By Ed Piper
Madeleine Gates, the 6'2" former Viking and UCLA Second Team AVCA All-American, is plying her volleyball trade professionally in Dresden, Germany, while she finishes a Master's degree at Stanford.
A video of Gates slam-dunking a volleyball went viral (before COVID) when James Harden, the NBA star, took notice and expressed his admiration of Madeleine's considerable athletic talents.
"She just signed to play (pro volleyball) next year in Cannes, France," reported her proud mother, Amy Randel. "That will start in September."
Viking observers not as familiar with Madeleine Gates may remember her brother, Nathaniel, who was also a top La Jolla High volleyball player in more recent years. He, like his older sister, wears number 16. He just finished the collegiate season at Stanford as a junior.
Randel says that he "likely" will do a "co-term", beginning a Master's program as a senior to finish it as a "graduate". Remember that the NCAA granted athletes in some sports an additional year of eligibility because of COVID, so Michael Gates could play a fifth year for the Cardinal after his senior year.
Madeleine Gates, a sophomore at LJHS in 2013-2014, led the Viking girls basketball team to the CIF Finals, where they lost. After that season, she devoted herself exclusively to volleyball, dropping basketball (much to this sportswriter's disappointment) as a sidelight.
The 6'2" center once pulled down 22 rebounds in a basketball game for the Vikings, an incredible number especially in view of her limited playing experience.
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