Madeline Barton '22 Recruiting Profile

Volleyball is in my blood. My dad’s twin sister played volleyball at Valparaiso University and was inducted into the athletic hall of fame there. She has three daughters who are a few years older than me, and they were always hitting volleyballs around. I began playing with them at an early age.

When I was in 5^th grade, I decided to play for my school team. From there, I fell in love with the sport. In 6^th grade, I was asked to play on my 8^th grade school team, and we placed 2^nd in the Seton tournament (which is the statewide, end of the season tournament in Wisconsin for private schools). I also started playing club volleyball when I was 11, and I’ve been playing ever since.

Why do I love volleyball so much? I have a passion for it. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had. It’s a way to make new friends, and it has taught me a lot of life lessons.

Here are some of them:

First, you are not always going to win, and that’s okay, as long as you always do your best and work hard. Secondly, giving your best effort and having a positive attitude will take you as far as talent will. Lastly, teamwork is incredibly important, because even if you have many talented individuals, if they don’t work well to­­­gether, your team won’t succeed.

To continue, volleyball has taught me leadership skills. I haven’t always been the official team captain, but “captain” is just a title. You don’t need that title to be a leader. A good leader motivates the team, brings them together, and helps to create a positive environment. Those are things every player on the team should do.

I want to play college volleyball because I can’t imagine having only three more years of the sport. If I had the option, I would be in the gym 24/7. I am extremely dedicated and will never give up on a ball. Additionally, I really love playing high-level volleyball. As a freshman on my high school varsity team, I didn’t mind not being the most valuable player. I loved having the opportunity to play with the older athletes and learn from them. Playing against the older girls improved my skills, because I was constantly being challenged. They taught me how to take my game to the next level. Being on a team with highly skilled athletes brings up the intensity of games and practices, and tougher competition, to me, means more fun. This is why I am looking forward to college volleyball.

I am also looking forward to an education that will allow me to study science or math to prepare me for optometry school. 

Additionally, I want to be a coach for younger children. Not long ago, my 10-year-old brother got an offer to play on his first club team. It was such a happy day for him, but also for me. He’s watched me play for years, and he’s practiced with me in the back yard. Before tryouts, we practiced passing in the living room. The game of volleyball brings me so much joy, and I love sharing that joy and my knowledge of the game with the younger generation.

Thank you for reading,

Madeline Barton