Get to Know the Winners of the Top Pin Hitter Poll

We created a free article that had a poll embedded in it asking who you thought the best pin hitter in the state was. Let's take a look at the top three finishers and get to know them a little bit better. We asked them two people they would like to thank, what makes them a good hitter, advice to younger hitters and their end goal for volleyball.   [player_tooltip player_id='411302' first='Madilyn' last='Hill']- With over 8,000 votes, she held over 55% of the votes and was the overall winner. Madi is a 6 rotation OH for Owasso and for Charge 16UA Tulsa and currently ranked #1 overall in the class of 2027.   Thanking Two People: " I would like to thank my club coaches Chip McCaw and Becky Olson. They have taught me almost everything I know, and no matter how hard practice is, they find a way to make it fun. They love every kid like their own and I wouldn't want anyone else to be my coaches!"   What Makes You a Good Pin Hitter: "In my opinion, it is how I mix up my shots, whether it's hitting, rolling, or tipping that keeps defenders uncertain on what I'm going to do."   Advice to Younger Hitters: "Set a goal for yourself and never stop striving for it! Always play hard, you never know who's watching."   End Goal for Volleyball: "My ultimate end goal for volleyball would be to play in college."   [player_tooltip player_id='297088' first='Valyn' last='Donahoo']- She received roughly 3,300 total votes and was the runner up. Valyn is a Right Side hitter for Norman and for Charge 17UA. She is currently ranked #11 overall in the 2026 class. She has committed to play at D1 Lindenwood (MO) University.   Thanking Two People: She would like to thank her dad and Coach Brendemihl. "My dad has played many roles in my life. He's not just my dad but also my coach, manager, doctor, uber driver, recruiter, and so much more. My dad has given me continued support and advice even when I think I can do it all on my own. He is the only person I can count on to always be there for me with unconditional love and support." "The first time I talked to Alexis about our upcoming season, I was so excited about the way she talked about the passion and support she has for the program. She's backed that all up with the amount of work she has put into the program. Alexis stood behind me and mentored me, making a huge impact on who I am today."   What Makes You a Good Pin Hitter: "Something that I think makes me a good hitter is how I am always looking to score, not just going up to bang balls. I love to look for open spots on the court and find different techniques like tips, rolls, cuts, and finesse to score with the ball"   Advice to Younger Hitters: "Advice I would give to young hitters is to always stay positive. You're going to make errors, get blocked, have off days, but the way you internally talk to yourself is critical. You have to constantly feed positivity to yourself."   End goal for Volleyball: "My ultimate end goal for volleyball is being able to leave the sport knowing i gave 100% to reach my peak performance while gaining friends/mentors who will be there to support me long after my career is over."   [player_tooltip player_id='752557' first='Blair' last='Smith']- There was a very tight race for 3rd. Just beating out the next player with less than 100 more votes. Blair is a talented Outside Hitter in the class of 2028 and plays for Edmond Santa Fe and Charge 15UA.   Thanking Two People: "Firstly, I have to thank my mom. She's been there for everything such as rides to practices, tournaments, all of it. And gave me a strong start in this sport. I also want to thank my dad for pushing me to be tougher and see the game through the eyes of someone who's been there. He gave me the fire to want more from myself and to compete with every ounce of aggression in my body."   What Makes You a Good Pin Hitter: "I think it's the way I bring intensity to every level I play at. Whether it's how I swing or the heart I put into each point. I don't hold back. I play with a kind of fire that shows im there to compete. But I also know when to stay in control, keeping that drive balanced with awareness and smart decision-making on the court."   Advice to Younger Hitters: Don't be afraid to mess up, it's part of getting better. You're going to hit out of bounds, into the net, or have games where you didn't feel you played to your potential and that's ok. Work hard when no one's watching and play with heart every time you step on the court. Keep showing up, no matter the time, place or people who doubt you in the sport YOU love."   End Goal for Volleyball: “My goal is to play at the highest level I possibly can and leave a real impact on the people who watch me play. I want to inspire younger kids—even though I know that sounds kind of cliché—but especially the ones who don't usually care about sports or feel like they belong in that world. Before volleyball, I felt like my life was already mapped out, like I was just going through a checklist. But volleyball gave me something more—something that changed the course of my own path. If I can help someone else find that kind of passion, whether it's through sports or something else, and show them there's a place where they can find community, then so be it!”   What an awesome group of players we have here. I hope plenty of young hitters in Oklahoma get to see them play and maybe even better so, meet them in person.

We created a free article that had a poll embedded in it asking who you thought the best pin hitter in the state was. Let's take a look at the top three finishers and get to know them a little bit better. We asked them two people they would like to thank, what makes them a good hitter, advice to younger hitters and their end goal for volleyball.