For anyone who follows women’s volleyball at Chaminade University, the competitive spirit of student-athlete Emma Tecklenburg is impossible to miss. Named to the All-Pacific West Conference Third Team, the 5-foot-11-inch outsider hitter helped the Silverswords achieve a record third-consecutive winning season at 16-12.
A sophomore from Plano, Texas, Tecklenburg finished third in the PacWest in kills per set and seventh in service aces. Moreover, her kill average was the second-highest by a ’Sword since 2010.
Tecklenburg brings that same intensity to the classroom. She’s double majoring in Forensic Sciences and Criminology and Criminal Justice, thinking about adding a minor and already looking ahead to graduate school. During her rare downtime, she enjoys camping, swimming, beach volleyball and other sports.
“It has definitely been a struggle at times balancing school, volleyball and my social life,” said Tecklenburg, who’s attending Chaminade on a four-year athletic scholarship. “But I have some really great teammates that do their best to hold me accountable.
“The hardest balance is school and volleyball,” she pointed out, “especially during our road trips when we’re gone for more than a week at a time. But the team puts in a lot of effort at keeping caught up in school while traveling.”
While attending high school nearly 4,000 miles away in the Lone Star State, Tecklenburg was a standout on her champion volleyball team and earned academic all-district honors. When it came time to make college plans, she was drawn to Chaminade and the abundant natural beauty and recreational opportunities on Oahu.
“I was super attracted to Chaminade because I live in Northern Texas, so there’s not a lot of nature to experience down there,” Tecklenburg said. “The only time I ever went to the beach was on vacation, and I thought I would regret passing up such a cool life experience of living in Hawaii.
“It wasn’t as big of an adjustment as I thought it would be,” she continued, “because we started playing volleyball right away and it was a good distraction from being homesick.”
Competing for the Silverswords, Tecklenburg said, “is a wonderful opportunity.”
“This team is truly a family and I am so appreciative to get to wake up and see them every day,” she said. “Everybody is so talented and driven! It’s really fun to get to see everyone grow and get better together.”
As for her academic career, Tecklenburg enjoys working with Associate Professor David Carter, director of the Forensic Sciences program.
“So far, Dr. Carter has been my absolute favorite professor,” Tecklenburg said. “He is a great instructor in general, and one of the most easy-going and fun people to talk with.
“I would love to go to grad school and extend my education once I finish my four-year plan,” she added, “so we will see where I end up when that is all completed.”
Chaminade University’s Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics offers a Bachelor of Science degree and a minor in Forensic Sciences. The Division of Behavioral Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice.
