Miss Volleyball Finalist Profile: Notre Dame Prep’s Madeline Chinn
It wouldn’t have been surprising to project Madeline Chinn as a Miss Volleyball finalist in 2018 when you first saw her play varsity volleyball as a freshman. Standing 6-1½ her freshman year, Chinn immediately caught the eye of everyone who…
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Continue ReadingIt wouldn’t have been surprising to project Madeline Chinn as a Miss Volleyball finalist in 2018 when you first saw her play varsity volleyball as a freshman.
Standing 6-1½ her freshman year, Chinn immediately caught the eye of everyone who saw her for her powerful attacks and above-average size for a freshman.
Everyone saw the potential for Chinn and she has exceeded her expectations over her first three seasons to earn a spot as one of 10 Miss Volleyball finalists this year.
“It’s such a blessing. To represent so many great athletes in the state of Michigan is a real honor for me,” Chinn said of being a finalist. “There are so many great players and to be one of the finalists is very humbling. The previous winners aren’t just great players, but great people and I really aspire to be like them and feel blessed to have an opportunity to join that group.”
Chinn’s coach at Notre Dame Prep, Betty Wroubel, didn’t hold her back as a freshman. Right from the start, she was a focal part of the Irish attack. Her freshman year saw her rack up 532 kills with 117 blocks and 163 digs. That earned her Second Team All-State honors in 2015.
Her game developed a great deal over the next two years. As a sophomore, Chinn had a career-high 682 kills to go with 146 blocks. She improved her defense by racking up 423 digs and greatly improved her serving, posting 90 aces.
“She has gotten smarter and smarter as a player. When she came in she had just one shot because she had a height advantage. She would just jump high and hit it hard. Now you can see how diverse her game is,” Wroubel said. “She changes angles, she changes speed, she can place the ball accurately. She has really developed her all-around game as well. She can set balls and make passes and has improved her serving. People see her size and assume she can’t play defense, but she has made people pay for that.”
Chinn was First Team All-State as a sophomore and last year as a junior as she helped guide the Irish to the Class B state championship. Chinn had 660 kills, 313 digs, 126 blocks and 79 aces in 2017.
“I have always just tried to keep my focus on the team and trying to get another banner on the wall. I know that is what the rest of the team is focused on,” Chin said of her motivation entering each season. “The mental part of the game is huge and just as important as the physical aspect. I think with each year I have been able to improve in both areas and have done a better job at combining the two.”
Now standing 6-3, Chinn opened the 2018 season on the shelf due to an injury to her ankle during camp at her future home, Purdue University. Now healed up, Chinn surpassed the 2,000 kill and 400 block mark for her career. She is just one of four players in MHSAA history to hit those two career milestones.
This year Chinn is joined by teammate Natalie Risi as finalists for Miss Volleyball. Both have been four-year players under Wroubel.
“Coach Wroubel is always coaching us. It doesn’t matter what we have done in the past or our potential, she is coaching us on every point and every move. She holds her players to a high standard, which is what I love,” Chinn said of Wroubel. “That type of coaching makes me better and has made everyone she has coached better. I think that is why she has had the success she has as a coach and at developing players.”
Notre Dame Prep is no stranger to Miss Volleyball winners. The most recent was Katherine Carlson in 2014 and her mother, Tanya Carlson, is an assistant to the team.
“Her mom coaches with us and passes on a lot of great information and you can see why Katherine was able to achieve all she has,” Chinn said of Katherine Carlson. “Her play and the way she is as a person is very inspiring and I can only hope to be the kind of person she is.”
Following her senior year, Chinn will become a Boilermaker as she hopes to lead Purdue to championships in the Big Ten.
“I loved the coaches, the atmosphere and the team. Everything felt right when I visited campus and the coaching staff provides an environment that I think will challenge me and help me improve while also allow me to enjoy the experience of being a college athlete,” Chinn said of Purdue. “I am really looking forward to getting there and starting my journey with Purdue.”