Miller rebounds from injury to lead Pitt volleyball team

Megan Miller is known for being competitive and intense, so she was asked to change her… Megan Miller is known for being competitive and intense, so she was asked to change her position on Pitt’s volleyball team this season.

Originally, the 20-year-old redshirt sophomore was an outside hitter, but she made the move to middle hitter after coming off an injury-shortened season in which she tore her right anterior cruciate ligament.

“She’s competitive and our leader from the competitive standpoint,” head coach Chris Beerman said. “She has really become the on-the-court leader for us.”

Growing up, Miller played basketball, but as a freshman in high school, she decided it was time for a change. Her 6-foot-1-inch frame was good for more than shooting hoops. Miller decided to try volleyball.

“I started playing [volleyball] my freshman year of high school,” Miller said. “I wanted to try something new.”

Miller played basketball since she was in the third grade and even had offers from Lehigh University and Fairfield University to play basketball.

“I decided to play volleyball because I hadn’t been playing [volleyball] that long,” Miller said. “I wanted to see what I could do with it.”

Before the injury, Miller recorded a career-high 16 kills in Pitt’s season opener against Ball State in 2001. After appearing in just four matches, Miller was done for the season and received a medical redshirt for the year.

When Miller returned from her injury, she started training at middle hitter. The responsibility of being a middle hitter is much greater, but Miller has accepted the challenge.

“I had to get use to the speed of the position and the blocking. You have to block everyone, not just your player,” Miller said. “I think I am getting better [at volleyball] than I was at basketball. I’m adjusting to the sport and I am learning more and more about it, so it’s becoming easier to play.”

“It is really amazing because this is the first year that she has played this position,” Beerman said. “She started training for this position off of an ACL injury.”

Miller’s competitive spirit has rubbed off on her teammates, as she has led them to an overall record of 15-5.

“Megan is fairly quiet, but very intense. She has very little patience for anything that goes against winning.” Beerman said.

Miller is from Milford, Conn., and is the oldest daughter of Robert and Maureen Miller. Miller is also close with younger sisters Lauren and Beth.

“Family life is really good. My dad was always my coach when I was little,” Miller said. “My parents were at all of my games. My sisters both play sports and we are all close in age so everyone gets along.”

In high school, Miller was a two-time all-state and all-conference volleyball honoree at Jonathon Law High School. Miller recorded 1,203 kills and was named the Bridgeport Post and New Haven Register’s Most Valuable Player in 1999. Jonathon Law High was Colonial Division Champions behind Miller’s leadership in 1998.

Miller holds school records in basketball for points, rebounds, blocks and steals. She was a three-time all-state and all-conference basketball honoree and earned the Channel 12 Scholar-Athlete Award.

“I think I could have been just as productive playing college basketball, but volleyball is more fun for me right now,” Miller said.

As far as where to play, choosing Pitt was not a difficult choice for Miller.

“I liked the school a lot on my first visit,” Miller said. “I liked the city and the culture that the city has to offer.”

Academically, Miller is interested in writing as she is majoring in English writing. She is considering going into journalism with her degree.

A typical day for Miller includes going to classes at 9 a.m. Her next class begins at 11 a.m. and practice begins at 1 p.m. On some days she lifts and on others she goes straight to practice.

In the off-season, Miller keeps in shape by working out with the strength coach, and she participates in individual practices and runs.

During volleyball season there is not a lot of time for a boyfriend or a social life, but she does not let that bother her.

“You really don’t think about it [not having a social life],” Miller said. “We are going to school for free in order to play volleyball.”