Bowling Green senior Madison Cowan goes for the kill. (Nicholas Huenefeld | Sentinel-Tribune)
By Nicholas Huenefeld
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
BOWLING GREEN — Madison Cowan has made quite a name for herself within the Bowling Green volleyball program as she enters the home stretch of her senior year.
Cowan, a four-year outside hitter for the Bobcats, joined the 1,000 kill, 1,000 dig club on Sept. 23 against Toledo Central Catholic, producing 20 kills and 25 digs in just three sets.
On top of that, Cowan did it in thrilling fashion, slamming home the final point of the match for her 1,000th kill.
Cowan has been motivated in her journey by her father, Kirk, who passed away on Sept. 29, 2022.
“This is a major accomplishment,” she said. “I’m super proud of myself and my team, who have helped me achieve this, plus having something to play for with my dad has helped me achieve this. I’m doing it for him.”
Through some coaching magic, BG received serve on the clinching point to help the chances of a kill for Cowan, which added to the excitement and nervousness.
“I was like, ‘they are going to serve it into the net, and it’s going to be game over,’” Cowan said. “I was just like, ‘please give me a chance to prove that I can do this tonight.’ But I knew my team could help me, so I wasn’t really that worried.”
Just one week prior, Cowan reached 1,000 career digs against Clyde.
“(Madison) has her game face on every time she plays,” BG coach Deb Mathias said. “She’s just relentless both offensively and defensively. She’s a competitor. She loves to win, and she’ll do everything she can for the team to win. She’s just a great team player.”
Statistically, there aren’t too many players better than Cowan in BGHS history.
Through Oct. 7, Cowan has accumulated 1,094 kills, 1,139 digs and 111 aces along with 46 career double-doubles in kills and digs.
In her career, she has recorded outings with 10-plus kills 59 times, 10-plus digs 59 times, 20-plus kills five times, 20-plus digs 18 times and 30-plus digs three times.
On Oct. 3, 2023 against Springfield, Cowan achieved a career-best 27 kills, and she compiled a career-best 31 digs twice last year, too.
“I don’t think I was as confident of myself my freshman year,” Cowan said. “I wasn’t ready to take that leadership role. I think I play a lot better now. I’m a lot more involved with the game, playing with more leadership and confidence. I feel like I’m a big voice on the court at all times.”
And Cowan isn’t alone. Hanna Heinze, who recently achieved 1,000 career digs, joins her as one of the team’s two four-year varsity players on a team.
“Their impact is huge,” Mathias said. “They’re the glue that keeps us together through their leadership, communication, their relentless pursuit for wins and their competitiveness.
“They’re just all-around just amazing players, kids and captains. I couldn’t have asked for better leaders between the two of them this year.”
Most importantly, the duo’s play has helped BGHS get off to a 15-5 start this year, including an 8-4 record in NLL play. With a win over Wauseon on Monday, they eclipsed the 2022 squad for the most single-season wins in the program since the Bobcats won 20 in 2016.
“Hanna and I have been partners in crime these past four years, even in seventh and eighth grade,” Cowan said. “Doing that together and seeing each other accomplish these goals is super exciting.”
