Ever wondered which position on the volleyball court would be the toughest to play in? Maybe you even have thoughts on which position would objectively be the toughest. Well, it turns out you’re not alone, and pretty much everyone, including pro volleyball stars Madisen Skinner and Chiaka Ogbogu. In fact, their conversation revealed that this discussion can get quite intense.

The two LOVB Austin teammates appeared in a clip discussing their volleyball hot takes. “My hot take was about the hardest position,” said Skinner. “In my opinion? the setter,” added the rookie pro, and said that most people would agree with her take. And while Ogbogu did agree, saying “I’ll give you that,” the middle blocker put an unsaid asterisk in her answer.

“I’m gonna be honest. Setter is up there, middle maybe first,” said the LOVB Austin middle blocker. However, Madisen Skinner was having none of it. “Chi, come on,” objected the former Texas Longhorns star. While Chiaka Ogbogu may be an Olympic gold medalist with more experience than Skinner, the first-year pro stood her ground.

“You would not be able to do a job without her (setter),” said the former VolleyballMag.com National Player of the Year disagreeing with her teammate. You may be thinking that this is a classic case of the player defending their position on the court. While that argument might hold up for Chiaka Ogbogu, it won’t work for Skinner. That’s because the former NCAA star plays the opposite hitter position.

Maybe that’s why she was so considerate about other positions. After all, offensive players like Madisen Skinner have to rely on the setter to build the attack. That being said, the two teammates did come to a shaky truce by the end of the conversation. “The gap is really, really tiny, it’s like middle… Setter (pointing lower),” said Ogbogu.

The Big12 Player of the Year responded with: “Okay, as long as setter is above.” However, debating which position is the thought spot on the court will soon have to take a back seat for the Skinner and LOVB Austin.

Madisen Skinner & Co. have made it to the biggest LOVB event

The 2024 Honda Sports Award winner and three-time NCAA champion wasted no time earning herself a shot as a pro volleyball in her very first year. So what’s running through the 23-year-old’s mind with less than a day left before the LOVB Austin takes on the Salt Lake at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville? Skinner spilled the beans while speaking to Sports Illustrated.

Madisen Skinner revealed that everyone, including herself, is “very optimistic and excited,” about the three-day finals. Thankfully, the teams won’t have to rely on their records to get a shot at the finals. “It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve won or lost; everyone still has the same chance to go and win the whole thing,” added Skinner, saying how it’s helped take off the pressure.

Austin, Salt Lake, Omaha, and Madison will all get the opportunity to square off against Houston and Atlanta, who’ve already booked a berth in what would technically be the semifinals. However, Austin will need to beat Salt Lake to keep their LOVB title hopes alive. The opposite hitter is also grateful that they’re getting this chance, despite absorbing a lot of losses along the way.

The former NCAA champion lost her chance to get four NCAA titles in four years after the Texas Longhorns bowed out of the 2024 NCAA championships. So you can bet that Madisen Skinner will give it her best shot to help Austin get to the tournament finals. Thankfully, playing alongside volleyball veterans has been a learning experience, and she’s ready to put it to good use.