There are far less daunting places for one to make her first career collegiate volleyball start than Maturi Pavilion, home to the University of Minnesota.
Madison Hammill knew this, respected it and couldn’t wait for the opportunity.
In March, Hammill, a freshman setter at Wisconsin, helped lead the Badgers to a four-set victory against the fifth-ranked Golden Gophers, finishing with 46 assists and nine digs. Hammill was inserted into the lineup after senior All-American setter Sydney Hilley was sidelined due to COVID-19 protocols.
In 2020 and 2021, that’s how opportunity is often packaged.
“It was actually just the way COVID is. We’ve had some personnel changes because of it. But that’s the big emphasis in the gym — train to be ready because you don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Hammill, a four-year starter at Center Grove who was used as a reserve in six of Wisconsin’s previous 10 matches.
“I think anyone in my position would be excited to play an opponent like (Minnesota). You grow up and dream about being able to play, and Wisconsin is my dream school.”
Having been immersed in the sport for virtually her entire life — her mom, Julie, played at Clemson and older sister Taylor at Auburn and Middle Tennessee State — Hammill’s expansive volleyball skill set can make her pinpoint passes and control of the court seem almost effortless.
She insists the opposite brought her to the Madison campus.
“Before committing here, I just saw the fire and the passion in how they play,” Hammill said of the Badgers, who were NCAA runner-up in 2013 and 2019. “There’s a grittiness. An edginess. I think I’ve always had it. I found a passion in my life and it happens to be volleyball.”
The pandemic has cancelled nine of Wisconsin’s matches this season, including a pair at No. 9 Penn State late in March. The Badgers finished out their regular-season schedule with home dates against 24th-ranked Michigan on Thursday and Friday, with Hammill returning to her reserve role for now.
Unbeaten at 15-0 after sweeping the Wolverines, coach Kelly Sheffield’s squad looks to be a factor in the NCAA tournament, scheduled for April 14-18 at CHI Health Center Arena in Omaha, Nebraska.
Whether as a starter or as a reserve, Hammill, who was a three-time first team all-state selection at Center Grove, will play her part.
“You’ve got to be ready at any point, but in a COVID year you’ve really got to be ready,” said Sheffield, who has led the Badgers to Sweet 16 appearances in every one of his seven seasons at Wisconsin. “We’ve got a lot of confidence in MJ if she has to take the reins for some reason.
“Truthfully, what she did (at Minnesota) is what we’ve known about her. It’s one of her special gifts. MJ just went out there and did her job and didn’t try to do too much. She’s played for some excellent coaches in high school and club and is a student of the game. That kid probably watched more than 100 college matches on film or in person before she even got here.”
As one of the newest Madisons in Madison, Hammill, who majors in biomedical engineering, has blended perfectly with all things Wisconsin, including the campus, her academic workload and her volleyball teammates.
“Now that I’m here, I can’t imagine being anywhere else,” Hammill said. “Just being a student, in general, is difficult, but I think the people here are incredibly special.”
