Volleyball adds Helms, Kowalski and Parks for 2025

MILWAUKEE – Marquette University head women’s volleyball coach Ryan Theis has announced the addition of three student-athletes, Avery Helms, Emma Parks and Annika Kowalski, for the fall of 2025.

All three will arrive on campus over the summer and will have four years of NCAA eligibility remaining.

“We are excited to officially welcome Annika, Avery and Emma and look forward to them joining our other three freshmen, Mari, Keira, and the rest of their teammates this summer,” Theis said.

Helms and Kowalski are 5-foot-9 defensive specialists from Missouri and Wisconsin, respectively, while Parks is a 6-foot-2 outside hitter from Pennsylvania.

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION:

Avery Helms | 5-9 | DS/L | St. Charles, Mo. | Francis Howell H.S. | Rockwood Thunder VC
Prior to Marquette: Helms played four years of volleyball at Francis Howell High School under head coach Keith Price … Was a three-time team captain and earned AVCA Third Team All-America recognition in 2024, in addition to all-region honors …. A two-time first team all-state selection and the Gateway Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2024 … Second all-time among high school players in the state of Missouri’s history with 1,872 career digs … Graduated as the school’s record holder for most digs in a season (655 in 2024), most digs per set in a season (5.7 in 2024), most aces in a season (58 in 2024) and most career aces (184) … Selected to three all-district first teams and a total of four all-conference honors … Top-ranked libero in Missouri according to Prep Dig for all four years of high school career … Prep Volleyball All-Midwest Region Team in 2024 … Led Francis Howell H.S. to consecutive district titles and appearances in the state semifinals in 2023 and 2024 … Team won four conference titles and earned first ever state runner-up finish in 2023 … Played eight years of club volleyball for Rockwood Thunder Volleyball Club … Helped club team to a USAV 15U National Championship in 2022 and a pair of top-5 Open Division National Qualifier finishes.

Personal: Born in St. Louis, Missouri and parents are Alicia and Ryan Helms … Has two younger siblings, Rilyn and Kinsler … Father played baseball at Oakland University and mother was an NAIA women’s basketball player at Indiana Wesleyan … Plans to major in business.

Theis on Helms: “Avery is a tremendous passer and defender.  While some liberos are better at one than the other – she seems to excel in both. She has expanded her game over the last two years and is getting more comfortable playing multiple defensive spots – which adds even more value. I expect Avery to dig a lot of balls in her career as a Golden Eagle.”

Helms on Marquette: “I chose Marquette because of the combination of high-level volleyball, academics, and community. Marquette gives me the opportunity to better myself both on and off the court. I’m so excited to be a part of such an amazing program!”

Emma Parks | 6-2 | Outside Hitter | Meadville, Pa. | Meadville Area Senior H.S. | Academy Volleyball Cleveland
Prior to Marquette: Parks played four years of volleyball at Meadville Area Senior High School in Pennsylvania for head coach Time Schleicher … Selected team captain as a senior while leading Meadville to district and regional titles … Also won a region championship as a junior in 2023 … A three-time all-state, all-district and all-region selection … Reached 1,000 career kills as a junior and ended high school career with 1,933 … Held a high school single-match career best of 47 kills … Played club volleyball for head coach Meredith Rice and Academy Volleyball Cleveland, which she helped to runner-up finishes in the 2024 USAV National Division and 2023 AAU Club Division.

Personal: Parks was born in Meadville, Pennsylvania and is the youngest child of Shelly and Doug Parks … Has two older sisters, Hannah and Maddie … Sister, Maddie, plays college volleyball at Mercyhurst … Plans to major in health sciences.

Theis on Parks: “Emma has a tremendous upside. While some of our recruits commit to volleyball at the age of 11 or 12, Emma’s process was much later. She is high above the net and has great length. I think there is a chance we will redshirt Emma, but she is going to score a lot of points in her Marquette career.”

Parks on Marquette: “I chose Marquette because of their extremely competitive and consistently successful volleyball program, as well as their very strong academics. Marquette felt like home as soon as I stepped onto campus. The volleyball program feels like family, and the coaches and players are such amazing people on and off the court. I am so excited to join a program and school that will push me to my highest potential and help me to succeed.”

Annika Kowalski | 5-9 | DS/L | Appleton, Wis. | Xavier H.S. | FC Elite Volleyball Club
Prior to Marquette: Kowalski played four years of volleyball at Xavier High School in Appleton, Wisconsin under head coach Luke Herriges … Was a 2022 and 2023 all-state selection, while helping Xavier to a pair of WIAA Division II state championships … Earned Bay Conference championships in 2022, 2023 and 2024 … Participated in a USAV NTDP training camp … Competed with FC Elite Volleyball Club and earned a 15U national runner-up finish in 2022.

Personal: Born in Neenah, Wisconsin and is the daughter of Holly and Alex Kowalski … Has a younger brother, Isaac … Mother played college volleyball at UW-Oshkosh and father played football at Michigan Tech.

Theis on Kowalski: “We have known Annika a long time and are excited for her to join our program. While she is a terrific high school attacker, we will likely transition her to the back court. She has great ball-handling skills and we are excited to get her in the gym and see what she can do when she focuses on the DS/libero position.”

Kowalski on Marquette: “Marquette is a place that’s always felt like home! My first time on campus was for a high school team camp, and after playing in the gym and touring the campus, I knew I could see myself there. The coaches and players care deeply about the culture, and that was the most important thing to me. I chose Marquette because I want to challenge myself in the classroom and on the court day in and day out while being surrounded by amazing people!”

Keep up with the Marquette University women’s volleyball program through social media by following on X (@MarquetteVB) and Instagram (@MarquetteVB) and ‘liking’ on Facebook (/MarquetteVolleyball).

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.