PROVIDENCE, R.I. – UMass Dartmouth senior captain
Emily Pogorelec cemented her name in the record books on Tuesday, becoming just the second player in the history of Little East Conference volleyball to earn four consecutive Defensive Player of the Year honors. Pogorelec, who was also named an All-LEC First Team selection for the fourth time in her career, was also the 2022 LEC Rookie of the Year.
It has been another incredible season for the defensive specialist from Wayne, N.J., who played in all 29 matches for the Corsairs. In 103 sets played, she recorded 504 total digs for a 4.89 digs per set average. Pogorelec also added 24 service aces with 97 assists and 12 kills during the 2025 campaign.
On the season, the six-time LEC Defensive Player of the Week, recorded 27 matches with at least 10 or more digs. Pogorelec also had eight matches with at least 20 digs, including a season-high 31 in a 3-2 home victory over Trinity (Conn.) on September 27. She further cemented her place in the Corsair record books on November 1, posting 16 digs, including the 2,000th of her career in a tough loss at Plymouth State.
Amongst the LEC's best, Pogorelec is first in total digs and second in digs per set. Her efforts have helped the Corsairs rank second in the LEC in total digs (1,772) and third in digs per set (17.20). In Division III, Pogorelec is currently 63rd in digs and 57th in digs per set.
During the 2024 season, Pogorelec made history for the Corsairs, becoming one of the first players (along with
Kate Wade) to be named AVCA All-America Honorable Mention. She was also an AVCA First Team All-Region honoree after playing in 29 games for the Corsairs. Appearing in 100 sets, she was the Little East leader in digs with 560 for a 5.60 digs per set average. Over the course of the season, she recorded at least 10 digs in 28 contests, including seven matches with 25 or more.
Pogorelec achieved her 1,000th career dig in a 3-0 win at FDU-Florham (8/30) and then surpassed 1,500 career digs in a 3-0 win over Plymouth State in the Little East Conference Championship (11/14).
As a sophomore, Pogorelec led the Little East and the team in both service aces (66) and digs (519). She averaged 5.58 digs per set and 0.66 aces per set, tallying 81 set assists (0.84 assists per set). During her freshman year, Pogorelec recorded a Little East-best 470 digs for a 5.00 digs per set average. She also owned a team-high 53 service aces - which ranked fifth in the conference on her way to Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors.
In her incredible career, Pogorelec played 111 matches, appearing in 390 sets. She finished with 2,053 total digs for a career 5.26 digs per set average. In addition to 176 service aces, she posted 350 assists with 27 total kills.
UMass Dartmouth concluded another incredible season last weekend in the Little East Conference Championship Match – their third straight appearance. The top-seeded Corsairs fell to Plymouth State, 3-1, finishing the 2025 season with a 21-8 overall record. UMD went 7-1 in Little East play, earning the conference's regular season title for the second time in the last three years.
