WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL: Ball State assistant coach returns to alma mater

Cardinal assistant coach Miller played collegiate volleyball at Purdue

From 2005 to 2008, Ball State assistant coach Kelli Miller was a standout libero for Purdue's women's volleyball team.

On Sept. 10, Miller will find herself in a new role, coaching against her former team rather than playing for them.

During her four-year stint with Purdue, Miller set the program record in digs with 2,013 and digs-per-set average with 4.05. In addition, she was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and a five-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.

Purdue head coach Dave Shondell, who is the brother of Ball State head coach Steve Shondell, coached Miller in middle school, high school and the collegiate level. He said she is a huge asset to Steve and the development of women's volleyball at Ball State.

"Kelli's a tough customer," Dave Shondell said. "I think when you're trying to build a program, you need some no-nonsense people. She's not going to be afraid to question what Steve's doing, even though Steve's really good, you need that. You don't necessarily like that all the time, but you need that."

In 2010, Ball State brought in Miller and Steve Shondell to be a part of a new era in women's volleyball.

That season, Ball State went 24-5 under their guidance and won the regular season Mid-American Conference championship. Along with the title, former libero Alyssa Rio won the Collegiate Volleyball Update National Libero of the Year award under the mentoring of Miller.

"The longer Steve can keep her there, the better he will be," Dave Shondell said. "Although I think she will be a hot commodity to move on at some point."

Miller said she is thrilled to return to her alma mater this weekend.

"It's really exciting," she said. "It really is because you remember what it's like to play. You remember how it feels when they had the fight song and you get to stand out there during the national anthem. Let alone from coaching, it's awesome to be able to go back to where you put so much pride and love in."

Despite her excitement to return to West Lafayette, Ind., Miller said she has to forget being a former player and be on the opposing side.

"Initially, you always want those warm and fuzzies of ‘Yeah, I'm back home,'" she said. "But now it's like, ‘Oh, now I'm here to beat you, now I'm here to find a way to win.

Miller said it's an advantage that they know Purdue so well.

"I know them inside and out, and that's going to help us when it comes to scouting and our game plan," she said.


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