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10/07/2021 12:00 AMEver since she could walk, Maddie Davenport has been following in her big sister Charlotte’s footsteps. It started with gymnastics when they were kids and, as the pair grew up, Maddie again took after Charlotte by joining both the girls’ volleyball and track programs at Morgan.
Maddie has been a member of the Morgan volleyball team for the past four seasons. Now a senior, Maddie is leading the Huskies on the court as a senior captain this year.
“We’re best friends, and it’s so great to have her as my role model teaching me everything she knew,” Maddie says of her sister. “Charlotte played volleyball for all four years of high school, and I always watched them play. I definitely locked eyes on volleyball and, as soon as I tried it, I loved it.”
Maddie had the opportunity to play two seasons on the volleyball team with her sister after joining the Huskies as a freshman. Due to a wrist injury, Maddie took a break from volleyball in the offseason. However, following her sophomore year, Maddie found another way to join Charlotte on the court.
The Davenport sisters competed for Elevation Volleyball Academy out of Meriden during the club season, which runs from the end of the high school season through the spring. Unfortunately, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Maddie’s first season of club competition was cut short.
As a junior, Maddie and her Morgan teammates were able to have a volleyball season, although it looked much different than in the past. Due to co-hosting, the varsity and JV teams didn’t interact. That presented a challenge to Maddie entering the 2021 campaign.
“Last year with the split, we never saw each other, so they were complete strangers walking into the gym this season, but we’ve all come together,” says Maddie. “Our season is going really well, even though sometimes we’re hurting a bit in our communication, but it’s nothing we can’t fix. After COVID, we’re happy to be back in the gym all together and rebuilding our team.”
With a record of 4-7, Maddie is looking for the Huskies to build some momentum as they pursue a spot in the postseason. Maddie is hoping for Morgan to qualify for the Shoreline Conference Tournament and “get far” in the bracket.
While Maddie would love to see postseason success, she feels most excited about being on the court with her teammates and leading the Huskies this fall. Head Coach Jessica Lynch has seen Maddie’s love for the game firsthand.
“Maddie brings a lot of energy and passion to the gym every day. You can tell that she just loves the game of volleyball through the way that she plays and how she supports others,” Lynch says. “She always does what she can to make our team better. Maddie has grown into a great player during her time at Morgan and has made immense contributions to our team both on and off the floor.”
Maddie continues to hone her volleyball skills year-round. This year, Maddie joined Husky Volleyball Club in Windsor, and she is looking forward to another club season this winter.
“Club season goes by so fast, and I’ve made so many friendships I’ll never forget,” says Maddie. “I love it, because it’s a bunch of girls from throughout the state who share the same love for volleyball as I do.”
Although Maddie doesn’t play volleyball during the spring, she does participate in camps and clinics to keep her skills sharp. Maddie is also a member of the Morgan girls’ outdoor track team in the springtime. Maddie, who does the long jump, was encouraged to join the team by both her sister and track coach Jared Stevens, who was the JV volleyball coach when she was a freshman.
“I found it to be a great way to keep in shape for volleyball, and Mr. Stevens is really great about giving me things to stay in shape for volleyball,” Maddie says. “I love how easy it comes to me. I’m not a long-distance runner, but with this, it brings me back to my gymnastics days in a way.”
Maddie spent 11 years training at Campbell’s Gymnastics in Clinton. Floor was always Maddie’s favorite event, but she also competed in bars, vault, and beam. Through the years, Maddie’s injuries began to mount and, when the gym closed before her freshman year, she decided it was time to stop.
“I loved the sport and how my gym felt like home, so when it closed down, it didn’t feel right going to another gym,” says Maddie. “Gymnastics is such a hard sport, and it really taught me determination and that you’re always going to make mistakes and you’re always going to fall. But it taught me to get back up.”
Maddie feels thankful for the experiences that she’s had in all of her sports, along with the support of her sister and her parents. Maddie likes to watch her sister play volleyball for Rhode Island College via livestream.
Maddie’s top two school choices are East Stroudsburg University and York College, both of which are in Pennsylvania. Maddie was drawn to the area since Pennsylvania is “close, but not too close,” and her grandparents also have a home there to “make it feel more like home.”
If Maddie goes to York, which is a Division III school, she would consider playing volleyball. If she attends East Stroudsburg, a Division II school, she would solely focus on her studies. Maddie plans to major in elementary education and minor in history as she has always enjoyed working with kids.
Right now, though, Maddie is focused on her senior year. Maddie takes her academics “very seriously” and is ranked 23rd in her class of 122 students. Maddie is trying to enjoy every moment of her final year at Morgan, especially with the volleyball team.
“Everyone always tells you that these four years are going to fly by when you’re a freshman, but you don’t believe them until you wake up one day and realize you’re a senior,” Maddie says. “I’m just so excited to be out there playing this year, and we’re going to make the most out of this season. We’re just happy to be in the gym together and happy to be on the court.”