For Madisyn Jones, arriving at Howard University as a freshman felt less like stepping into the unknown and more like coming home.
A rising freshman from Pittsburgh, Madisyn is beginning her college journey as a double major in criminology and political science and the newest member of Howard’s University Women’s Volleyball team.
But this moment has been years in the making. “Howard was always my dream school,” she said. “As soon as I had my recruitment date, I knew this is where I wanted to be. I went to all their camps for four years, and I committed just a month into the recruiting process.”
Madisyn plays libero, a position that often recruits later in the process, but her commitment to Howard was early and unwavering. The decision was personal: Both of her parents are alumni, and her older sister Sydnei, a rising junior and fellow volleyball player on the Howard team, is already blazing trails on campus.
“It helped that my sister was obviously here,” Madisyn added. “And my parents went here. This is where I wanted to be.”
Sydnei, who is studying political science and criminology as well, has always supported Madisyn’s independence while quietly guiding the way. “I’ve kind of blazed the path in a way,” she said. “But I’ve always given Maddi the space to explore anything she wanted to do. I’m just here to have her back.”
Despite the nerves many freshmen feel walking into their first college practice, Madisyn described her debut as more exhilarating than intimidating. “It wasn’t nerve-wracking,” she said. “It was exciting. In that moment, I realized all the time and effort I put into volleyball paid off. I was finally in the place I had dreamed of since I was little.”
Now that she’s officially on campus, Madisyn is looking forward to both competition and connection. “I’m excited about winning the MEAC for starters, obviously,” she said with a grin. “But I’m also really excited to share this college experience with my sister. That’s something most people don’t get. I’m looking forward to going to her apartment, stealing her food, being in her space and being in my own.”
For Sydnei, watching her younger sister transition into this new phase of life is a source of pride. “It’s been awesome to see her grow and become a college athlete,” she said. “It’s a lot different than high school, and I just want her to have the experience I had, make friends, grow, and really enjoy it.”
As siblings and now teammates, the Jones sisters share more than just blood; they share a deep respect for one another. “On the court, we respect each other’s space,” Sydnei explained. “But when it’s time to get serious, we can talk honestly too. We come from a strong, honest household, and I think that’s helped us keep a healthy dynamic.”
This season will mark the first time the sisters have ever played together competitively. Though they went to different high schools, their shared dream of attending Howard and playing side-by-side is finally coming true.
“Howard was always the target school,” Sydnei said. “We grew up in an HBCU house, everybody’s Howard pride. We love to take our talents to our people and show what’s important to us.”
For Madisyn, this is more than the start of college; it's the culmination of a lifelong dream and the beginning of a powerful new chapter. With her family’s legacy behind her and her sister beside her, she’s stepping onto the court not just as a player, but as a symbol of pride, purpose, and homegrown determination.
