It is just mid-January, and it seems like Madisen Skinner has hit the jackpot lately! Her professional volleyball debut with LOVB Austin came with mixed results. On home turf, her team was handed a defeat by Jess Mruzik’s Houston team in the Texas rivalry. Later, Austin bounced back! The camp swept its second game on the list against Sarah Franklin’s Madison. And in both matches, she left her mark by standing up in the clutch moments. What could have been a better comeback than this? Wait, before coming to a specific answer, there’s something that worked as the icing on the cake. 

In Madisen Skinner’s pro debut match in LOVB, Erik Sullivan appeared in the stands to witness the game. The newly appointed US women’s volleyball head coach had more than one reason to grace the audience box. But also, he shares a special bond with Madi. How? During her collegiate career, Sullivan played an important role in shaping her expertise as the assistant coach of the Texas Longhorns. So for her, Sullivan’s presence in the box had surely come as an opportunity to touch that nerve. And fortunately, that’s not all!

Skinner has another chance to practice her bond with her alma mater. On Thursday, LOVB Austin will play its third match against Atlanta in H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. According to Austin’s Instagram post, the Texas Longhorns will come to the venue to sign autographs for the fans before the match. Furthermore, it will give Skinner another chance to see her former teammates and coaching staff. The three-time national champion player had already felt excited about it. 

On January 14, Madisen Skinner shared an Instagram story, reposting Austin’s update. In the caption, she wrote, “Loving this crossoverrr.” Doesn’t that feel like a stroke of luck? It seems like everything is aligning perfectly for her. She will have the option to attend the “crossover” she mentioned. And why wouldn’t she? 

Before joining LOVB Austin, Madisen Skinner donned the Longhorns’ jersey for over three seasons. Her most significant accomplishment is undoubtedly her consecutive wins in the national volleyball championship in 2022 and 2023. But on the route, she collected a few things herself. And what are those things? 

Madisen Skinner ended her collegiate career in Texas with 1,300 kills, 75 service aces, 465 digs, and 173 blocks. In 2023, she had the vital role of lifting the Longhorns to the final of NCAA volleyball championships. In the final in 2023 against the Nebraska Huskers, Skinner brought severe damage to the opponents. She scored 16 kills with a hitting percentage of 0.273 and 5 digs. Her performance earned her the title of NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player in 2023. 

However, the 2024 season wasn’t that good either for her or for the Texas Longhorns. In the postseason, Creighton knocked the program out. Nonetheless, Skinner tried every ounce of her effort to keep the Longhorns in play. She had scored 23 kills and 4 digs. Since that match, a lot of things have changed in Madi’s life. But her love for the Longhorns has remained the same. Want another proof? 

Madisen Skinner pays her gratitude to the Longhorns 

After sharing the Kentucky Wildcats camp with her sister Avery, Madisen came to the Texas Longhorns in 2022. During that time, she was already proud of having secured two national volleyball championships. By teaming up with Avery, Madi contributed to Kentucky’s victory in the national title in 2020. However, at her new camp, she didn’t isolate herself in a glamorous image. She remained accessible, and maybe that quality allowed her to develop as a volleyball player.

In her farewell note, the outside hitter mentioned, “I’m so glad that I took my fifth year but I also feel like I’ve been in college forever and in school forever so I’m really excited to be done in that sense and just be able to focus on volley full-time.” On the route, she learned a few things to improve herself as a human and credit goes to her guardians in the Longhorns camp. The lesson came to her as “Learning how to advocate for myself, taking a risk transferring, and choosing to trust Jarrett, the staff, and the girls in the program.” Therefore, for her, the Longhorns have always been special. Now, she has another chance to cherish that specialty.