Keeping headed to Wake Forest

IMLAY CITY — Imlay City’s Emma Keeping made a verbal commitment with the Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) women’s volleyball program recently.

Keeping, who will be a junior at Imlay City High School this fall, is considered the top setter in Michigan and fourth best player overall in the Class of 2026 according to PrepDig.com.

In the Class of 2026 national rankings, Keeping is regarded as number 12 setter and 54th player overall.

Prepvolleyball.com has her ranked in the top-150 players as well.

In addition to Wake Forest University, Keeping garnered recruiting interest from Louisville, Baylor, Tennessee, Utah, Iowa State and Rice as well as numerous Division 2 programs.

Keeping saw limited action for Imlay City a year ago due to a stress fracture in her lower back from overuse. That forced her to sit out of all activities for a 12-week stretch, but she is doing much better and is at 100 percent now.

She finished her sophomore season with 90 set assists, 62 digs, 36 kills, 12 aces and eight assisted blocks over nine total matches.

Those numbers included 12 kills, 12 set assists, 12 digs and an assist block during Imlay City’s 20-25, 26-28, 18-25 loss to eventual state champion North Branch in their Division 2 district title match.

Imlay City wrapped up the 2023 campaign as owners of a 24-18-5 overall mark.

Wake Forest went 17-12 a year ago. That included a 7-5 league showing, good for ninth among ACC schools.