Emma Barbero grew up playing volleyball in Italy before she took her talents to Washington State University.
Following her sophomore season, Barbero decided to enter the transfer portal, hoping to have the opportunity to play at the highest level.
BYU played Washington State back in 2023, and Barbero recalls something unique about BYU’s team, saying, “There is something special in that program.”
Once she put her name into the transfer portal, she came to learn how the coaching staff cared about her as a person first and how great an environment it is found at BYU.
“I just wanted to choose a place which I was like, ‘OK, I’m safe in this gym, I’m safe in this environment, I’m going to go and compete with them and not against them,” said Barbero.
Arriving in Provo, Barbero found the people to be very welcoming and "beautiful," she said. Barbero is not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but she loves the values that members do have, and the acceptance she feels from them.
For those who may not be members, it could be a difficult adjustment coming to BYU, but Barbero says it’s a plus, and she loves learning from the Church as well as her coaches and teammates.
Talking about her adjustment, Barbero said, “It was pretty easy … because of the people I found.”
Not only have her volleyball skills improved, but off the court, she has grown as well.
Growing up, Barbero has had difficulty expressing her emotions because of the fear of them being used against her. But at BYU, she’s learned that her teammates, coaches, and friends have her back, and for that she is forever grateful.
Barbero has lived all over the world, leaving her home at age 12 to continue volleyball, so she has found her home in people, not the place.
“I realized that home is not … where you're living …but the people that you’re sharing your life with in that moment,” Barbero said.
With many memories already built, she is ready to build even more this season with the BYU women’s volleyball team.