Baldwin grad Maddi Sgattoni completes decorated college volleyball career at Navy

After a blockbuster Navy volleyball career, Baldwin graduate Maddi Sgattoni commissioned May 28 and now is a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Sgattoni was a four-year starter as an outside hitter — her same position in high school — for the Naval Academy, and graduated with a degree in ocean engineering.

She is the second athlete in the Division I era (since 1991) of the program to lead the squad in kills in each of her four seasons.

“When you look at the entirety of Maddi’s career on the court, it’s really a testimony not only to her volleyball skills but her durability as an athlete,” Navy coach Paco Labrador said. “Maddi put in all the extra work to meet the demands of playing as a six-rotation outside hitter. Most people see her as a powerful attacker in the front row, but her real strength was the ‘completeness’ of her game.

“She was our top server, top passer and essentially played every match, without a sub, from the first match of the season her freshman year to the last match of the season her senior year.”

Sgattoni’s team-high average of 2.86 kills per set ranked 10th in the Patriot League this year. She also ranked second on the team in digs per set with a 2.95 average.

“Navy volleyball has been such a blessing for the past four years,” said Sgattoni, a 2017 Baldwin graduate. “I couldn’t have got through USNA without the team and my teammates. I graduated with a ocean engineering degree. It definitely tested me, but I’m happy to apply this degree moving forward in my life and I’m grateful for the experience.

“My best memories from (college) volleyball were winning the Patriot League championship, beating Army, and pregame dance parties in the locker room.”

The 5-foot-10 Sgattoni will head to Quantico, Va., in September for six months of training at TBS (The Basic School). From there, she will receive a Military Occupational Specialties and duty station.

“My goal is to end up in California at Camp Pendleton,” Sgattoni said. “I won’t use my degree while in the Marine Corps, but hope to possibly go to grad school and end up back in Pittsburgh after my time in the Marine Corps.

“My commitment is five years in the Marine Corps, but I’d definitely consider staying in as long as I love what I am doing and the experiences I am having.”

Sgattoni was selected MVP of the Patriot League tournament in 2018 after she recorded a career-high 25 kills, to go along with 7 digs and 3 aces, in a 3-2 win against American in the championship match.

Her 25th kill of the night, 391st of the season and 697th of her career is considered the most historic point recorded in Navy volleyball history as it closed out the five-set win and powered the Mids into the NCAA Tournament for the first time as a Division I program.

“Maddi carried us to the win,” Labrador said. “She was served on almost every play, she took 64 swings and still had the endurance to take the biggest swing in Navy volleyball history and score the championship point. She is our rock.”

Sgattoni, the team captain, recently landed second team All-Patriot League honors, after previously being named to the first team in 2018 and second team in 2019.

“I couldn’t be happier for Maddi,” Labrador said. “The Patriot League produces a lot of great and elite volleyball players each year, and for Maddi to be an all-league recipient three times is something to be really proud of.”

Sgattoni was named player of the week in the league multiple times in her career, and earned USNA academic accolades in one semester. She recorded her 1,000th kill during her junior season.

“What really made Maddi special was her ability to adapt to every role that was required of her,” Labrador said. “As a freshman, she did what the team needed, playing a steady, low-error role. Her sophomore season, she was called on, particularly late in the season, to take the ‘big swings’ when the match was on the line. As a junior, we needed Maddi to take a ton of swings. She took just under 1,000, which is a tremendous load.

“When the world got turned upside down for her senior season, Maddi kept us all together in her role as team captain. When covid canceled the fall (schedule), Maddi turned her attention to solidifying our team culture to a level that will be a lasting legacy for the program.”

Sgattoni also enjoyed a storied career at Baldwin, where she was coached by Chris Kelly, a Baldwin graduate.

“Maddi’s best quality was her ability to lead,” Kelly said. “That’s why she was able to have such a huge impact at the Naval Academy. She has been a starter since her freshman year and ranks in the the top 10 in every major statistical category there.

“Maddi also never settled for being ‘good enough’. She was always striving to improve despite being the best player on the team. She led her team in this way too. When the best player on the team is also the team’s hardest worker, that makes an impact on everyone.

“In order to be successful at the Naval Academy, you need to work hard, have lots of grit and be a a leader. Maddi fits that description perfectly.”

Sgattoni was a four-year starter and two-year captain at Baldwin, and led the Highlanders three consecutive to WPIAL finals. Sgattoni & Co. won championships in 2014 and 2015 and posted a 49-0 overall record during those two seasons.

The blue-chip athlete was named all-state and all-WPIAL three times, and was a two-time WPIAL player of the year. Sgattoni received the KDKA-TV Extra Effort Award, appeared on the PrepVolleyball.com Soph 79 list, was a member of the National Honor Society and was a “distinguished graduate” as a Baldwin senior.

She competed at the club level for Renaissance Volleyball; her team placed fifth at the 2016 Girls Junior National Championship.

“I never knew anything about the Naval Academy before they started to recruit me for volleyball,” Sgattoni said. “I am so thankful for my club coaches, Shawn Palmer, Brian Begor and Dave Neely, for helping me to get where I want to be. I am also thankful to my high school coaches, Chris Kelly, Adam Foote and Jenna Snyder, for allowing me to be a part of the Baldwin volleyball team.

“My family has supported me all four years (at Navy) and made it to almost every home game. I couldn’t have done it without their trips to Annapolis. I’m grateful to have such a strong support system.”