten Conference and working with Aird was enough to draw the young setter out of San Diego and into Bloomington.
Her brother, Evan, played basketball for the Hoosiers in the 2018-2019 season and IU became the destination for the youngest of the Fitzner family after graduating from Torrey Pines High School in 2019.
"Playing the Big Ten was a huge dream of mine so I thought why not," Fitzner said. "Steve is a great head coach and loved to talk to him and love his philosophy."
Fitzner made an immediate impact along Armstrong in the 2019 season, the first for Indiana Volleyball in Wilkinson Hall.
Running a 6-2 system, Fitzner paired nicely with Victoria Brisack to begin Aird's second season in charge of the Hoosiers.
Her freshman year saw her record 738 assists, 25 aces and 199 digs. She had six double-doubles and an impressive stat line with 52 assists and 15 digs in a match against Maryland.
Being a setter in the Big Ten, especially as a freshman, is no easy task. Years of high-level club and high school volleyball ensured she wasn't going in blind.
But there were still ups-and-downs as there is for any freshman.
"It's definitely a difficult role because I never thought I was going to play my freshman year," Fitzner said. "I always expected upperclassmen to play over you. I'm always thankful for those upperclassmen I had because they helped me a lot mentally going into games."
The next year was anything but ideal for everybody. The COVID-19 pandemic shut the world down in the Spring of 2020, sending everyone home.
It took a long time for college athletics to return. The Big Ten Conference pushed all Olympic sports to a spring and conference-only schedule in the Spring of 2021.
The Hoosiers, a young team featuring eight freshmen, struggled to a 5-15 record against all Big Ten opponents.
Fitzner appeared in all 18 matches and recorded 190 assists on the season including 49 digs and nine aces. She was an Academic All-Big Ten selection.
"It was tough having that year taken away from you" Fitzner said. "When I was home, I was still training as much as I could. Just trying to stay in shape because when we did come back, we could have an advantage if we were all in really good shape."
Even after moving into more of a serving role following the emergence of now-sophomore setter Camryn Haworth, Fitzner's role in the program is equally as great.
She's played the most matches of any player on IU (95) and continues to inch closer to becoming the next member of the century club.
The roster for the Hoosiers in 2022 is still relatively young. Despite being in her fourth season, Fitzner, along with Armstrong and Zulauf, have only played two real seasons at the collegiate level.
Those three have been vital to the overall development of the team and the program.
"I love them, they're awesome," Fitzner said. "They're two of my roommates. We are all super close. It has been tough as upperclassmen not playing as much but knowing our roles and helping the freshmen out as much as possible."
Fitzner was named a team captain in 2022 alongside Paula Cerame and Haworth. A role she doesn't take lightly, Fitzner will do anything to help teammates on-and-off the court.
She's closing in on 100 career appearances for the Hoosiers and should cross that mark in the coming weeks.
Following her graduation next May, Fitzner has her post-grad options open. The idea of playing overseas and working in Europe entices her but she knows her heart will take her back home to San Diego eventually.
A career in interior design likely awaits her whenever she wraps up her outstanding volleyball career.
"It flies by," Fitzner said. "The girls I'm with this year are incredible and it's been a great experience."
Career Numbers (as of Oct. 11):
- 95 Appearances
- 17 Kills
- 938 Assists
- 44 Service Aces
- 281 Digs
- 14 Total Blocks
Her Thoughts:
On her family:
"I grew up wanting to be like them. I was a gym rat growing up. I love talking to them about sports because they've all played college athletics."
On playing in the Big Ten Conference:
"I thought coming to the Big Ten would be a really cool experience and it has been so far."
The Future:
Fitzner keeps the option open of playing volleyball overseas while also beginning her career working in design. She is on pace to graduate in the spring of 2023 with her degree in interior design. Paired with the opportunity to work, her desire to travel makes the idea of living in Europe for a little bit even more enticing.
Ultimately, Fitzner plans to end up back in her hometown of San Diego. Her mother owns a design company that she started a couple years ago. A career in that same company or on the commercial side is the route she envisions her future taking after volleyball.
Players Mentioned
Defensive Specialist
/ Women's Volleyball
Setter
/ Women's Volleyball
Defensive Specialist
/ Women's Volleyball
Setter
/ Women's Volleyball
Setter
/ Women's Volleyball
Outside Hitter
/ Women's VolleyballIUVB: Regional Semifinals - Postgame Press Conference
Friday, December 12
IUVB: Regional Semifinals - Pre-Match Press Conference
Thursday, December 11
IUVB: Selection Sunday Press Conference
Sunday, November 30
IUVB at Purdue: Highlights
Saturday, November 29