This was previously published in the 2026 senior issue.
Amanda Rivera departs from Emmaus High School as one of the most decorated volleyball players in schools history. As an outside hitter, she led her team to the first-ever EPC championship for the Emmaus girls volleyball team.
One of her most notable accomplishments was surpassing 500 career digs at EHS’ first round state tournament game. Her versatility on the court, leadership skills, and game-saving hits earned her recognition as The Morning Call “Athlete of the Week.”
Rivera is not only a dedicated athlete, but also a devoted student at LCTI, where she studies cosmetology with hopes for specializing in nails, eye aesthetics, and skin care. After high school, she will attend Northampton Community College, where she will play volleyball and major in psychology.
Stinger: What advice would you give to an underclassmen or young athletes?
Rivera: Expect things not to go your way. Don’t have expectations too high for yourself because you have so much more to learn.
Stinger: What inspired you to pursue volleyball?
Rivera: My whole family has always played volleyball. I was watching my cousin play volleyball one day when I lived in Puerto Rico, and I asked my mom to start taking classes. Then, I just fell in love with it.
Stinger: What impact do you think you have left on EHS or LCTI?
Rivera: I think I definitely impacted some of the freshmen and sophomores that have been watching me play, because this has been a peak year for me. And because I’ve made so many accomplishments that I have worked hard for, I think I was just a little bit of an inspiration to the underclassmen. Hopefully, I am someone they remember and look to for inspiration.
Stinger: How has attending LCTI shaped your high school experience?
Rivera: I definitely didn’t expect cosmetology to be as intense as it is. LCTI, in general, has completely shaped the way I view the workplace and how much work there is behind certain careers. I also enjoy how they can give that opportunity to high schoolers before they are adults.
Stinger: What is your favorite volleyball memory?
Rivera: The EPCs, because this is EHS’ first-ever EPC championship, and it’s a huge historic moment for not just the school, but for us in general. I remember watching my previous seniors try and fail, but we have all learned so much from them. So for us to come out with a win, which was unexpected, was great. When things started looking brighter, we were working hard, and we just got into a flow. It increased our excitement. I was just really, really happy that we won.
