Maddie Siphakongviseth 

For Ingfah “Maddie” Siphakongviseth, volleyball has been part of her life for as long as she can remember. What began with watching her older sister play eventually became Maddie’s own passion and a journey that would take her to the highest levels of high school volleyball in New York State and now to NCAA Division I competition.

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Growing up, Maddie was a familiar face at her sister’s volleyball games. Watching her sister compete inspired Maddie to pick up the sport herself. Before long, volleyball became much more than a game.

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“Volleyball has been an essential aspect of my life since childhood,” Maddie explained. “The way she played volleyball inspired me to learn how to play, and soon volleyball became a significant aspect of my personality.”

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That early inspiration developed into an extraordinary high school career at Webster-Schroeder High School in Rochester, New York. Playing primarily as a libero, Maddie established herself as one of the state’s premier defensive players and helped lead the Webster Schroeder Warriors to two New York State championships.

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Her senior season in 2025 was particularly remarkable. Maddie recorded 662 digs, averaging 5.6 digs per set, while helping Webster-Schroeder finish with a 37-4-1 record and capture the New York Class AA state championship. Her accomplishments earned her numerous individual honors. She was named a First Team All-State selection, the Class AA/Division I Player of the Year and Libero of the Year. She was also recognized as the State Tournament MVP. But perhaps the most significant recognition came when Maddie was named the 2025–26 Gatorade New York Volleyball Player of the Year, an honor recognizing her as the top high school volleyball player in the state. For Maddie, receiving the Gatorade award was especially meaningful because it represented the culmination of years of hard work.

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“The greatest achievement in my life has been winning the New York Gatorade Player of the Year Award,” Maddie said. “The significance of this award means everything to me as it signifies all the effort that I have put into the sport. It makes me very proud to be recognized for this great honor.”

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Maddie also leaves behind an impressive statistical legacy at Webster-Schroeder. She finished her high school career with 1,614 varsity digs, a school record and a total that ranks fourth all-time in the official New York State Public High School Athletic Association record book. Her success was not limited to high school competition. Maddie also competed at the club level with VolleyFX under club director, Nicksen Sivongsa, gaining additional experience against some of the strongest young volleyball players in the region.

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Taking Her Game to Division I

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Maddie’s accomplishments opened the door to the next chapter of her volleyball career: NCAA Division I competition. She is now a freshman at Robert Morris University, where she continues her career as a defensive specialist/libero for the Colonials. The transition from high school volleyball to the Division I level represents another important milestone for an athlete whose career has been built around determination, consistency and an ability to excel in one of the most demanding positions on the court.

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As a libero, Maddie is responsible for anchoring the team's defense, reading opposing attacks and making the difficult defensive plays that can change the momentum of a match. Her career statistics and honors demonstrate just how effective she has been in that role.

 

Representing Her Lao Heritage

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Maddie is the daughter of Aht Siphakongviseth, who is Lao, and Jane Kaewjantuk, who is Thai. Aht is originally from Savannakhet and came to the United States in 1988. Her journey, from a young girl watching her older sister play volleyball to becoming New York's Gatorade Player of the Year and a Division I collegiate athlete, is an inspiring example of where passion, dedication and hard work can lead.

 

Her story is still being written. After an extraordinary high school career that included two state championships, a state tournament MVP award, a state record-book performance and New York’s highest individual high school volleyball honor, Maddie Siphakongviseth has begun the next chapter at Robert Morris University.