Michelle Miller Leads the Way

Michelle Miller hardly has enough time to look after herself, let alone 14 others. Why is that? Miller is a defensive specialist for the buff’s women’s varsity volleyball team.
Miller is your average college student taking a full course load and is figuring out just what she wants to do when graduation day hits this coming May.
The average college volleyball player spends over 40 hours per week on the court, training and traveling to away games. With little time leftover, your team becomes your family. When that family is lead by only one senior out of fifteen total players, all eyes are going to miller to lead the team and she knows just what it’s like to take on that role.
"I bake and cook for the team a lot and I just make sure everyone is doing okay. Or if they have any questions, like freshmen. We have baby buffs, too, so seniors and juniors take on a freshmen or a sophomore. We just help them out whenever they need it," Said Miller.
She was one of two seniors on the team until an injury took out senior Kerra Schroeder.
"When Michelle does come on the court, everyone kind of looks around and says 'Michelle is here. It's going to be okay," Said Senior Kerra "boo" Schroeder, who was recently put on the injured list after a devastating ACL tear.
With a record of 13 wins and nine losses for the buffs so far this season, Miller’s teammates are looking up to her for guidance as they enter the last few weeks of her final season with the buffs.
With recent losses against UCLA and USC, Miller is still fighting and encouraging a positive attitude amongst her teammates. Consisting of only four freshmen, six sophomores, three juniors and only one actively playing senior, it has been up to Michelle to maintain the cohesive bonding amongst all the players.
"Michelle is an extremely mature young lady and since she's been here, she has mastered the balance of the personal relationship with all the players and trying to help them be the best players they can be. Her calm demeanor and emotional maturity has been invaluable to this program this season and I really don't think we could make the corrections we did or get ourselves to the point we're at without her," said Head Coach, Liz Kritza.
With games this week against Oregon and Oregon State, the women’s varsity volleyball looks to maintain its ranking in the PAC 12 conference.
Michelle Miller continues to help lead her team to victory and hopefully a conference championship. She does this all while balancing the workload of a full time student.