October 21, 2019 marked the end of an amazing career for Emily Thornton. She recorded the most assists in ACA history with 3,223 and ranks 16th in the state of Alabama and one of only four players in the Montgomery area to accomplish the feat. Thornton also ranks in the Top 20 in program history in career aces and kills, joining Carlie Ainsworth, Sarah Ford and Katie Sanderson as the only four players to rank in the Top 20 in all three categories.
Thornton began her volleyball career at Alabama Christian as a seventh grader playing on the middle school team. Emily gravitated to volleyball due to the team aspect and the speed of the game. Volleyball, unlike other sports, can’t be dominated by one player or position, but takes a total team effort to affect the outcome of a game. Every play and every point depends on several members of the team and not just one position or player controlling the game.
As a freshman, Emily joined the varsity team and has remained a fixture for the past four years. When asked about that first year, Emily stated, “My first year on varsity, Carli Schofield took me under her wing and always made sure I felt included and would invite me to go places and eat with her and some of the older girls. That meant a lot to me because I didn’t really know any of the other girls, but she made sure I felt a part of the group.”
Emily and Carli with their favorite coach.
Manuel Guice has been Emily’s head coach for the past four seasons and has been a major influence through her high school years. Besides being her coach, Guice also taught Emily for two years and showed her the importance to think for herself and not continue thinking the same way she had always been taught. on the floor, Guice helped Emily become more confident in her abilities and in herself in general. He also pushed her to be the best and taught her to push herself which has helped her to become a better leader on and off the court. Thornton’s favorite memory from Coach Guice was at practice on the day that Guice had heard that Tom Petty had passed away. Guice, a classic rock connoisseur, stopped practice, told his team the news and played “Free Fallin” for the girls in tribute to the singer.
Emily and Coach Guice on Senior Night.
Coach Guice had this to say about Emily, “I am so thankful to have had Emily as a part of my team the past four years. I brought her up as a freshman in 2016 and she was a part of the rotation as a setter.She handled that extremely well, especially considering how young she was. I told her from day one that I would not treat her like a freshman, and I didn’t. I have loved getting to see her grow and develop as a person and a player. Emily has been a presence for us the last four years that we all could depend on. You can’t break a record like that without being consistent and reliable. She is a hard worker and extremely competitive. As great a player as she has been, she is even a better person. She is a great example to her teammates as well as her fellow students at ACA. I am going to miss having her on my team, but am excited to see what the future holds for her.”
Emily and Alyson prepare for the next point.
This season marked a first for Thornton, as she was able to play with her younger sister Alyson, a freshman, on the varsity squad. Emily and Alyson have been able to make many memories this season and have enjoyed playing together on the floor and not just watching each other from the sidelines. They also have been able to help each other on the court since they played the same position.
This season is also the end of an era for Thornton as she played her last season with longtime teammate Savannah Fonville. The two have played volleyball together for the past ten years and have always enjoyed being on the same team. From their first year at the YMCA in third grade until this year, the duo always had fun together on the court and kept each other loose even in tense situations.
Emily and Savannah on Senior Night.
Thornton knows she will miss being on the floor next year and it will be strange watching from the bleachers and not having a part in the outcome of the match. She will also miss her teammates and being around them doing something she loves. Thornton will not pursue a collegiate volleyball career, but plans to concentrate on her degree in the fields of physical therapy or pharmacy.