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NU four-sport star career ends

Maddie Rolling’s four-sport career has come to a close.

Other than her junior year, which she missed because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament, Rolling has been busy throughout her high school career.

Playing volleyball in the fall, basketball in the winter, running track in the spring and playing softball in the summer has taken much of Rolling’s time.

North Union softball coach Kim Price said Rolling is a hard-working leader for the team.

“She’s completely supportive of everyone on the team,” she said. “I’ve never once seen or heard anything that would indicate otherwise. She’s just an all-around good person. I know that she’s working full-time now that she’s graduated so during the day she’s working and doing what she needs to there and she comes to practice to work and works hard, but has fun. I think that’s one of the biggest things. She’s relaxed enough and able to just go with the flow of things to where you’re never going to see her get up-tight or upset.”

In her senior season in volleyball, Rolling helped the Warriors with her co-team leading 77 sets, while adding 85 kills and 23 aces.

Though she missed her junior campaign, Rolling totaled 147 sets over three seasons, 167 kills, 37 aces, 293 digs and 29 total blocks.

Rolling said she doesn’t have a favorite among the four sports.

“I guess my favorite is really whatever season it is,” Rolling said.

Although she does not have a favorite, Rolling’s success has come largely in softball, where she has been a key member of the Warriors’ team since she was a freshman.

As a freshman, Rolling helped lead North Union to a 33-6 season record and a state appearance. She hit for a .423 average in 123 at-bats, with 32 runs scored on 52 hits, including 11 doubles and a triple. Rolling collected 45 RBIs that season.

Rolling helped lead the Warriors to a 30-9 finish as a sophomore, with another appearance in the state tournament.

As a sophomore, Rolling hit .432 with 48 hits in 111 at-bats. She scored 36 runs with 11 doubles, 3 home runs and 27 RBIs, while stealing 28 bases.

Rolling said she hasn’t felt pressure to step up as a leader this season.

“I think it’s gone well, especially with having a new coach, we’ve really adjusted well,” she said. “It just comes naturally to us (Rolling and fellow senior Shawna Person) to be leaders.”

As a team leader, Rolling has hit .439 with 43 hits in 98 at-bats, including eight doubles, a triple and two home runs. She added 24 runs scored and 31 RBIs.

Price said Rolling has been a big asset for the Warriors this season.

“Maddie absolutely has been huge for our team as far as her talent and skill and what she brings to the game defensively and offensively,” Price said. “But above the softball performance and who she is as a player, who she is as a person has really impacted the whole team and myself.

“She’s always able to keep everybody’s spirits up and get everyone to laugh. As far as my first year to come in and coach the team … I am very, very lucky to have her. … She has embraced the change of coaches and expectations and the changes of how we do things. That’s been huge for the team.”

Rolling said though she has had many cool experiences during her Warriors’ career, she doesn’t have a favorite memory, though she said this softball season has been a fun one.

“We’re always laughing, but we know when to be serious,” Rolling said. “It’s just been really fun.”

In addition to her success in volleyball and softball, Rolling helped lead the Warriors to 31 wins between her sophomore and senior basketball seasons.

Rolling totaled 161 points in her two seasons, shooting 35 percent, while grabbing 69 rebounds and 51 steals, dishing out 36 assists and blocking five shots.

Price credits Rolling’s success throughout her high school sports career to her strong mentality.

“If she makes an error, she’s right back in it,” Price said. “Her head’s just in a good place. She’s been a great, great teammate and a great player.”

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