High School Hero to Zero | A Return to the Love of the Game

My volleyball career wasn’t an upward trajectory, there were many more valleys than peaks, more setbacks than successes. This is a story about my journey, pulling back the curtain a bit on the challenges I’ve faced along the way.
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CREDITS:
Talent: Riley McKibbin, Maddison McKibbin
Produced/Edited by: The McKibbin Brothers
Video Captured by: The McKibbin Brothers, Diana McKibbin
Clips Used:
OC16 Hawaii News Sports Channel
McKibbin family home videos

[@amyandvik]

Through the ups and downs, Riley is a good brother.

[@xJoeKing]

- Riley 2021

[@peterlobzhanidze1277]

@@xJoeKing 😂😂

[@c.a.martinez.vb10]

I actually cried. This was how I felt in basketball when I was in high school. And now being in college and switching to beach volleyball, I feel what you're feeling. It all came back again. That special feeling will never leave my mind again. Thanks for sharing Maddison :)

[@jay7tennis]

Those cuts from your younger days to the AVP plays were awesome! Wow man. Glad you kept pushing and never totally lost hope man. Inspires me to grind it out and keep striving for the top.

[@spencerdupee2681]

The feeling when you find your love of the game again, that slaps.

[@BryanGQ593]

This video serves me as a very good reminder that no path in this life is straight forward. That's something that I somehow forgot until now. Thank you for sharing this.

[@DennisRajden]

@@themckibbinbrothers please do. You Bros are on a roll, so keep Rock n' rolling!

[@dereknagel5833]

“ I was sitting in his Kitching having two bott… glasses of wine” Nice save there

[@ATP980]

These types of videos are so entertaining. You’re both surprisingly good at story telling

[@simonmiller1854]

That's partly because they both got great stories to tell. Love those videos, love the Beards

[@jay7tennis]

You could also see it in their AVP Media takeover day. These guys know that the players we see on the big screen are people just like us. People with stories to tell.

[@toboefang]

That scene of you on your knees, then being tackled and rolling around the entire court is destroying my heart in the best way possible. That's so phenomenal that you have that moment captured

[@gingerkid312]

You guys are so transparent with your story and it’s so awesome to understand even at the highest level your struggles are similar to those just getting into the sport.

[@emmaforti4672]

Thank you Maddison. Many many players know to some extent what you felt during your hardest times, it was heartwarming to watch you reach that great feeling again. Injuries and insecurities are something we should be taught to deal with better. Everyone deserves to play for the joy of it

[@Megabaron]

Loved hearing your volleyball story man.

[@zoiealfonsomanuelle_4917]

When he said he could only play on sundays I related so much my heart felt so relieved that somebody as strong as him had the same situation as me right now. I could only ever play volleyball on a very old cemented basketball court that we had to climb to get to (because it was located up a hill) but that was enough for me, everyday we go there hoping to play a single game since there are a lot of people. Once we play we lose almost all the time but it's okay I was doing it just for fun. Then it hit me, why not take volleyball seriously, it's the only sport i can play during quarantine and probably one of the few things i have going for me in my life. So here I am, constantly looking to improve, never letting the hunger get satisfied, constantly watching volleyball plays, moments, stories. I am in love with this beautiful sport. And I thank these people who share these stories and I ask of them to keep going, because people like me absolutely love your videos

[@simeonyordanovgrancharov6866]

Not gonna lie, I never thought you were so close to stop playing volleyball! I love the way you show that feeling of "what am I going to do with my life??" that many of us have when we are at some low point in life to the thought of going on a completely different path in your life and career.... and how you managed to recover that love for the game that was taken from you because of the anxiety and pressure... A great video and very inspiring. Congrats!

[@TIMMYGRANDE]

this was fantastic, i've really enjoyed hearing both your stories on the channel recently. your story reminds me a little of how the Golden State Warriors coach, Steve Kerr, preaches the value of "playing with joy" - good luck this season!

