Notre Dame Prep’s Madeline Chinn named Miss Volleyball
With the lights out inside the gymnasium of Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Madeline Chinn walked in and a spotlight appeared on her. Then it finally hit her. Just like one of her idols, Katherine Carlson, experienced in 2014, Chinn was…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWith the lights out inside the gymnasium of Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Madeline Chinn walked in and a spotlight appeared on her.
Then it finally hit her.
Just like one of her idols, Katherine Carlson, experienced in 2014, Chinn was being presented with the 2018 Miss Volleyball Award.
“I walked in with the lights all black and the spotlight came on and I realized that I had seen this before with Katherine Carlson,” Chinn said of when it hit her she had won. “I just couldn’t believe that I won this award. It means so much to me. It was a surreal experience.”
Surrounded by the ND Prep student body, her teammates, coaches and family, Chinn accepted the award on Tuesday, an award that honors a player for the standout prep career.
“The award not only means that you are a great athlete and a great volleyball player, but a great person,” Chinn said. “I have seen a lot of other people win and knowing those people, not just as a volleyball player but as a person as well, I know that they are all great people and have worked really hard. It means a lot to have to part of the award as well because it lets me know my hard work has paid off.”
Chinn was one of 10 finalists for this year’s honor. Troy’s Jessica Robinson placed second while North Branch’s Allyson Severance was third. Chinn’s teammate and friend, Natalie Risi, placed sixth.
“It was very, very hard because they both bring so much to the court and have very different personalities,” Wroubel said of Chinn and Risi being nominated together. “If we just had two of Maddy or two of Natalie, I am not sure it would have worked, but these two just really play so well together and bring the best out of each other. They both would have been happy for the other and both have been so gracious about the whole process.”
The 6-foot-3 outside hitter has been a force for the Irish all four years she has been with the program. She had 532 kills and 117 blocks as a freshman. For her prep career, Chinn is nearing 2,500 kills while also amassing 522 blocks entering the week.
Despite her size, she has displayed all-around ability. Her serving and defense has improved with each season. Chinn has 224 aces and 814 service points in her career while posting 1,385 digs.
“When she came in, she could really put the ball down and was a great blocker, but her other skills weren’t quite as refined,” Wroubel said of Chinn. “She has worked so hard on her serving game and her defense. She’s our primary receiver now. To be 6-foot-3 and a primary receiver, you don’t see that very often. She has just really matured as a player.”
Chinn gave a lot of credit to Wroubel for her development and being able to achieve this honor.
“You can tell how great of a coach she is because she pushes you hard, but also cares about you as a person,” Chinn said of Wroubel. “Everyday she tries to make you better and she is always teaching us lessons that can apply on and off the court. I am so thankful to have learned from her and be part of this program.”
Chinn will be attending Purdue next fall to join their volleyball program. However, first up is a pursuit of a second consecutive state championship. The Irish are currently in the Division 2 quarterfinals.