Madison Hammill grew up in the gym watching her mother coach volleyball. When it came time for her to pick up the sport herself, she didn’t have a difficult time picking a position.
Her older sister Taylor was already playing setter, so that’s where Madison gravitated to as well.
“I think a big part of it was watching my sister play,” she said. “It was easy to just step in the gym and watch her lessons. And obviously, a little bit of it comes from the competitiveness that we have between each other.”
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Click here to purchase photos from this gallery“We both want to be better than the other one,” added Taylor, who now plays at Middle Tennessee State. “But I think it’s good that we also push each other in that competitiveness.”
Madison, now a junior at Center Grove, has developed into one of the top high school setters in the country. She’s also the Daily Journal’s 2018 Player of the Year.
The younger Hammill finished the season with 830 assists, 340 digs, 126 kills, 57 blocks and 57 service aces.
Stepping into her sister’s former role as the Trojans’ starting setter as a freshman, Hammill had the luxury of playing with a pair of Division I hitters (Macy Carrabine and Ellen LeMasters). This season, she had to get accustomed to a more unproven group — but the Trojans meshed well enough to go 27-7 and win another sectional championship.
“I think this year was really putting into play what I had learned from the past couple of years, and just finding a way to come together with new teammates and everything,” Hammill said. “I think we learned a lot this year, and I think it is more motivation for next year and what we can do.”
Though her own busy schedule prevents her from watching Madison play much these days, Taylor was around to watch her sister grow up with the game and isn’t surprised by any of the accolades coming her way.
“She loves the game,” Taylor Hammill said. “Always has, always will. It definitely runs in our family.”
Madison’s college destination has been mapped out for a while — she has been verbally committed to national power Wisconsin since early in her freshman year. But before she becomes a Badger, she’s got one more mission to take care of as a Trojan.
Center Grove has lost in the regional round in each of Hammill’s three seasons, and she and her classmates want to go out on a higher note in 2019.
“We have made the decision just to focus it on even now,” she said, “and everybody’s working toward getting better in club and then just coming into the high school season with the one goal in mind — to win state.”
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The 2018 All-Johnson County team for volleyball:
Taylor Burkett, Indian Creek senior: Led Braves with 318 kills and 116 blocks … Ranked second on team with 240 digs and added 39 service aces.
Kabria Chapman, Franklin sophomore: Led Mid-State Conference champion Grizzly Cubs in kills (272), blocks (133) and aces (51), adding 152 digs.
Ashley Eck, Center Grove junior: Pulled up a team-high 426 digs and earned second team All-State honors … Added 102 assists and 41 aces.
Madison Hammill, Center Grove junior: First team All-State selection finished with 830 assists, 340 digs, 126 kills, 57 blocks and 57 aces.
Cami Kelsay, Franklin sophomore: Totaled 238 kills, 144 digs, 32 blocks and 23 aces for Mid-State Conference champion Grizzly Cubs.
Brooke Phillips, Franklin senior: Second team All-State pick had 782 assists, 162 kills, 206 digs, 68 blocks and 33 aces … Will play at Lipscomb next year.
Santina Schembra, Center Grove senior: Helped anchor strong back line with 260 digs … Added 44 service aces, second on team.
Calista Stafford, Center Grove junior: Led conference and sectional champion Trojans in kills with 248 and ranked third on team with 66 blocks.
<strong>Honorable mention</strong>
Grace Boggess, Center Grove; Jamie Brown, Center Grove; Livi Brown, Franklin; Malea Brownfield, Indian Creek; Morgan Frash, Indian Creek; Gracie Gasper, Center Grove; Jessie Hart, Indian Creek; Avery Hensley, Indian Creek; Makena Hogue, Indian Creek; Megan Johns, Greenwood; Toni Joyner, Whiteland; Maddy Limbach, Greenwood; Anna Line, Center Grove; Isabell Mahin, Frankin; Jessica Miller, GCA; Brooklyn Peddycord, Franklin; Izzy Reed, GCA; Sarah Scott, Whiteland; Sarah Staples, Whiteland; Alyssa Stilley, Greenwood; Rhyan Walden, Whiteland; Hannah Williams, Whiteland
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