[@keanasmalls4389]

I'm literally bawling my eyes out!!! Your story is so touching and I love how you allowed yourself to be the player you always were. Thank you so much for this video as well as all of your others and good luck on your future endeavors.

[@user-yc9xy5gy2b]

I've come back to watch video a few years later only to find it has moved my heart even more than before. Maddison, the emotions you touched on are so precious to many of us that play volleyball. For you to have shared how you overcame such struggles to do what you love means so much. Keep playing with joy!

[@themckibbinbrothers]

Wow…. I can’t tell you him much this means to me. Your comment literally made my day and I’m so happy it had even the slightest impression on you. Thank you my friend 😊

[@apmech46166]

Man, just like your brothers testimony, this choked me up. I could feel a bit of that emotion you described as you rolled around on the sand after that win with your partner. So awesome to see your love of the game expressed in that moment. Thanks for the inspiration, I need that hope...46 years old trying to become a better hitter, waaay undersized and bad technique, but love when it all comes together...love the game, and often wondering if the training is worth it. I think you've helped spur me on just a little with this and other content you guys put out, so thanks. I'm glad you stuck it out and glad your brother pushed you toward the beach. Great story, thanks for sharing and great job weaving the footage into the story. I so appreciate you guys being so real with the fans. Keep rockin' it!

[@ashketchup5844]

I play Volleyball myself and just wanted to say that I absolutely love your videos. It‘ great to find such high quality content all about Volleyball. Also I think you guys are just extremely entertaining.

[@patriksorups]

Man, you are like serious documentary filmers at this point. Man i love stories like these, it just makes me wanna cry. Awesome video, just never stop posting guys. Please. And thanks for the AWESOME video again!

[@blairnelson3784]

This series is ON POINT Boys! Thank you for the transparency, the honesty, the vulnerability and sharing your journey with us. Everything you are sharing applies to the 9-5 work world as well. Thanks for the encouragement! My favorite KZbin channel by far!

[@petergeyer7584]

I have seen so many talented kids who killed it as amateurs get to the elite levels they have spent their whole lives dreaming about who then struggle when they lose confidence and it stops being fun. It is great to hear your story of getting that love - and ultimately, that confidence - back.

[@tomdowgiallo2396]

Awesome story! Thank you for that and congratulations on all you have done.

[@co0kii]

what an inspiring story, I know I’ll be coming back to this video whenever I feel like I’m in a rut...

[@russelllee9519]

I seriously love these stories and your videos.

[@tonyliu5427]

I am currently going through the same feelings, thank you for inspiring me again.

[@mirandamallicoat883]

Thanks for opening up! What a great journey!

[@marnixvandenberg]

This is absolutely incredible, such an inspirational story! I'm really glad you managed to find your flow back, you earned it

[@dandelaney697]

Hey man this was awesome to watch! I’ve been keeping up with you and your brothers videos for a while now and just subscribed! I love the quality and authenticity of the content you guys make! Looking forward to seeing y’all win some upcoming tourneys!

[@ArrowLockdown]

I love your and Riley's storytelling. You guys genuinely care about what you make and the way you guys show the AVP and the energy behind it makes me so desperately want to play there one day hopefully when you guys are still around. Met you at the Vancouver open and have been wanting to since.

[@juanjumangit9621]

What a story, Maddison! So inspiring, man! Thank you for another great great video! 👏🙇‍♂️

[@kai350]

Yours and Rileys story inspired me to reach for my goals. You guys are awesome :)

[@ryanmahl7737]

Unreal. Super happy you decided to keep grinding and find that passion again. This is super motivating and gives me the itch to get back out there and ball out 🏐🏐

[@RenegadeBJJ]

These past couple of videos you guys have posted have been amazing. Stories like this go to show that no matter your direction, everyone has moments they question the path they are on. What is remarkable is that regardless of the obstacles placed in your path, you persevered. I work in physical rehabilitation and I've seen athletes that have injuries that sadly never come back the same and that crushes their passion for their sport. I commend you on your work ethic because it's hard to climb that mountain once, let alone the number of times you had to at such high levels of competition. Glad you both stuck with your convictions, beach volleyball culture would not be the same without you both!

