OGDENSBURG — Blue Devils volleyball coach Sue McLean didn’t know about Aubrey Badlam, the youngest of three Badlam girls who all played multiple sports at Ogdensburg Free Academy.

Then McLean saw her play four years ago in a modified volleyball match for which she was a referee.

“I didn’t realize there was a third Badlam girl,” McLean said. “I remember the first time I watched her play. I was extremely impressed with how much knowledge she had of the game.”

McLean coached her the following year, when Badlam was in eighth grade. It was then that McLean began to recognize that Badlam could grow to exceed the talent of her Section 10 volleyball MVP sister, Emily.

“She’s going to be better than Emily,” McLean said. “I don’t think she even realizes it.”

Badlam isn’t quick to accept the accolade because it was from Emily that she learned the game.

“We played a lot together,” Badlam said. “She just hit at me. She got me prepared.”

Now, with Emily graduated, the Badlam name and expectations are placed on Aubrey. She hasn’t let anyone down.

“She responds to the expectations,” McLean said. “I’ve seen her grow as a person. Even this year she’s had some strong growth. Her first third of the season compared to now, she has grown as a person and a player and a leader.”

Badlam is a captain for OFA volleyball this season. It’s a role she takes seriously, to the point where, at times, she’s even coaching others on the floor.

“I try and keep everybody up even if we’re losing,” Badlam said. “I try and motivate everybody even if they don’t get playing time.”

Badlam’s standout moment of leadership came in OFA’s first match against Madrid-Waddington this year.

The Blue Devils were struggling, to the point of potentially being swept by the Yellowjackets, and Badlam was the only setter. Badlam was tired and asked McLean to switch the setup to allow for a second setter.

McLean made the adjustment, and OFA went on to win that game and eventually defeated Madrid-Waddington in five.

“That’s how much she knows the game,” McLean said. “I looked at her like, ‘wow.’ That, to me, meant she really cared about the team. It made everybody else stronger.”

Off the court, Badlam does her part to better her teammates as individuals. She helped to lead the team in fundraising efforts for breast-cancer research.

“This week we made signs for breast cancer awareness and we’re spending time together,” she said. “It’s volley for a cure and we’re raising money.”

Just a junior, Badlam still has another year left at OFA. The Blue Devils can bet by the end of it, she will have served the Badlam name well and left a permanent mark on OFA both on and off the volleyball court.

THE BADLAM FILE

School: Ogdensburg Free Academy.

Year, age: Junior, 16.

Parents: Ruthann and Steve Badlam.

Siblings: Sisters, Jessica, 23; Emily, 19.

Other sports: Lacrosse.