Ruskin, FL, Volleyball Player Madelyn Briggs, 16, Passes Away, Leaving Her Parents Behind

Madelyn Rai Briggs, a 16-year-old student from Ruskin, Florida, passed away on May 31, 2026, leaving behind a grieving family, a close-knit volleyball community, and a school that had already recognized her as one of its brightest young minds.

She was born September 14, 2009, in Cleveland, Ohio, and had just finished her sophomore year at Lennard High School.

A Student Who Stood Out in the Classroom and Beyond

Madelyn was enrolled in Lennard High School’s Collegiate Program, where she had earned a rank of 14th in her class.

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She showed particular strength in mathematics, science, writing, and art, but it was her curiosity and genuine love of learning that her teachers and classmates remembered most. Outside of school, she was rarely without a book, often reading several at once.

She kept sketchbooks filled with drawings, paintings, and ideas that those who loved her say offered a glimpse into a mind that was thoughtful, imaginative, and full of life. She sculpted, painted, and worked on canvas, treating every creative project as something personal and meaningful.

Five Years With Tampa United, a Team That Became Family

Madelyn had been a part of the Tampa United Volleyball Academy since she was 11 years old.

She spent five years with the club, most recently competing on the TUVA 16 Black Team, while also serving as a two-year member of the Lennard High School Varsity Volleyball Team. To those who coached and played alongside her, she was far more than a skilled competitor.

She was the kind of teammate who made people feel seen and valued, someone who showed up with focus, kindness, and genuine care for the people around her.

Tampa United released a statement honoring Madelyn and announced that their teams would wear rainbow ribbons at their upcoming weekend events.

The decision came directly from her mother, Colleen, who shared that Madelyn was an artist who loved every color and welcomed everyone around her with openness and warmth. The rainbow, her family felt, captured exactly who she was.

The volleyball community’s response was immediate and wide. Clubs from across the state, including Florida Elite Volleyball Academy, posted condolences online. Coaches, parents, and teammates shared memories of a young woman whose smile and spirit had quietly made an impression on everyone she met.

Madelyn is survived by her father, Matthew Briggs; her mother, Colleen Royer Briggs; her sister, Charlotte Briggs; her grandparents, Raymond and Karen Briggs; her grandparents, Mark and M. Colleen Royer; and many extended family members and friends.

A visitation will be held on Friday, June 5, 2026, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Sun City Center Funeral Home, located at 1851 Rickenbacker Drive in Sun City Center, Florida.

Those who knew Madelyn are invited to share memories, photos, and stories through the memorial guestbook hosted by Sun City Center Funeral Home, where a keepsake book is being assembled for her family.

She was 16 years old.