Ball State University Athletics
Volleyball Preview: Building on Tradition of Succees
August 23, 2017 | Women's Volleyball
Hanging from the north rafters of Worthen Arena are 16 banners.
Half depict the eight Mid-American Conference regular season championships the Ball State women's volleyball program has won. The remainder portray the program's eight NCAA Tournament appearances.
The last of those banners was unfurled following the 2011 season when the Cardinals earned an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament.
If second-year head coach Kelli Miller and the 2017 squad have anything to say about it, there will be two more banners dropping from the rafters soon.
"Heading into the season, our goals are simple," Miller said. "We want to build on the storied tradition of Ball State volleyball, win another MAC championship and return to the NCAA tournament."
A Muncie native, Miller is no stranger to success, starting with her time at Muncie Central where she helped the Bearcats win two state titles. As a collegiate player, Miller helped lead perennial national power Purdue to four NCAA Tournament appearances, including three trips to the NCAA Regional semifinals.
The start of her coaching career has been on a similar trajectory, as Miller was an assistant for the Ball State teams which captured the MAC regular season title in 2010 and earned the program's most recent NCAA Tournament berth a year later.
Miller took over the reins of the Ball State program last season and turned an inexperienced group, which lost five starters from the previous campaign, into championship contenders. Her first squad placed second in the MAC West Division and was just a few points shy of a top-three seed in the league's postseason tournament.
"Last season, we had a lot of new pieces, including myself as a first-year head coach," Miller said. "While we struggled out of the gate, the team persevered and developed into a MAC championship contender by the end of the year."
This season, the Cardinals return all but one of their main starters from a year ago, as well as the team's libero.
"We are coming in much more experienced this year," Miller said. "We have a core of returners who played significant roles for us last season."
Leading the attack will be a pair of junior outside attackers in Brooklyn Goodsel and Ellie Dunn. Goodsel was an All-MAC First Team selection in 2016 after ranking ninth in the league with a 2.96 kills-per-set average. Dunn was not far behind at 2.38 kills per set.
"A six-rotation player, Brooklyn is a very steady, competitive individual who understands the game extremely well," Miller said. "Ellie has a heavy arm and her game has improved significantly over the last six months."
In the middle, the Cardinals will turn to sophomore Sydnee VanBeek. A MAC All-Freshman Team selection last season, VanBeek was highly impressive in league play including smashing double-digit kills in three of the season's final four matches. She will be joined in the middle by redshirt juniors Avery Devoe and Meg Starling.
"Sydnee came on midway through last season and dominated," Miller said. "She is a competitor who hits the ball hard and finds a way to score. Avery and Meg both played big roles last year, and while they have different strengths, they will both help us contend for a title."
At setter, the Cardinals return the one-two punch of sophomore Amber Seaman and senior McCallen Kennedy. Seaman was impressive in her first campaign, ranking sixth in the MAC with a 9.26 assists-per-set average. Kennedy was also solid in the first significant action of her collegiate career, averaging 7.25 assists per set.
"Amber is a big-time competitor with an unbelievable serve," Miller said. "She wants to find ways to win and has improved significantly from last year. McCallen gained valuable experience last season and will battle for the setting position."
In the backcourt, the Cardinals will be led by sophomore libero Kate Avila. A MAC All-Freshman Team honoree last season, Avila ranked fifth in the league with 528 digs. Along with Avila, the Cardinals have a veteran group of defensive specialists poised to lead the team to success.
"Kate is a steady presence in the back row who does her job night in and night out," Miller said. "As a freshman, she did not waver for a match. I expect her to do the same this year. We also have four veteran defensive specialists, as well as a freshman, who will battle for backcourt roles. They are going to make our level of play tremendously better."
The roster also features a pair of right sides, senior Jessica Lindsey and junior Emily Holland, who have both seen significant action. In addition, four freshman will be looking to make immediate impacts.
"Jessica missed last season due to injury, but I look for her to step right back in and compete like her first two years," Miller said. "Emily's versatility allows us to do some different things both offensively and defensively. Our freshmen are hard workers who will compete for positions and help us continue to get better."
With experience and history on their side, the 18 student-athletes on the Ball State women's volleyball team will have two things on their mind when they enter Worthen Arena this season. Hanging banners No. 17 and No. 18 in the north rafters of The Nest.
"It is our duty to build upon the tradition of success Ball State volleyball has enjoyed and make our own mark," Miller finished. "Our expectations are really high coming into the season. We expect to be contending for and winning a MAC Championship along with earning an NCAA berth."
