Ball State University Athletics
Volleyball Returned to The Nest Tuesday to Open Fall Camp
August 09, 2016 | Women's Volleyball
There was plenty of energy in the air Tuesday morning as the Ball State women's volleyball team returned to The Nest under first-year head coach Kelli Miller to open its 2016 preseason camp.
Miller, who spent last six seasons as an assistant coach for the Cardinals, inherits a team which features 13 returning student-athletes, but just one senior in outside hitter Mackenzie Kitchel. A two-time Academic All-Mid-American Conference selection, Kitchel has played in 76 matches and produced double-digit kills 18 times over her career.
While the program lost a majority of its starting lineup from a year ago due to graduation, the Cardinals can rely on a solid core of sophomores and juniors who have extensive match experience. Key among the junior class is outside hitter Sabrina Mangapora. A 2014 All-MAC second team honoree, Mangapora missed the 2015 season due to injury after recording double-digit kills in 16 matches as a redshirt freshman.
The Ball State roster also features five newcomers who will be vying for playing time this season, with all five hailing from the state of Indiana. Two are local products, from Yorktown and Selma, while two more are from Carmel and the fifth is from St. John and played at Illina Christian in Illinois. Combined, Ball State's incoming freshmen helped guide their high school programs to four state championship titles and a pair of state runner-up finishes.
Joel Godett of Ball State All-Access caught up with Miller, Kitchel and Mangapora following the team's first practice to discuss the morning and the team's mentality entering the 2016 season.
