Madie Jones Leads Quest for SEC Volleyball Title
Forty years ago, on June 23, 1972, the implementation of Title IX changed the dynamics of collegiate athletics forever. The act provides and assures an equal opportunity for all athletes, despite gender.
An LSU student-athlete who has taken full advantage of the law and created many opportunities for herself is volleyball outside hitter Madie Jones.
Jones, a Plano, Texas native, is a living example of what it means to be a student-athlete.
“It means excelling on and off the court,” Jones said. “One thing (LSU) Coach (Fran) Flory really pushes, which is why I came here to be a part of the LSU volleyball program, is she really helps us grow as people as well as great athletes.”
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Along with being named an All-SEC Second-Team selection and the 2011 Louisiana Player of the Year, Jones is an industrial engineering major and heavily involved in the Baton Rouge community. She also is president of LSU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and LSU’s Institute of Industrial Engineers.
“SAAC is my favorite thing,” Jones said. “It’s a really great community of student-athletes. It’s the leaders on each varsity team. We are all just working together to get our teams out to serve the community.”
Jones and her teammates take community service to heart. Each year, the team’s seniors select a cause to support.
This year, the Tigers are partnering with Capital Area Animal Welfare Society (CAAWS) to collect food, toys and other pet supplies for adoptable animals. These items for “Paws in the PMAC” can be donated at the Fan Zone during every home match at the Maravich Center.
“One thing I am really excited about is ‘Paws in the PMAC’,” Jones said. “Our team is weird about animals. When we’re bored, we will spend endless hours online looking at pets that need homes.”
Along with helping animals in need, Jones hopes to lead the team in another off the court goal this season.
“We want to win the Tiger Cup,” Jones said. “It’s a competition between all the LSU teams. The team that has the most community service hours, highest team GPA, and is the best in the SEC, wins the Tiger Cup.”
Managing all of these time-consuming activities may seem close to impossible, but Jones thrives under the pressure.
“Being seen out there as a role model helps to represent LSU well as a student-athlete,” Jones said. “I am happiest when I’m busy and always on the go.”
On the court, Jones is in a prime position to lead this season’s team to great success. She has set the bar high in hopes of finishing her last season as a Tiger the way her career began when LSU won the SEC championship in 2009.
Having accumulated seven consecutive SEC Western Division titles and six NCAA Tournament appearances since 2005, LSU volleyball has established a program anyone would be proud to lead.
“It’s nice to be a senior,” Jones said. “It gives some team ownership. We want to defend the SEC West title. That is a LSU volleyball tradition. We would like to win the SEC, and we want to prepare ourselves for a deep run in NCAA postseason.”
On and off the court, Jones is able to carry such a large load with the support of her friends, family, teammates and especially coach Flory.
“She does it all,” Flory said. “She doesn’t complain about it, and she knows it is part of her responsibility. The best part is she sets that tone and has created this additional culture that LSU volleyball is about.”
Jones knows she will be able to leave the court after her senior season is complete not only as an accomplished athlete, but also as a well-rounded student who has paved the way for others to excel in all aspects.
“It is not just about winning on the court or winning in the classroom,” Flory said. “It is about winning in the community and winning in every aspect of life. That evolution for Madie, and the growth she has experienced in those areas is really fun for us to watch.”