Indiana University Athletics
Q&A: Madi Sell Finds Fresh Start in Bloomington
3/19/2024 9:30:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Q&A: Injuries, Controlling Your Own Journey and a Fresh Start at Indiana
By the end of December last year, Madi Sell knew she was going to be a Hoosier. For a player that had just gotten done playing in the NCAA Tournament with her home-state Missouri Tigers, and for someone who knew nothing about Indiana, the decision was an easy one.
A phone call with assistant coach Brett Agne that was about anything but volleyball, a chance to visit campus and make an instant connection and an opportunity for a fresh start was all Sell needed to hear to find a new home for her final two years of volleyball.
We sat down with the transfer middle blocker in her first semester with the program, talking about injuries, club volleyball, keeping a positive attitude and the future for her career on and off the court.
Q: When did you start playing volleyball?
"I started volleyball really young. My mom played volleyball so she definitely wanted me to be involved with it. I started playing when I was eight and fell in love immediately. I kept growing which helped. I started playing club when I was 10 with the second team and eventually worked up to the first team. I played with Rockwood Thunder my entire club experience. Once I made the top team, we were really successful. I really fell in love with the game and the girls I was next to."
Q: What was the recruiting experience like the first time around?
"When I was 14, I started getting interest and knew I wanted to play at the next level. I finally made my decision to play at Missouri and I was really excited. Then COVID happened and then I tore up my knee six months after that. That was the toughest thing I've ever gone through. I went through nine or 10 months of recovery with that. I had to learn how to run, walk and jump again. I didn't know if I was going to be able to play like I had before."
Q: What did you learn through your first injury and surgery?
There was some adversity through that but I learned a lot. I came back and got back into club and three months into that I broke my hand and had to get surgery again. I missed all of my 16's season and most of my 17's season. But I ended up coming back and having a great club season and great final high school season before heading to Missouri.
Q: What was your experience like at Missouri and how did you end up finding Indiana?
I got a lot of experience at Missouri my freshman year. We had a coaching after that and I decided I just needed a change. I entered the transfer portal. It was a little risky but it was then when I met these lovely people here. I got on the phone with Brett [Agne] and he wanted to talk about anything but volleyball. I thought that was pretty different but it immediately hooked me in. They got me in on a visit right away and everyone was amazing and I fell in love with everything about IU.
Q: What did you learn about yourself going through injury?
Growing up, playing volleyball at a high level, we were quite successful. Volleyball was my life. You tear your knee and you try and figure out who you are without it and who you are as a person. It made me appreciate the sport even more. You come into the locker room every day and you know you're a little bit more appreciative than the next person because you've had it taken away.
Q: How have you grown as a person through all this?
Going through the surgeries and coaching change, you learn that you can't control the outside stuff. I'm getting a lot better on the court with that too. "What can I control" and your attitude around it is huge. I always try to have a positive attitude and give 110 percent because that's what you can control.
Q: What's your playing style like on the court?
I would say I'm pretty defensive minded but I can manage both aspects of the game. Nothing is better than a great stuff block. My style of play is just gritty. I try and get after it. There's nothing more rewarding than working really hard during a play and it working out. On offense I love to run a faster ball. Get up and swing for the fences.
Q: How much did you know about IU?
I didn't know much going in. Even when I got here on campus, I'd only met Brett [Agne] and Ramsey [Gary] in person. I really put a lot of trust in what I was hearing via phone call in zoom and I could tell they were good people trying to surround themselves with good people. It was a lot of trust both ways.
Q: What's your experience been like with the team so far?
I think that they're just really good people. They care more about the people around them. They're always checking in. I've learned that the people you surround yourself with are who you want to be like. Getting here, I was a little nervous but I had trust in everyone. I couldn't feel more welcomed and loved here. I love campus, it's gorgeous. I love food so they've taken me around to some awesome places. They've talked about some activities they do in the summer. Everyone here is one for IU. The amount of support we have from the community is awesome.
Q: How exciting is it to be able to play Big Ten volleyball?
I'm really grateful to have experience in the SEC as an underclassman. But there's no volleyball like Big Ten volleyball. Adding the west coast schools, everything is going to be a challenge. I'm excited to be a part of a program that keeps building.
Q: What's your future outside of volleyball look like?
I'm going down the path to become a CRNA. I knew I always wanted to do something in the medical field and wanted to help. I used this injury as an opportunity to network and ask questions. My CRNA came in with a smile on his face and I knew that was something I wanted to do. So ever since then I've been able to ask questions and figure out what I wanted to do after my injury.
