Emily Carrara (Heckl) (2026) - Hall of Fame - Winthrop University Athletics

Winthrop University Athletics

Hall of Fame

Emily Carrara (Heckl)

Class

2007
Induction

2026
Sport(s)

Athlete

Emily Carrara (Heckl) (2003-06) – Played a key role as the starting setter for the 2003, 2004, and 2006 Big South Conference Championship teams. She earned All-Conference honors in 2003, 2004 and 2006. In 2006 she was voted as the Big South Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year. Finished her career as the all-time leader in assists (4,890) as she ranked first, second and third for most in assists in a single-season. Was named to the Big South All-Tournament Team and Big South All-Freshman Team in 2003. During her four-year career helped the team to four titles as well as posting a record of 117-26 overall and 52-4 in the Big South. Heckl still owns the record for assists in a five-set match (74). In 2004 the Eagles became the 6^th program in conference history to go undefeated in league play and then the 2005 team became the 7^th all-time. Winthrop was the first league team in history to go undefeated in back-to-back-to-back conference seasons.

Following graduation, Emily earned a degree from Johnson & Wales in Charlotte, N.C. and continued to coach Carolina Juniors Volleyball Club. In Sept of 2008, she married former Winthrop baseball standout Chris "Goose" Carrara and coached volleyball at South Mecklenburg H.S. while working as a Chef at the Charlotte Country Club, Queens University (2009-11) and Davidson College (2012-15). She went on to earn a Master's Degree in strategic and organizational communications at Queens in 2016. She also coached volleyball at Providence Day.