Jenna Mazel is a student at ASU Cronkite School of Journalism assigned to cover Arcadia High School for AZPreps365.com

Routine is something that 17-year-old Maddie Knee is familiar with. 

She wakes up every day at 6:30 a.m. and leaves her house precisely by 7 a.m. so she can get a good parking spot at school. After a full day of classes, Knee grabs a quick bite to eat and then works on homework. By 2 p.m. she is on her way to the volleyball court where she spends the majority of her evening.

If it’s game day, Knee will lead her team to a “hidden closet” where they have a brief dance party. And then right before taking the court, Knee will drink her favorite green Gatorade. 

Volleyball is not just a hobby for Knee, captain of the Arcadia High School volleyball team. It’s her life. 

“I started playing volleyball in fifth grade through a church I went to back in Indiana,” Knee said. “I was super into basketball back then and all of my teammates played volleyball, so I decided to give it a try and immediately fell in love.” 

Last week, Knee faced every athlete’s biggest fear: injury. 

“Before our Cactus Shadows game we were in the locker room playing around and my finger got hit pretty hard,” Knee said. “I went to the emergency room and they said it was a compound fracture.”

Knee will undergo surgery this week and will be out for the remainder of the season.

“I am trying to stay as positive as I can and I am grateful I even got to play at all this year, due to the pandemic,” Knee said. 

Knee has played 197 varsity sets during her career at Arcadia and has totalled 385 kills and 67 blocks. 

“Maddie is very dedicated,” Arcadia volleyball coach Jackie Bunker said. “She has played and trained year-round since she was in 8th grade. She has always been on time and has never missed a practice or match in all her time at Arcadia.”

Knee also played for the East Valley Juniors, one of the top club teams in Arizona and a top 25 team in the country. 

“I am a captain for the team, which is a big leadership role,” Knee said. “Most of the team will look to me when we are in tight matches and I am able to calm everyone down and make sure we focus on the task at hand.”

Now, Knee’s leadership will come from the bench. 

“It’s definitely sad to know she’s done with volleyball because it was such a big part of her identity for most of her life,” Knee’s father, Matt said. “But we’re also excited for her to take these lessons and apply them to her college life and beyond.” 

For the Knee family, volleyball has been more than just a sport; it has cultivated an inseparable relationship between Knee and her father. 

“Volleyball was a great way for me and my dad to bond and spend time together,” Knee said. “My dad and I used to get bagels before all of my games and tournaments. He would always drive me, and we would talk the whole car ride.”

That is one of the things Knee said she will miss most about volleyball. 

“I'll always remember our pre-game talks,” Matt said. “I look back on how far she's come as a player and as a young lady. We're so very proud of her. To think that she started this sport in our church league and now she is ending her career as a right side hitter for one of the top club teams in the country, playing over 80 matches per season, is truly remarkable.”

While Knee is closing one chapter, filled with memories, hard work and dedication, she has not stopped her commitment to her schoolwork. During her high school career, she has put together a 4.2 grade point average. 

“Maddie has always done a very good job of managing her priorities so I don't think it's a difficult balance for her,” Matt said.  “We've tried to advise her to use her free time wisely and not to procrastinate. With her busy schedule, it can be easy to fall behind with so much homework. She's become self-sufficient and has realized time management is most important as a student athlete.”

Knee is currently undecided about where she will attend college next fall. She has applied to colleges in Arizona, California and Texas, and has already received an academic scholarship from the University of Arizona. After Knee finishes college, she hopes to attend law school. 

While an injury is not how any athlete dreams of ending their career, Knee has remained positive and will still captain the Titans from the sidelines. Arcadia’s next game will be against Casteel on Nov. 5.