By the end of December last year, Madi Sell knew she was going to be a Hoosier. For a player that had just gotten done playing in the NCAA Tournament with her home-state Missouri Tigers, and for someone who knew nothing about Indiana, the decision was an easy one.
A phone call with assistant coach Brett Agne that was about anything but volleyball, a chance to visit campus and make an instant connection and an opportunity for a fresh start was all Sell needed to hear to find a new home for her final two years of volleyball.
We sat down with the transfer middle blocker in her first semester with the program, talking about injuries, club volleyball, keeping a positive attitude and the future for her career on and off the court.
Q: When did you start playing volleyball?
"I started volleyball really young. My mom played volleyball so she definitely wanted me to be involved with it. I started playing when I was eight and fell in love immediately. I kept growing which helped. I started playing club when I was 10 with the second team and eventually worked up to the first team. I played with Rockwood Thunder my entire club experience. Once I made the top team, we were really successful. I really fell in love with the game and the girls I was next to."
Q: What was the recruiting experience like the first time around?
"When I was 14, I started getting interest and knew I wanted to play at the next level. I finally made my decision to play at Missouri and I was really excited. Then COVID happened and then I tore up my knee six months after that. That was the toughest thing I've ever gone through. I went through nine or 10 months of recovery with that. I had to learn how to run, walk and jump again. I didn't know if I was going to be able to play like I had before."
Q: What did you learn through your first injury and surgery?
There was some adversity through that but I learned a lot. I came back and got back into club and three months into that I broke my hand and had to get surgery again. I missed all of my 16's season and most of my 17's season. But I ended up coming back and having a great club season and great final high school season before heading to Missouri.
Q: What was your experience like at Missouri and how did you end up finding Indiana?
I got a lot of experience at Missouri my freshman year. We had a coaching after that and I decided I just needed a change. I entered the transfer portal. It was a little risky but it was then when I met these lovely people here. I got on the phone with Brett [Agne] and he wanted to talk about anything but volleyball. I thought that was pretty different but it immediately hooked me in. They got me in on a visit right away and everyone was amazing and I fell in love with everything about IU.
Q: What did you learn about yourself going through injury?
Growing up, playing volleyball at a high level, we were quite successful. Volleyball was my life. You tear your knee and you try and figure out who you are without it and who you are as a person. It made me appreciate the sport even more. You come into the locker room every day and you know you're a little bit more appreciative than the next person because you've had it taken away.
Q: How have you grown as a person through all this?
Going through the surgeries and coaching change, you learn that you can't control the outside stuff. I'm getting a lot better on the court with that too. "What can I control" and your attitude around it is huge. I always try to have a positive attitude and give 110 percent because that's what you can control.
Q: What's your playing style like on the court?
I would say I'm pretty defensive minded but I can manage both aspects of the game. Nothing is better than a great stuff block. My style of play is just gritty. I try and get after it. There's nothing more rewarding than working really hard during a play and it working out. On offense I love to run a faster ball. Get up and swing for the fences.
Q: How much did you know about IU?
I didn't know much going in. Even when I got here on campus, I'd only met Brett [Agne] and Ramsey [Gary] in person. I really put a lot of trust in what I was hearing via phone call in zoom and I could tell they were good people trying to surround themselves with good people. It was a lot of trust both ways.
Q: What's your experience been like with the team so far?
I think that they're just really good people. They care more about the people around them. They're always checking in. I've learned that the people you surround yourself with are who you want to be like. Getting here, I was a little nervous but I had trust in everyone. I couldn't feel more welcomed and loved here. I love campus, it's gorgeous. I love food so they've taken me around to some awesome places. They've talked about some activities they do in the summer. Everyone here is one for IU. The amount of support we have from the community is awesome.
Q: How exciting is it to be able to play Big Ten volleyball?
I'm really grateful to have experience in the SEC as an underclassman. But there's no volleyball like Big Ten volleyball. Adding the west coast schools, everything is going to be a challenge. I'm excited to be a part of a program that keeps building.
Q: What's your future outside of volleyball look like?
I'm going down the path to become a CRNA. I knew I always wanted to do something in the medical field and wanted to help. I used this injury as an opportunity to network and ask questions. My CRNA came in with a smile on his face and I knew that was something I wanted to do. So ever since then I've been able to ask questions and figure out what I wanted to do after my injury.
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