Half depict the eight Mid-American Conference regular season championships the Ball State women's volleyball program has won. The remainder portray the program's eight NCAA Tournament appearances.
The last of those banners was unfurled following the 2011 season when the Cardinals earned an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament.
If second-year head coach Kelli Miller and the 2017 squad have anything to say about it, there will be two more banners dropping from the rafters soon.
"Heading into the season, our goals are simple," Miller said. "We want to build on the storied tradition of Ball State volleyball, win another MAC championship and return to the NCAA tournament."
A Muncie native, Miller is no stranger to success, starting with her time at Muncie Central where she helped the Bearcats win two state titles. As a collegiate player, Miller helped lead perennial national power Purdue to four NCAA Tournament appearances, including three trips to the NCAA Regional semifinals.
The start of her coaching career has been on a similar trajectory, as Miller was an assistant for the Ball State teams which captured the MAC regular season title in 2010 and earned the program's most recent NCAA Tournament berth a year later.
Miller took over the reins of the Ball State program last season and turned an inexperienced group, which lost five starters from the previous campaign, into championship contenders. Her first squad placed second in the MAC West Division and was just a few points shy of a top-three seed in the league's postseason tournament.
"Last season, we had a lot of new pieces, including myself as a first-year head coach," Miller said. "While we struggled out of the gate, the team persevered and developed into a MAC championship contender by the end of the year."
This season, the Cardinals return all but one of their main starters from a year ago, as well as the team's libero.
"We are coming in much more experienced this year," Miller said. "We have a core of returners who played significant roles for us last season."
Leading the attack will be a pair of junior outside attackers in Brooklyn Goodsel and Ellie Dunn. Goodsel was an All-MAC First Team selection in 2016 after ranking ninth in the league with a 2.96 kills-per-set average. Dunn was not far behind at 2.38 kills per set.
"A six-rotation player, Brooklyn is a very steady, competitive individual who understands the game extremely well," Miller said. "Ellie has a heavy arm and her game has improved significantly over the last six months."
In the middle, the Cardinals will turn to sophomore Sydnee VanBeek. A MAC All-Freshman Team selection last season, VanBeek was highly impressive in league play including smashing double-digit kills in three of the season's final four matches. She will be joined in the middle by redshirt juniors Avery Devoe and Meg Starling.
"Sydnee came on midway through last season and dominated," Miller said. "She is a competitor who hits the ball hard and finds a way to score. Avery and Meg both played big roles last year, and while they have different strengths, they will both help us contend for a title."
At setter, the Cardinals return the one-two punch of sophomore Amber Seaman and senior McCallen Kennedy. Seaman was impressive in her first campaign, ranking sixth in the MAC with a 9.26 assists-per-set average. Kennedy was also solid in the first significant action of her collegiate career, averaging 7.25 assists per set.
"Amber is a big-time competitor with an unbelievable serve," Miller said. "She wants to find ways to win and has improved significantly from last year. McCallen gained valuable experience last season and will battle for the setting position."
In the backcourt, the Cardinals will be led by sophomore libero Kate Avila. A MAC All-Freshman Team honoree last season, Avila ranked fifth in the league with 528 digs. Along with Avila, the Cardinals have a veteran group of defensive specialists poised to lead the team to success.
"Kate is a steady presence in the back row who does her job night in and night out," Miller said. "As a freshman, she did not waver for a match. I expect her to do the same this year. We also have four veteran defensive specialists, as well as a freshman, who will battle for backcourt roles. They are going to make our level of play tremendously better."
The roster also features a pair of right sides, senior Jessica Lindsey and junior Emily Holland, who have both seen significant action. In addition, four freshman will be looking to make immediate impacts.
"Jessica missed last season due to injury, but I look for her to step right back in and compete like her first two years," Miller said. "Emily's versatility allows us to do some different things both offensively and defensively. Our freshmen are hard workers who will compete for positions and help us continue to get better."
With experience and history on their side, the 18 student-athletes on the Ball State women's volleyball team will have two things on their mind when they enter Worthen Arena this season. Hanging banners No. 17 and No. 18 in the north rafters of The Nest.
"It is our duty to build upon the tradition of success Ball State volleyball has enjoyed and make our own mark," Miller finished. "Our expectations are really high coming into the season. We expect to be contending for and winning a MAC Championship along with earning an NCAA berth."
Players Mentioned
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