[@matthewcomiciotto7525]

Thank you so much for sharing and thank you for bringing others including myself into the love of the game!!

[@MrSeanMDolan]

I had a very similar experience in the sport, when I was Under 17s I was on top of my game and representing my state and looking to represent the country with the AUS youth team as Libero. I fractured my lumbar spine however playing outside hitter for club, school and Victoria. So I completely ruined my prospects of ever competing for country. I could hardly train more than once a week without feeling pain. I even struggled playing club level after and my body couldn’t do what my mind knew I could anymore. Anyways volleyball just wasn’t ever exactly the same again because I took it very seriously and wanted to play at the highest level, I lost the love to play... Became a coach though and stopped playing when I was 24 to protect my body. I’m 29 now, coached for my state and the AUS youth team and have my own volleyball club where I play just for the love of the game and I feel that joy again. Life is crazy how it comes back in circles. This was a very touching video for me as it hits close to home.

[@jorgecollazo4]

This is awesome, videos just keep getting better and better!

[@brianroloff4381]

More stories like this please! I was courtside in San Francisco. Had no idea the path to that moment. Amazing.

[@Bellbuscus]

So glad you worked through all this and kept playing. I really have enjoyed the content you guys put out. It has helped my game, shows the true camaraderie of the sport, and inspires in other ways personally. I sadly have not been able to play beach vball since the start of the pandemic and seeing you guys get through struggles and still succeeding helps push me to get ready to be back that much more.

[@zachweinberg3943]

Love the video, man. You guys rock. Was nice to see Eric Zaun make an appearance in the video. RIP Zaun!

[@ZombieProjectMaiZ]

dude yall's stories are amazing! Love watching the way yall narrate your lives, your matches, your tips...Yall ROCK!

[@santanabustamante3566]

You guys inspire me to always keep going at the hardest parts of life day by day, and how it will all be worth it at the end... thanks for sharing your story!!!

[@thediesel1123]

Sooooo glad you stuck with it!! You guys are by far my favorite team to watch!!

[@EveryDayActi0n]

What a amazing video boys! Thank you guys for sharing these last two videos! Got chills watching this one at the end! Truly y’all have found a voice in story telling that is yours! And I love hearing all the story’s that are in volleyball and y’all’s story’s are amazing!

[@kelvincovalo3909]

Dude. Love the realness of the ups and downs. Keep it up, you guys are great to watch on the sand!

[@jwcgratitude]

Thank you for sharing that man! Thank you.

[@JM3-675]

Y’all are killing it with these stories!

[@davidallyn1818]

Thanks for sharing - that's so inspiring! I hope I can find your passion and love for volleyball. I started vb at 40, and I loved the game so much for a long time. But, after 10 years of trying to master mechanics, I still find myself on the losing side of the net -- to the point where I feel like maybe I'm the reason people lose (?!?) I haven't played with any regularity in a couple of years - it's just not fun to lose. After watching you talk about your story, I've realized that the most important part is having fun - if you can't have that, then it's just a bunch of work. So, rather than give up, I you've inspired me to go back to the beach and play for fun and love the game. Thanks!!

[@bwill2663]

Awesome video love the transparency! Great content boys!

[@manninglemoine5125]

Woah, I've seen that final more than a few times and never knew exactly how much that meant. Knowing the backstory to this makes me appreciate it so much more🙏

[@coleweaver9591]

this video had me in tears. the struggles that the both of you have gone through to be where you are today has related to me so much. thank you for sharing your story and inspiring others to do what they love.

[@dadutchguy69]

Your grit and determination inspire me to step it up myself!

[@MartinKoban]

What a beautiful video. Thank you for creating this.

