H-S Athlete of the Week: Maddy Salisbury, Frazier
Submitted photo
Name: Maddy Salisbury
School: Frazier
Class: Senior
Sport: Girls volleyball
Salisbury’s week: Salisbury helped lead Frazier to a WPIAL Class A third-place consolation win over California, 3-2, on Saturday and a PIAA first-round victory at Elk County Catholic, 3-1, on Tuesday, recording the final kill in both matches. Salisbury rang up 26 kills and three blocks to spark the Lady Commodores to a reverse sweep after they dropped to the first two sets against the Lady Trojans at Charleroi High School before eventually winning by scores of 18-25, 20-25, 25-15, 25-19 and 17-15 to earn a spot in the state tournament. She totaled 22 kills and six blocks as Frazier overcame a 1-0 deficit to knock off the District 9 champion Lady Elkers by scores of 20-25, 25-13, 25-15 and 25-17. The Lady Commodores will be making their second consecutive appearance in the PIAA quarterfinals on Saturday when they face District 10 champion Maplewood in a 2:30 p.m. match at North Allegheny.
Miss Clutch: Salisbury is a team leader and accepts that role. “Everyone looks to me and I try to step up in the big moments while also staying consistent the best that I can,” said the 5-foot-11 Salisbury. “The last shot against California, that was big. It was a really good feeling getting that point to win that game. I always want the ball for the big points and my setters know that and they find a way to get it to me. My teammates help me out so much.”
Fabulous four: Salisbury, the 17-year-old daughter of Chad Salisbury and Rhianna Young, has played a key role during one of the best four-year runs in the program’s history, which includes winning a WPIAL championship her freshman season of 2022, reaching the PIAA Final Four her junior season last year and making the state Elite Eight again this season all while earning section titles each year. “We have had a lot of success during my time here. We’ve made it to a lot of big games. We won some and lost some,” Salisbury said. “It’s really exciting to me to play in those big games. Winning the WPIAL, that was such an amazing experience. Last year we were the first team in our history to get to the Final Four in the state and that was a really big accomplishment. We’re proud of that.”
Starting out: Salisbury started playing volleyball when she was in seventh grade. “I had been around it before that because my sister Braylin played volleyball, too,” she said. “When I was a starter on varsity as a freshman I really fell in love with the game that year.” Salisbury, an all-WPIAL first-team right side hitter, is trying to improve her all-around game. “Over the summer and club season last year I really worked on my back row,” she said. “It’s definitely something I’ve gotten a lot better at but also something I have to continue working on.”
College plans: Salisbury plans to continue her playing career in college. “I committed to PennWest California during the summer,” she said. “My dad coaches football there (Chad is the Vulcans offensive coordinator) so obviously I’ve been around the campus and the volleyball program. The last year I’ve found it exciting and interesting and I was just drawn there.”
Love for Hartman: Salisbury is a huge fan of Frazier volleyball coach Mandy Hartman. “Honestly she’s genuinely the reason I’m the player I am,” Salisbury said. “She pushes me so much. It started my freshman year, she was always on me but I’m so grateful for that. It’s all with complete love. She loves all of us so much and it means a lot to have her supporting us and backing us.”
Odd and ends: Salisbury was a freshman starter on the 2022 WPIAL championship team along with her sister Braylin who was a senior that season. … Salisbury is a former member of the P3R club team out of South Hills. … Maddy’s father Chad was a three-sport star at Frazier who went on to play quarterback at Division-I New Mexico and Buffalo and spent eight years in the Arena Football League throwing 217 touchdown passes.