Emily Davis begins her tenth season as the leader of the women's volleyball program at Fox in the fall of 2025. Davis' squads have put together five straight winning seasons and Davis was named the 2019 Northwest Conference Coach of the Year by her peers.
Following an NWC Championship appearance in 2023, Davis led the Bruins to a fourth overall seed in the conference and a second straight conference tournament berth. The Bruins went 14-12 overall, with a 10-6 NWC mark. For the second straight season, Fox had a major award winner compete for the team, with Piper Hilgaertner earning NWC Libero of the Year honors.
During the 2023 Season, the Bruins finished with a 16-9 record, placing third in the Northwest Conference. They capped off their season with an appearance in the NWC Championship Final, but fell just short of a national tournament bid. Kassandra Mendenhall was named the NWC Player of the Year, also recording First-Team All-NWC honors. Piper Harrop and Emily Blagg were named All-NWC Honorable Mention, with Blagg securing NWC Rookie of the Year honors as well.
The Bruins finished with a 12-11 record in 2022, briefly leading the entire NWC in late October before finished fifth in conference. Kassandra Staton was named First-Team All-NWC under Davis' guise.
During the 2021 fall campaign, Davis guided her team to a 12-9 overall record and a fourth-place finish in conference with an 8-8 NWC record. Sophia Lawrence broke the school record for digs after playing a fifth year as the Bruins' leader on defense at libero, and Kassandra Staton was named second team All-NWC.
During an abbreviated spring COVID season in 2020-21, Davis juggled maternity leave and coaching roles while guiding the team to a 5-4 record against other Oregon-based schools.
The Bruins got off to a slow start in 2019 as the team battled injuries, but the team hit its stride in the second half of the season and rallied to finish tied for second in the Northwest Conference after going 9-1 to finish the season, including eight straight wins in the back half of the slate. Davis was named NWC Coach of the Year for the turnaround, while Sophia Lawrence was named First Team All-NWC and Libero of the Year. Laney Search and Bailey LeBreton also earned All-NWC nods for their play.
Under Davis' direction, the Bruins finished 2018 with an 11-13 record overall and a Northwest Conference mark of 5-11. Danyle Dupray and Sophia Lawrence were each named All-NWC for their play after leading the Bruins on offense and defense, respectively.
The Bruins capped off the 2017 season with an overall record of 9-11 and a Northwest Conference record of 8-8. George Fox finished the conference season tied for fifth, and the nine conference wins marked the most since the 2009 season. Danyle Dupray and Madison Ross were both named on the All-NWC team. Dupray became the first Bruin since the 2005 season to earn a first-team All-NWC honor after leading the Bruins' offense all season.
In her first season (2016), Davis led the Bruins to a 4-20 overall record and 2-14 NWC record. Senior Erin Sprowls was the lone Bruin on the All-NWC team with an honorable mention.
Davis brings a dynamic mix of playing and coaching experience to her new position. A four-year AVCA All-American at Concordia University, Saint Paul, Davis was a standout athlete in her playing days. She was named AVCA National Freshman of the Year in 2007 and ended her career as the all-time career kills leader for the Golden Bears. She also led her team to four straight NCAA Division II national championships.
Davis graduated from Concordia, Saint Paul, and earned a bachelor's degree in child learning and human development in 2011. Upon graduation, she went on to play professionally overseas in Finland in the spring of 2011 and Spain in January of 2012. She earned the silver medal (highest in program history) while playing at Tampere, Finland.
Most recently, she spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Augsburg College (Minn.), where she helped the Auggies become conference co-champions in the MIAC in 2013 and 2014. She also coached four AVCA All-Americans, All-Central Region, and All-MIAC athletes. During her time at Augsburg, the Auggies compiled an overall record of 87-32 (.709). She also earned a Master of Business Administration (with an emphasis on social entrepreneurship) from Augsburg in May of 2016.
Concurrently, Davis coached a Mizuno M1 Volleyball club team in 2012 and a Vital Volleyball 17s Elite team from 2012 to 2015.
As an assistant coach, Davis helped strengthen overall admissions/athletic department relationships, including acting as an admissions counselor for recruiting visits. She assumed the majority of daily responsibilities while the team's head coach was on maternity leave in 2014-15. She also updated the alumnae database and improved relationships that led to donations to a new locker room renovation. She successfully recruited 23 student-athletes over three seasons and assisted in the creation of the JV program to maximize the student-athlete experience.
"I couldn't be more excited and humbled to receive the position as head coach of the George Fox volleyball program,” Davis said. “I hope to carry on the culture of leadership that Steve [Grant] has created. The team has fantastic potential, and I cannot wait to get in the gym! Even more important than athletic talent, they have the unity and Christ-focused heart that creates endless possibilities. The family at George Fox has been so welcoming thus far, and I am grateful to everyone for a seamless transition. Go, Bruins!"
GFU Milestones
1st win - Whittier (Calif.) - 3-1 - 9/2/16
25th win - Methodist (N.C.) - 3-0 - 8/30/19
50th win - at Linfield - 3-1 - 10/9/21
75th win - vs. Linfield - 3-0 - 9/29/23