[@tonyw1988]

This is such an inspiring story. The pressure to perform at every level must have been overwhelming! Thank you so much for sharing this Maddison!!!

[@DanielRodriguez-ou9nd]

Amazing story! Staying true to yourself and your passion, Riley saw that, thats why he insisted so much.

[@zreticulian]

Nice to have you back guys!

[@ivanandreevich8568]

LOL that celebration after winning. Great story.

[@peterquinton1054]

This was such an encouragement. Thanks for sharing your story.

[@erikmoller2360]

I think I probably speak for several other people when I say I really appreciate you and your brother sharing the raw parts of your story and how much perseverance it took to be on the path you guys are on. In the times that we are in these days, it feels extra important to share the struggles and how we get through them.

[@myakrohn5228]

I’m crying like a baby right now lol. How much I felt from this video and how much I’m going to take from it is amazing. How you went from being at your lowest and came out back on top is so amazing! I’m at a stand still in my volleyball career and this video made a huge impact on me. Thank you

[@kamuw03]

ANOTHER inspirational sit down. So proud of you brothers from Hawaii, including adding your baby brother from time to time. I've grown up playing admiring all the greats from OCC & your parents have always been great examples of that very same quiet confidence you all share. Keep up doing your home state/'ohana proud.

[@shaquesbeer]

Damn good video brother, as authentic and real as it gets. Love seeing you and Riley take your storytelling to the next level

[@rozzipleto688]

totally loved this, thank you so much for sharing it

[@zorkap3235]

Thank you for sharing these experiences!!

[@blancoga1]

So, so good!! Another stellar video...congratulations! Thanks for sharing another great personal story. 👏👏👏

[@Averagetrashgamer]

Thank you for the openness to talk about this particular mental side of the game that not many people talk about. I play college volleyball at a rival school of yours and I’ve felt like this too. It’s hard to keep trying to push through the disappointment sometimes. This really helped. Cheers to you guys and thank you so much, I’ll be playing your little brother soon can’t wait for a good match!

[@EddieDBama]

That was beautiful. Thank you so much for this one.

[@Rudy2k5]

Your story moved me so much Maddison. Thank you for telling us ^_^

[@glennbrown306]

Quite simply, thank you. You guys are terrific.

[@tallytrev1496]

Madison I hope you read this I found a love for beach volleyball when I was 26. Never touched a ball before. I grew up in Tampa, Watching the local tournaments in awe of guys coming up like Piotr Marciniak and Carambula. I love watching you play, esp with your brother. You have so much talent, but the mental side man. When you’re on the court sometimes you just take over. As soon as you’re able to shed that fear of a let down you describe in this video you’re going to excel to one of the top blockers in the world. I see glimpses man, it’s self belief and confidence. Wishing you the best once COVID let’s us watch you play next! Good vibes, play hard! -one of the millions in the stands with a McK hat

[@CJRSA788]

I got chills just listening. The feeling of victory after so much sacrifice, injuries, ups and downs. The frustration and anger all makes sense when you Win. Haha I miss Victory in sports. It’s some pure stuff that.

[@ericanquetil5549]

Your story is amazing you guys are really talented on court and behind the camera. The chillss were real!!

[@meinzer]

Really enjoy these stories that articulate the challenges you brothers have faced in your career. I show these videos to my volleyball stud son and daughter to inspire them when they are frustrated with their progress playing the game. Well done!

[@nagyee15]

dude, same feelings here. i had a rotator cuff tear back in 2016, it took me years to grind myself back to where i was. but not just i accomplished that, but I actually succeeded my old self. those are the best feelings when you clinch your fist and you say 'i did it' then you start crying..

[@dnqudtn0623]

I love just how opposite you and Riley's volleyball journey was, but I especially love the fact that you and Riley both supported each other through ALL of the ups and downs. That relationship is such a priceless thing. I think you owe each other a beer!

