Golden Athlete: Maile Chan Shines Spotlight on Athena Teammates

A major shoutout to <a href="https://prepdig.com/author/michelle-bamford-author/">Michelle Bamford</a> from PrepDig California for the creation and inspiration behind this article series.    Because Michelle Bamford's introductory paragraph perfectly sums up the importance of this series, we are using her words to kick off this series in Oregon…   Acknowledging and cherishing the dedication of those who stand by your side on the court is paramount in the pursuit of victory. To emphasize the importance of acknowledging and showing appreciation to teammates and to spotlight the pivotal role their support plays in the quest for greatness, we've extended an invitation to [player_tooltip player_id='126033' first='Maile' last='Chan'] to share her insights on the players who make up her club team's lineup. Through her words, we aim to shed light on the indispensable contributions of the teammates who have been instrumental in shaping her success on the court.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/04/44838.jpg?w=963" alt="" class="wp-image-534496" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Athena 18 Gold team photo (from L to R, top to bottom row: coach Remi Pourrat, [player_tooltip player_id='162946' first='Emma' last='Williams'], [player_tooltip player_id='126034' first='Emily' last='Fulton'], Elizabeth Andrew, Hailey McEllrath, [player_tooltip player_id='126070' first='Lilly' last='Lansing'], coach Erin Labasan, [player_tooltip player_id='126053' first='Thanvi' last='Chilukuri'], [player_tooltip player_id='249607' first='Kamree' last='Orizotti'], Ali Millspaugh, [player_tooltip player_id='126025' first='Alondra' last='Paz'], [player_tooltip player_id='126026' first='Delainy' last='Williams'], [player_tooltip player_id='186727' first='Amiyah' last='Eason'], [player_tooltip player_id='126033' first='Maile' last='Chan'])</figcaption></figure>    From Maile: Ali's a hard worker and her consistency makes her someone we can depend on regularly for hitting and blocking. She brings an infectious, positive attitude which uplifts our whole team. She's such a great addition to our team this year.    From Maile: Alondra has a noticeable grace about her game. Her athleticism and high volleyball IQ allow her to make even bad plays into good ones. She cares deeply for all of us and isn't afraid to keep people accountable, making her an amazing person to co-captain with.    From Maile: Amiyah is one of the funniest people I know. She can make our whole team laugh. She is one of my favorite people to play with because she brings competitiveness and playfulness to the game.    From Maile: Even though she's a new addition this year, Delainy has stepped into a huge role on our team well. She isn't afraid of a challenge and is constantly communicating with her teammates. I love how determined she is.    From Maile: Lizzy is always looking to improve her game despite already being one of the best. I love her competitiveness and dedication to volleyball. She's a genuine soul and is incredibly humble.    From Maile: Don't let Emily's fun demeanor fool you - she's a stud and is a big factor in the front and back row success of our team. She makes practices and workouts fun by cheering us on and making us laugh.    From Maile: Emma's a beast. She jumps well and can hammer a ball harder than a lot of people. She brings energy whenever she steps on the court and is always looking to improve. I love how I can count on her to give her all and swing away even in tight moments.    From Maile: Hailey is a huge force for our team. We are able to put a lot of trust in her not only because her athleticism and speed make her hard to defend, but also because she's a competitor. Her ability to learn fast and her dedication to volleyball is inspiring.    From Maile: Kamree is our youngest player by far, but she's stepped up to the challenge. She's naturally gifted as a setter with great hands. Joining an older team takes courage and determination - both of which she has. I can't wait to cheer her on in her next years of her volleyball journey.    From Maile: I love how Lilly competes hard and thrives in difficult matches. She's an asset to us as a passer and as a hitter. She puts the ball down when we need her to and isn't afraid to take risks. She takes care of her teammates and shows love in many ways.    From Maile: Thanvi is a smart hitter with the ability to hide her shots, which makes her super hard to defend. She's such a genuine person and is the embodiment of our goal as a team to be there for one another.    And finally, we are proud to spotlight [player_tooltip player_id='126033' first='Maile' last='Chan'], a 5'3” senior from Beaverton, Oregon.   As the #1 libero from the class of 2024 and the #3 overall recruit, Chan never fails to impress us any time she steps on the court. Chan is easily one of the top defenders in the state, using her discipline, consistency, and finesse to command the back row effortlessly. On serve receive, Chan exudes confidence, using a controlled platform and creating solid angles to pass even the toughest of serves to her setters. She reads serves well, moving quickly off the server's contact to get her platform under the ball practically seamlessly. Chan is also fast and scrappy on defense, making excellent reads to position herself well and throwing herself around the court to keep the ball alive. Guiding her team's back row, Chan frequently opts to take any ball that comes toward her half of the court, ensuring that the first contact on the ball will be a solid one. Chan also moves fluidly around the court not just to make plays, but also to provide strong coverage for her attackers. And from the baseline, Chan brings a formidable, tough serve.    Chan was an imperative piece of the Mountainside High School lineup during her sophomore and junior years as the primary libero; she opted not to play her senior year, instead playing internationally in Barcelona, Spain. In 2021, Chan notched an impressive 175 digs, posting 4.07 digs per game and passing an average of 2.56. She amassed an astounding 277 digs in 2022, with 4.1 digs per game and passing an average of 2.4. Chan also posted 29 aces that year, further showing her commanding presence on the court. Although she didn't play during her senior season, Chan undoubtedly made a positive impact on the Mountainside Mavericks team.   This club season, Chan has been instrumental for Athena 18 Gold's success, controlling her team's defense and making solid plays to allow her team's dominating offense to flourish. Chan helped her team secure a bid to the Girls 18s Junior National Championships in Baltimore at the end of this month. And, going into Regionals seeded #2 in CEVA's Open division, the team is 12-4. Chan's team is well-positioned to have a strong finish both regionally and nationally.   Outside of volleyball, Chan maintains an excellent 4.0 GPA. She also coaches the Athena 13 Black team. When Chan isn't in the classroom or on the volleyball court as a player or coach, she enjoys snowboarding, traveling, making clothes and thrifting, watching and analyzing movies, and reading.    Unsurprising given her defensive prowess and international experience, Chan will be playing at the highest level next season, joining the University of Wisconsin's impressive program. We can't wait to see how Chan contributes to the Badgers.    With these aforementioned skill sets and qualities, [player_tooltip player_id='126033' first='Maile' last='Chan'] proudly earns her spot as one of PrepDig's esteemed Golden Athletes.

A major shoutout to Michelle Bamford from PrepDig California for the creation and inspiration behind this article series.