Arizona’s McKale Center will host a special ceremony on Friday, Oct. 2, as the women’s volleyball team prepares to face Iowa State at 6 p.m. MST. The event will honor former Wildcat standout Madi Kingdon Rishel, who will become the tenth athlete inducted into the program’s Ring of Honor.
Career highlights that earned the honor
Kingdon Rishel’s name appears throughout the Arizona volleyball record book. A native of Tucson, she finished her collegiate career as a two‑time All‑Pac‑12 selection and earned third‑team AVCA All‑American honors in her senior season. She ranks second all‑time in single‑season kills with 634 in 2014 and is one of only two Wildcats to record more than 600 kills in a season.
Her statistical legacy includes top‑ten finishes in multiple career categories: fourth in matches played (129), fifth in sets (1,451), second in total kills (1,943) and third in kills per set (4.31). She also holds the program record for career attempts (5,656) and single‑season attempts (1,813 in 2014).
Impact beyond the university
After graduating, Kingdon Rishel launched a professional career that continues today. She has played for clubs in Azerbaijan, China, South Korea, Türkiye and the United States, most recently with LOVB Los Angeles. Her experience abroad complements a distinguished tenure with the U.S. senior women’s national team from 2016‑2022, during which she helped secure two Pan American Cup gold medals (2017, 2019) and a 2018 Volleyball Nations League gold medal.
Kingdon Rishel also contributed to the growth of Arizona’s beach‑volleyball program, earning AVCA All‑American honors as a senior in 2015 after a 24‑3 season with partner Kaitlyn Leary.
Coach and community praise
Arizona head coach Rita Stubbs praised the inductee, saying, “Madi is phenomenal… a tremendous athlete. The fact she’s still playing at the professional level is huge. She’s always willing to give back and be a part of what we’re doing.”
Current Wildcats see her as a role model. Junior outside hitter Carlie Cisneros noted, “It’s an honor to see someone who was exactly where I am and see all she accomplished. It’s truly inspiring.”
Recruiting implications
Stubbs believes the ceremony will aid recruiting, especially within Arizona. “The fact that she’s from Arizona is also huge,” she said. “She played for Storm Volleyball Club, and seeing a local hero return reinforces that top talent can thrive at home.”
The Ring of Honor ceremony is scheduled to begin at 5:55 p.m., just before the match tip‑off. Fans can watch the game live on ESPN+ or follow the Arizona Live Stats feed.
Original reporting: Arizona Desert Swarm (Tucson Sports) — read the source article.
