At Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, the name "Madsen" carries a legacy - not just of athletic excellence, but of sisterhood, resilience, and the power of playing for something greater than oneself.

Clara and Phoebe Madsen, CMS volleyball alumni and sisters, were teammates on the historic 2017 CMS volleyball team that captured the program's first-ever NCAA National Championship. But their story goes far deeper than a trophy. It's a journey of growth, leadership, and a bond that only strengthened through a shared dream.
  Forging Their Own Paths - Together

Clara arrived at Claremont McKenna College two years before her younger sister Phoebe, carving her path as a setter and emerging as a natural leader. When Phoebe was being recruited, the decision to follow Clara wasn't immediate. In fact, she initially thought she'd go her own way.

"I figured it would be beneficial to 'do my own thing,'" Phoebe recalled. "But after visiting schools on the East Coast, I realized how much I would miss my family, and how special it would be to play with Clara again." The decision clicked. The small classes, warm Southern California culture, and promise of elite athletics, capped off with Coach Kurt Vlasich's bold declaration that CMS would win a national championship, sealed it.

From that moment on, it wasn't just about joining a program; it was about completing something that had always been unfinished, the shared dream of playing and winning together.
  Sisters on the Court, Leaders in Sync

The Madsens weren't just teammates. They were setters, sharing the most pivotal position on the court in CMS's 6-2 offense. That could easily have created competition or even tension. But for Clara and Phoebe, it became the foundation of a deeper connection.

"We never had sibling rivalry," said Clara. "I was in a place to help Phe grow, and our coaches prioritized our relationship as sisters first."

That respect was mutual. "Clara made my freshman year so much easier," Phoebe reflected. "She always knew what was going on in my head - when I was nervous, confused, or overwhelmed. She knew exactly what to say and when."

While Clara captained the team as a senior, Phoebe stepped confidently into her leadership role as a freshman, learning not only from coaches, but from her sister, who often doubled as both mentor and co-strategist. Their complementary setting styles, shaped by shared coaching and years of backyard reps, created offensive consistency rarely seen in dual-setter systems.

"Our coaches believed that having two setters who played so similarly would benefit the offense," said Phoebe. "It helped us be more seamless in transitions, and more cohesive as a team."
  The 2017 Championship Run - Playing for More

The 2017 season wasn't perfect, but it was unforgettable. CMS wasn't the favorite heading into the NCAA tournament. In fact, both sisters remembered watching their final opponent play the night before the championship and thinking, "They're really good. We might not have a shot."

But instead of folding under pressure, they leaned into each other, and into the culture they had helped build - one rooted in grit, unity, and heart.

"We had this underdog mentality," said Phoebe. "We played loose, with grit, and we were always playing for each other."

Clara agreed: "We didn't get rattled. We were calm, present, and just had fun."

That mindset, built over seasons of shared hardship and resilience, carried them all the way. And when the final point landed, the Madsen sisters had done what few siblings - and even fewer athletes - ever get to do: win a national championship side by side.

"It's hard to describe the feeling," said Clara. "It was my final game, and I won a national title, with my sister, in front of our family. It still feels surreal."
  A Legacy Beyond the Court

The championship was the crowning moment, but the real impact of the Madsens' time at CMS was how it shaped who they became, as professionals, as friends, and as sisters.

Being student-athletes at Claremont McKenna required the highest level of time management and discipline. "I learned to study on planes, in hotel rooms, even in locker rooms," Phoebe laughed. "But those skills - time management, efficiency, discipline - I still use them every day in my career."

Clara added, "Learning how to perform under pressure, lead a team, and show up for others - those are skills that carry far beyond volleyball."

They've both remained tightly connected to the CMS community, always ready to support future Athenas. "I try to make time for CMC students and athletes whenever I can," said Phoebe. "It's something that made my experience special, and I want to pay that forward."
  "Once an Athena, Always an Athena"

To Clara and Phoebe, that phrase isn't just a motto. It's a lived truth.

"Being an Athena taught me how to be a better teammate, leader, and person," said Phoebe. "And playing with Clara made all of it more meaningful. I wouldn't trade it for the world."

"We still reflect on it all the time," said Clara. "Those years brought us even closer as sisters. They're some of the best memories of our lives."
Clara and Phoebe Madsen are more than national champions. They are a living legacy of what makes CMS volleyball, and the sisterhood it inspires, truly special.
And wherever life takes them, they'll always share the title: Athena, forever.