Thrown into the position, senior now quarterback of the court
It was the most important non-conference match of the season for Nevada volleyball.The Wolf Pack was playing No. 21 California in 2005 when starting setter Tristin Johnson left the game due to injury.
Ashley Miller, in her first year at Nevada, was forced into the vital position of setter — the quarterback on a volleyball court.
“My hands were shaking,” Miller, now a senior, said. “I was ice-cold … I kept saying to myself ‘Oh my gosh, oh my gosh.’”
Miller had experienced stints at two different junior colleges, but this was nationally ranked competition.
The setter, once recruited by Michigan State, notched 60 assists and led the Pack to its biggest win of the season.
“It was definitely exhilarating,” she said. “I wasn’t sure how well I’d play.”
The Pack finished the season 10-1 with Miller at setter and 7-1 in conference.
Miller’s ability to take advantage when opportunities are presented has led her to a successful collegiate career.
Her numbers have risen, even though she sat out the 2006 season as a redshirt because the Wolf Pack had two senior setters.
She notched her 1,000th assist Sept. 13 against Louisiana Tech. She is only the eighth Nevada setter to reach that mark.
“I didn’t realize I was even close,” Miller said. “The only reason I was able to do it was because of all the great hitters I have.”
Miller was able to show off her talents on the world stage last summer. She and 12 other U.S. collegiate volleyball players traveled to South America to take on Argentina’s national team.
“We traveled all over the country,” she said. “The main goal was to get their country involved in the sport.”
Many of these accomplishments can be accredited to her all-around athleticism.
She lettered in basketball at Avondale High School in Auburn Hills, Mich., and was also recruited by many Division II schools for softball.
“I wasn’t sure if I wanted to play volleyball,” she said. “There were a lot of schools on the East Coast who wanted me for softball.”
In hopes of playing Division I sports, Miller decided to use junior college as a stepping-stone in volleyball. After one year at Panola College in Carthage, Texas, she transferred to Golden West College in Huntington Beach, Calif., where her junior college won the state championship.
Following the win, D-I schools came asking for Miller’s services.
The decision was between going home to possibly start for Michigan State or going out West and playing for coach Devin Scruggs at Nevada.
“Michigan State wasn’t sure how much playing time they’d be able to offer,” Miller said. “They kept telling me that one of their setters was going to leave and that they would really want me if she did.”
When the Spartans’ setter left it was too late-– Miller had already made her decision.
“I told them I was going with a program that actually wanted me,” she said. “I had already committed myself to Nevada.”
After five years, three colleges and a successful career, Miller’s experience is important to helping the Wolf Pack turnaround an inconsistent season.
The Wolf Pack is currently 6-6 with 14 games left in the season.
“In order to win the WAC, we are going to have to grind down,” Miller said. “I have to just keep putting my hitters in successful positions.”
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