When it came to efficiently running an offense this volleyball season, there were few, if any, who provided more opportunities for success as much as McAllen High senior setter Madison Helmcamp.
From spreading the ball around to her hitters, to sneaking a second-ball dump to surprise the opponent to running the length of the court to reach a ball in hopes of setting up yet another McHi attack, Helmcamp had a season unlike others during a COVID-19 pandemic that made the season unlike any other.
For her incredible performance during the year, Helmcamp has been named The Monitor’s All-Area Volleyball Setter of the Year.
“I was going through some pictures and saw some of her as a freshman and she was just a tiny little girl,” McHi head coach Paula Dodge said. “Now she’s an outstanding athlete who worked so hard throughout those years to improve her game both physically and mentally. Her quickness and knowledge of the game is more than 10 times more as when she started as a freshman.”
Helmcamp’s movement on the court was fluid, and her play was so consistent and outstanding that when she had her hands on the ball the expectations were nothing but positive. Those expectations were met more often than not. From serving to setting to even chalking up some kills and some blocks, Helmcamp, also named theh District 30-5A Most Valuable Player, was a threat in all areas of the sport, as her stats indicate.
Helmcamp led the team in assists, with 490, or 8.3 assists per set. According to MaxPreps.com, she also had 1,603 ball handling attempts with just three errors, a staggering high success rate. Running a 5-1 offense, which means she was the only setter on the court, at all times, Helmcamp also found ways to tally 31 kills, 0.5 kills per set, and nine blocks. Those numbers from a setter are icing the cake.
She also led the team with 45 aces, 175 points and a 96.4% service success rate. On a team that advanced to the Sweet 16 for the second straight year, Helmcamp was the conductor that led the orchestra to play in harmony.
“I knew I had to be a leader and I tried to emphasize the things I did to try and bring the team together and make us as strong as we could be,” she said. “I felt like this year I wasn’t as stressed, more of a have fun and play, but still play smart mentality, like I have to get this done mentality. I felt way more calm this year.
“As you get older the game gets faster and last year in club we worked on calming everything down and I took that and brought it to McHi. Play aggressive still, but don’t freak ourselves out.”
The season was an emotional rollercoaster ride before it began, with uncertainty looming as to whether there would be a season in the first place. When the district-only season began, there were three games a week, including doubleheaders Saturdays. McHi was tied for first before it had to forfeit some games and go under quarantine.
When they returned, the dropped a tough five-setter to city rival McAllen Memorial. The Bulldogs needed to go perfect the rest of the regular season to simply clinch the fourth and final playoff berth.
And they did.
They went on to beat District 32-5A champion Brownsville Veterans, in Brownsville, in four sets, then traveled to Alice to beat Corpus Christi Veterans in five sets.
That set up a third matchup with McAllen Memorial. On the line: a trip to the Sweet 16.
“That was my favorite match of the year, playing them then after the season we had and all that we went through,” said Helmcamp, who led the Bulldogs to a convincing four-set win, her play setting the tone the entire match. “As a senior, I was ready to give it my all and go out with a bang.”
The Bulldogs lost to a taller and extremely powerful Dripping Springs squad in the next round, but not before Helmcamp added another moment signature moment, solo blocking Dripping Springs’ 6-foot sophomore superstar to end a long rally and, at that point, a critical point in the match.
“Yeah, I was pretty excited about that,” she said.
Helmcamp was one of four seniors on the team. Their years of experience showed, as did their determination to play at the highest level, one last time.
“She just progressed so much and you want to see your athletes grow and she did that in all aspects of the game,” Dodge said. “We talk about the setter being the quarterback of the team and she was that, but I’ve had other teams and watched other teams these past couple of years and I think she’s one of the best – if not the best – leaders on the court. She was able to score points in so many ways, and she was so knowledgeable about the sport.
“With athletics you have to be smart, especially playing some of the teams we have played. What hitters need to get the ball? What do you do when there’s not a great pass — a couple times she had to push the hitters out of the way but that’s just her and her ability to get through to them and lead them. They listened to her and did what they were told.
“It was such a joy coaching her and watching her play and grow.”