[@funywuny]

Genuinely touched by this, maybe it’s time I stir up the engine again. Time to find that spark that same exact feeling again. Thanks for sharing your stories!

[@sparkleflower910]

Y'all are incredible!! Found this channel while searching for instructional beach videos, stayed for the inspiring content and stories. Thank you both for sharing so candidly, and for reminding me (and many others) of that "feeling" and love of the sport - especially while most of us are still stuck indoors!

[@richardtan3108]

Really enjoy these last two videos!

[@vivicoirobot]

Grazie. Grazie davvero. Your story is inspiring and allows me to believe I can find again the joy of playing on the beach court. I broke my knee the first time when I was 16, my career as a volleyball player was just starting and I had to stop for 8 months. Then I came back and after a while I was there again, starting in main team, playing and block as the hell... But a couple of months later I broke the same knee for the second time. Again surgery, again the pain, again the rehab and then back to volleyball. It was crazy, but I started to play again. Then, after that I seriously injured my right elbow... I thought I was done. Anyway I decided to play beach volley. And here I am. I hope to have the strength you had and to find my way here... Even though I'm not a pro, I believe I can have fun again. Thank you! And come back in Italy! We have food and sun! :)

[@melaniew9699]

Love love love these videos of you guys telling us stories about your lives and thoughts-- it's not easy to be honest and vulnerable and you guys do it with grace and make it so entertaining to watch. Thank you for another great video!

[@divyt8013]

How do y’all not have more subcribers

[@michaelmiller3247]

Great inspiration video, I just got shoulder surgery so I knew I would have to put my love of volleyball on the back burner for awhile. Seeing this tho gets me excited to get back to playing one day!

[@davidreeder9378]

This one and the rise of the bench warmer by your bro are so great to share with my daughter as she navigates the ups and downs of club volleyball - thanks for putting these together.

[@joelhebert2246]

First off kudos on having the courage to share that story!! Thank you for that!! Second super motivational man!! Love it!!! Rock on bearded one!!

[@waiasck994]

I really love you channel, guys.. i hope it grows up to the sky.. it s so well done, the stories are great and they re about VOLLEYBALL.. maybe they can make a series out of you one day.. best of luck

[@nikolainaidenov359]

Man I needed this video ... thank you ... As a player who is aiming to play professionaly you reminded me a lot of important things ... ❤️Thank you.

[@chris-mckinzie]

Keep killing it bro! love the vulnerability!!!!!!!!!

[@chinescookie5642]

Amazing story! Can relate 100% 🤙

[@davidoliu]

Touching and inspiring story which many can learn from. Lucky to have brotherly love like that. Thank you for sharing, truly touched.

[@badsaxplayer7446]

Truly a great story and lesson that can be applied to any passion, not just volleyball. Very powerful message.

[@talanky]

Beautiful story, I felt your pain. So glad it had a happy ending

[@michaelwinter3696]

Thank you Maddison for being so hosnestly. It made me feel like, befor my knee injury when Iam was at my best - and never reached again - until you made the change. That I'am gonna be like you. I've never quit. Spread the love :-) Have a good one

[@mtziros2250]

what a story dude! amazing

[@vincenzobiscotti6798]

This videos are great! I love the editing and you guys are very good at storytelling :)

[@kiesh0069]

Live in faith not fear. You guy's are amazing! 🙌🙏😊💓

[@WhiteSnowAustralia]

Maddison, this was AWESOME. As I told you when we first met, you guys are making an impact...... read the comment to see how inspiring you both are. P.S. love the transitioning to black and white in the saddest moment and to colour again when you were coming back to VB life. As usual, great job.

[@ndknight100]

the motivational video i didn’t know i needed to watch 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

[@finn3883]

This is one of the best videos I’ve ever watched without doubt

[@arniepunch7399]

this was recommended, thank you

[@Go-rn9kn]

Finding that feeling again is so rewarding when you thought you were done

[@vaughnmcconnell1859]

Keep growing the game!