KP’s Sawyer Enjoying Fresh Start With URI Volleyball

Closing out the first weekend of the season, the University of Rhode Island picked up its third straight win with a 3-1 victory against Central Connecticut State. At 3-0, the Rams were off to their best start in 12 years. Right in the middle of everything was a new face. Former King Philip volleyball and basketball standout Emily Sawyer was enjoying her first matches with URI after transferring from Sacred Heart for her senior season.

Sawyer made an instant impact for the Rams, setting a rally-point record for solo blocks in a match with six against CCSU (finishing with eight total blocks and four kills) and giving URI an imposing net presence (Sawyer is listed at 6’6).

It was the perfect start for Sawyer, who made the switch to URI for the spring semester of her junior year and she’s excited about the potential that the Rams have this season.

“Especially because we have so many new people (six freshmen and two transfers), there’s definitely a lot for all of us to learn,” Sawyer said, highlighting the importance of the team’s work in preseason. “The most important thing for me was learning where to be, playing different opponents, not just playing ourselves in practice everyday, seeing what other opponents do, fast offense, slow offense.”

The Rams saw their perfect start come to an end in the second weekend, as they lost all three matches in the Ocean State Cup, which they hosted at Keaney Gymnasium. But, URI was in every match, including a five-set loss to Brown that the Rams led 2-0 and went through a record-breaking, 78-point (40-38) fourth set.

Sawyer has fit right in with 39 kills (third on the team) and a team-high 23 total blocks in the first six matches.

“This weekend was a little tougher, it was tough competition, and I think we held our own but we still have a lot to learn,” she said. “I think we’re in a good spot right now.”

Making the decision to transfer from Sacred Heart, where she started and played all 116 sets in 2025 and was second on the team with 78 total blocks, wasn’t easy. Having only picked up volleyball as a sophomore in high school, Sawyer was admittedly raw when she got to college and she credits Sacred Heart for turning her into the player that she is now.

“I loved my experience at Sacred Heart,” Sawyer explained. “They taught me everything there is to know about volleyball but, ultimately, it’s not where I saw myself graduating from.”

Entering the portal meant Sawyer would experience college recruiting for the second time in her life. Rather than having several years to pick a spot (like in high school), this time she would have to make a quick decision so that she could be on campus in the spring. After conversations with multiple schools and several campus visits, Sawyer decided that URI was where she wanted to be.

“I love URI and how spread out it is and how there’s so much to do on campus, it’s so lively and there’s tons and tons of people walking,” she said. “I cast a wide net when I was emailing coaches and there were a couple schools I went on visits to, but I just knew that I wanted to come here. I love it here.”

Eight years ago, volleyball wasn’t on Sawyer’s radar and she certainly didn’t have expectations of it turning into her collegiate sport. She played basketball and softball going into high school and was a standout center for KP (averaging 19 points and 15 rebounds per game her senior season).

Going into her sophomore year, at the urging of her mom and her friends, Sawyer went out for the volleyball team. She found a sport that was a more natural fit for her personality.

“I loved basketball but I’m not a basketball personality,” she said with a chuckle. “When I would box someone out and they would fall, I would help them up. I’d feel bad for sending them to the floor. Volleyball just fits my personality more.”

“After every point we celebrate. I love the feeling when you go up for a kill or a block and that’s aggressive but then you go into a huddle and you celebrate.”

Using the skills she learned from other sports (the arm motion from softball and the lateral movement of basketball), Sawyer was an immediate threat on both sides of the net and partnered with classmates Sami Shore and Ahunna James to form one of the state’s most dynamic hitting trios. They helped KP reach the state final as seniors.

“I loved playing with Sami and Ahunna,” she said. “We were all captains together and our personalities just matched so well and we were able to mesh on the court. I just think that it was a great group of girls.”

Working with KP coach Kristen Geuss and playing for the Central Mass Juniors Volleyball Club, Sawyer, who was already being recruited for basketball, saw another path to college sports. “I always felt like I was more connected to volleyball,” she said.

Her first season at Sacred Heart, Sawyer was fourth on the team with 48 total blocks (including a nine-block match against URI) and made 14 starts in 23 matches. She improved to 65 blocks and 24 starts as a sophomore and then had career highs with 195 kills and 78 blocks last year.

While it seemed like a smooth transition to the college game, Sawyer said she felt kind of lost at the beginning.

“Honestly, at first, I was kind of like what the hell am I doing?” she remembered. “I was 17 when I got to college and I was playing with girls who were 22 and that just made no sense to me.”

Now, in her fourth college season but her first with a new program, Sawyer shares that experience with her younger teammates. “Talking the freshmen through that and having them understand that I might be three years older but we’re both on this team and we’re both here for the same reason.”

Over the summer, Sawyer got more good news when the NCAA passed a five-year eligibility window, meaning her switch to URI was not just for one season but for two. An economics major, Sawyer hopes to take advantage of the extra year to work on her MBA or something in sports management.

URI hasn’t had a winning season since 2016 and was picked ninth in the preseason A-10 rankings, but Sawyer is undaunted and believes this team is capable of fulfilling her goal of winning a conference title before she graduates.

“I have so much trust and so much faith in our team and I think having a lot of new people just brings more experiences to the table and I think we have a good shot of winning the conference,” she said.

“To be able to experience the NCAA Tournament is something everyone wants to do before they graduate. I trust this team and I know we all have the same goal.”

URI heads to Lafayette College (Pa.) for a tournament this weekend and then to UConn for another tournament before A-10 play kicks off.