Coupeville Sports

Maddy Hilkey

  Hilkey goes low for a bump, while Wolf teammate Veronica Crownover watches. (John Fisken photo)

Having a bad day? Head to the volleyball court.

That’s the perfect cure for Coupeville Middle School 8th grader Maddy Hilkey, who finds being on the court blissful.

“The adrenaline rush that you get when you get a good serve, or make a nice pass, is really what I love the most,” Hilkey said. “Volleyball is a really big stress reliever for me.”

The daughter of former Wolf Emrie McCauslin, a star at CHS in multiple sports, Hilkey has run track and played volleyball during her middle school days.

She first started spiking and setting when she was still in elementary school.

“I started playing volleyball about three years ago. There was a group led by Amy Briscoe that I went to once a week,” Hilkey said. “After that I played for the school and then followed with a season in a club called Whidbey Fury.”

Hilkey is primarily a setter for the Wolves, but has played a little bit at outside hitter for her club team.

Regardless of where her coach has her line up, she comes full tilt, with an eye on constantly improving.

“I would say setting is definitely my strong suit. My serves are not always consistent and I’m currently working on getting better,” Hilkey said. “My goal for this upcoming season and for the rest of my career is to always challenge myself.

“I want to be the best that I can be to my abilities.”

A big fan of the band 5 Seconds of Summer (who she plans to see in concert next summer), Hilkey enjoys her English class (“I love writing and Mr. (Ken) Stange is a very good teacher”) and would like to join the yearbook staff when she hits high school.

Whether playing volleyball or in everyday life, her mom is her #1 fan and a big inspiration (“My mom is always there to help me out and give me tips.”)

Additional support comes from her teammates, many of whom are also her companions off the court, and her coaches.

“My best friends, Emma Smith, Ashlie Shank, Lindsey Roberts and Ashley Menges, are all very encouraging and we help each other out a lot,” Hilkey said. “Also, my coach this last season, Sadi Foltz, taught me a lot this year and I’m glad I got to work with her.”