The Stetson women's volleyball team dove into 2014 with a 5-1 start, the best in school history. A huge part of this early success was due to the play of sophomore Madison Akins, who has been selected as the Stetson Student-Athlete of the Month for September.
"Maddie," a right-side hitter from Brooks, Ga., is majoring in Elementary Education with a minor in English.
Also a team co-captain, Akins ranks second on the Hatters in kills and third in blocks. Perhaps her most important asset to her teammates, however, has nothing to do with stats.
“Maddie is special; not every coach has a player like her," head volleyball coach Kristina Hernandez said. “She does everything for us. She has the ability to score points in every fashion - on offense, on defense, and as a server. She is also a great communicator. She keeps everyone on the same page and focused on our mission. She holds firm to the values on the team no matter what, and that is not easy to do.”
Akins currently holds a 3.71 cumulative GPA and a staggering 4.0 GPA within her major. She says she puts in a lot of effort to manage the balancing act of schoolwork and volleyball.
“The hardest thing about being a student-athlete is finding the balance to be successful in both," Akins said. "It is most difficult when you are traveling because you may be missing class. You have to be responsible and contact your professors and get your work done before you leave. You have to plan to be busy.”
Dr. Rajni Shankar-Brown, Stetson University Associate Professor and the Jessie Ball DuPont Chair of Education, raved about Akins's dedication to improvement.
"Maddie is caring, responsible and hardworking," Shankar-Brown said. "She cares about learning and becoming a better educator.
“Maddie is a lifelong learner," Shankar-Brown added. "She has a love for learning that shows in the classroom. Students can see that, and it is contagious. The best teachers are committed to learning themselves. I can't wait for her to go out and teach.“
Akins desire to learn and improve in the classroom coincides with her work ethic on the volleyball court.
“She's always looking to get better," Hernandez said. "If she's having an off day, she will come talk to me for feedback. She is also a problem-solver and finds ways to get better on her own. She really encompasses everything we need in a player.”
To Akins, this balance is just a part of who she is.
"To be successful in school you have to keep yourself accountable," Akins said. "It's the same way in sports. You have to show up to practice the same way you show up to class, focused and ready to work hard. I've always been both a student and an athlete, so for me, it's a mindset.”
2014-15 Stetson Student-Athletes of the Month
September: Madison Akins (Indoor Volleyball)
