Despite being small in stature, libero Emily Tripp helped take the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Volleyball program to new heights during her time as a Lion from 2013-16.

Tripp was no stranger to a winning program, as the Bonner Springs, Kansas, native had won two state championships at St. James Academy before joining the Lions.

UAFS had just won its second Heartland Conference championship in 2012, and Tripp helped extend that streak by winning a conference title in all four seasons as a Lion. However, the success carried over to the national level, as the Lions reached the Final Four in 2014 and the Elite Eight in 2015.

Tripp earned Heartland Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors during the 2014 season and finished her career as a three-time All-Heartland Conference selection. In her senior season in 2016, Tripp was named the Heartland Conference Player of the Year, becoming the only libero to win the award. That season, Tripp led all of NCAA II with 7.37 digs per set and earned All-Region and All-America honors.

"Emily Tripp is in a league of her own when it comes to defensive players," UAFS Hall of Fame volleyball coach Jane Sargent said. "She had speed, vision, endurance, and a tenacity that made her an opponent's worst nightmare. You just couldn't score on her and set the bar for all other defensive players."

Tripp's name is all over the UAFS record book, as she holds the records for most career digs with 2,718 and most digs in a match with 48. An anchor of the defense, she holds three of the top four marks for digs in a season and six of the top 12 marks for most digs in a match.

Outside of all the record-breaking stats, many will remember Tripp for the kind of teammate she was.

"She was everyone's favorite," Sargent added. "From her encouraging words to her teammates to her interactions with the coaching staff, we all loved her."

Tripp's impact on the program is not forgotten, as Sargent reaches out to former players who are now coaches to ask her to help find another Emily Tripp to recruit. The response Sargent receives? They all laugh and say, "There is only one Tripp!"