Player of the Year: Bronte's Emily Jackson uses work ethic, faith to become leader

BRONTE — Bronte volleyball coach Carol Moore saw something in an eighth-grade Emily Jackson. It would take some work, but Moore knew she had a diamond.

Jackson's freshman year she started for a storied Bronte program. It was the 2020-2021 season that was shortened due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, and despite the circumstances, Jackson helped Bronte reach the area round of the playoffs.

Leading up to and during the game, Jackson did not feel right. The Lady Longhorns lost 3-1 to Benjamin, and Jackson later found out she was sick with COVID-19.

"That wasn't all fun," Jackson said. "...But even coming up short, it's like you don't have any regrets when you put everything on the line."

More: Bronte volleyball's Emily Jackson voted Standard-Times Athlete of the Week.

Three years later, Jackson was a team captain for the Lady Longhorns and is one the most accomplished athletes in Bronte's history.

Her resume includes multiple state qualifiers in track and a third-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles, the first Bronte girls basketball player to reach 1,000 career points, the 2023 District 6-1A Co-MVP in volleyball and the Standard-Times' 2023 All-West Texas Volleyball Most Valuable Player.

Jackson notched 374 kills this season, which led the team. She added 117 digs, 28 aces and 10 solo blocks as Bronte (29-12) reached the state semifinals for the first time since 2017.

"She's just an amazing work ethic kind of kid," Moore said. "Those very few kind of kids come along, oh so seldom... She is the epitome of work ethic, and of course that shows in everything she does."

Jackson knew in the back of her mind from a young age she felt a calling to lead and influence her teammates positively, which Moore credited to Jackson's journey with God and her upbringing being a coach's daughter.

Jackson's leadership was put to the test before the team's regional quarterfinal matchup against Aspermont this season.

The team gathered together to take photos when Jackson suddenly fainted and hit her head on the ground. She regained consciousness and immediately rushed to the doctor. The doctor said she passed out due to a combination of exhaustion and dehydration.

"The girls were shook about it and I was (too) a little bit in the moment," Jackson said. "...I showed up to the team dinner to show I'm perfectly healthy... I was really just trying to help the girls to get back (to normal) because it was a little traumatizing. But really, I just think that I also had in the back of my mind, if we don't make it past this round, I feel like that's on me because I was the one who shook everybody up... I really just tried to push through, but if you have 50% in you, then you better give 100% of that 50%."

Jackson again had to perform when she was not at her best, but this time the result was different. One day after she fainted, the Lady Longhorns swept Aspermont advancing to the regional semifinal round where they faced off against Klondike — last year's regional champions.

Bronte fell behind by two sets, and Jackson's leadership was tested again.

"Emily is a very verbal vocal leader," Moore said. "She pats people on the back. She says things like 'We're okay, we just need to settle down.'... She's not flamboyant or boisterous and definitely not obnoxious with her words. She comes across (with) exactly the right tone."

"I think leading by example gives you the credentials to be vocal," Jackson said. "Because the girls see that you understand what they're going through (and) that you've been there and what you've done to overcome it."

Moore said she let the team take over between sets two and three, which is when the game shifted in favor of Bronte. The Lady Longhorns completed the reverse sweep beating Klondike in five sets.

"(That game) is truly something I will never forget," Jackson said. "I've never even seen a comeback like that before, and I've obviously never been in one like that before. It was a really neat thing to experience and have a moment like that with the team."

Jackson and Bronte were not finished. One day later, the Lady Longhorns took on their district rival Veribest in the regional final with a trip to Garland and the state tournament on the line. Bronte rode its wave of momentum from the win over Klondike and swept Veribest advancing to state.

"I asked the girls the night before we left for Garland 'When did ya'll start believing we could make it to state?' and the answer was unanimous," Moore said. "They said, 'Oh we thought all along.'"

Bronte fell in the state semifinal to Harrold despite a game-high 22 kills from Jackson, who was convinced she could have played better.

"I think that we could have played a little bit better, but you know, everybody has those days and pressure plays a big role... I think that being there once already preps your mind for 'let's do it again,' and I won't be there but I'll be supporting these girls," Jackson said.

More: Record breaking season pushes Central volleyball to first Bi-district win in seven years

This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: Bronte's Jackson is the area's volleyball player of the year