Gibbons volleyball player honored

Madison Bugg was glad to receive a phone call Tuesday night. Anyone could have been on the other end, and she would have welcomed the distraction.

All Bugg knew was that for at least a few minutes, she didn't have to study for her two remaining exams, English and philosophy, at Cardinal Gibbons High School the next morning. The call ended up being cause for celebration, as Cardinal Gibbons volleyball coach Logan Barber was on the other end of the line, relaying some good news.

For the second time in three years, Bugg was named Gatorade's North Carolina Volleyball Player of the Year.

"It feels great to win (the award)," said Bugg, who also has a 4.50 weighted GPA. "It was a good thing to hear when you're not in a great mood. I really didn't want to do my work."

A senior committed to play at Stanford next fall, Bugg is now a finalist to win the national Player of the Year award that will be announced later this month.

During their conversation, Barber congratulated Bugg and thanked her again for leading the Crusaders (22-3) to their third consecutive N.C. High School Athletic Association 3A state title with a three-set sweep of North Iredell in the Nov. 5 state final. Bugg earned MVP honors for the tournament, as she did the previous two seasons.

Bugg led the Crusaders this fall with 271 kills, 182 digs and 31 service aces. She also recorded a kill percentage of .445.

"She is the most talented player I've ever coached," Barber said. "She knows the game so well."

Barber became the coach at Cardinal Gibbons two years ago. When he arrived, Barber understood Bugg was a special player.

But with just two seniors on the team, Barber asked Bugg to switch from setter to outside hitter, a transition Barber knew could be difficult.

Instead, his star player improved.

Bugg, who is 6-foot-1, became Cardinal Gibbons' best hitter and was able to incorporate the fundamentals she had learned as a setter.

"We asked her to change position, and she was OK with it," Barber said. "It was pretty impressive for me to see her take over that position so quickly and dominate other teams."

When last season started, Bugg agreed with her coach on the one thing she had to do to advance her development: She needed to become a vocal leader.

Bugg said she made an effort to get to know each of her 15 teammates, and that in turn allowed the Crusaders to become a closer team. On the court, she showed more of her personality by giving out advice, something Bugg and her teammates had to get used to.

"Coach really challenged me to be a bigger leader," Bugg said. "That's been harder for me than just playing volleyball."

Bugg will play in the Under Armour All-America Volleyball Match in San Antonio on Friday. And though receiving a scholarship offer from Stanford was already a confidence boost, Bugg said winning the Gatorade award confirmed that she's ready for her next challenge.

"It kind of makes me feel better, because I'm going to a school where everybody is just as good as me," Bugg said of Stanford. "It's a major confidence booster to hear I won."