Sure, the basketball exhibition games are starting, but Brittney Miller will tell you it’s still volleyball season in her mind.
“Basketball will come,” the Emporia State freshman said. “I’ll be ready.”
For now, though, the freshman is happy to be a part of another winning program.
Miller made her first start at White Auditorium on Tuesday — in volleyball — and registered three of the team’s first four kills in the 15th-ranked Hornets’ 30-19, 30-25, 30-15 victory over Northwest Missouri State in the first round of the MIAA Tournament.
“I’m not sure what got me that start, but I knew it was my opportunity,” Miller said. “I was going to help the team in any way I can.”
ESU coach Bing Xu gave Miller the starting nod to see if she could give the Hornets an early spark.
Miller did just that, recording ESU’s first three kills — including a hard smash for the fourth point — to help the Hornets to a 4-2 lead.
“We’re still trying to push her more to play with energy,” Xu said. “She’s the type of player that has no fear.”
ESU was dominant in its sweep Tuesday, jumping out to early leads in each of the three games.
The Hornets were so good that there was only one tie in the entire match — a 1-1 score in Game One after Northwest’s Alicia Johnson notched a kill. ESU never trailed in any game after that point.
“We’ve been working hard all week,” ESU sophomore Jenna Snook said. “I think it really paid off.”
The Hornets took control in Game One with 5-0 and 9-0 runs, turning a 4-3 lead into a 19-6 advantage.
ESU (26-7, 10-3 MIAA) scored five of the first six points in Game Two, then started the third game with a 4-0 spurt.
The match lasted just 1 hour, 6 minutes.
ESU’s comfortable victory was more impressive considering the team needed five games to defeat Northwest (17-17, 6-7 MIAA) in the two teams’ first meeting on Oct. 9.
Arica Shepard led ESU with 16 kills, while Miller added 10.
Snook was busy in the back row, posting a team-high 13 digs for the Hornets.
The Hornets finished with a .299 attack percentage.
ESU advances to the semifinals of the MIAA Tournament, where it will play No. 5 Truman on Friday in Kirksville, Mo.
The Hornets lost to the Bulldogs on the road in a five-game match last Friday.
After this weekend, ESU will learn its pairing for the NCAA Tournament next week.
For Miller, it’s a sufficient reason to have her basketball season pushed back a little bit longer.
“I like to be able to say I’m a part of two successful teams,” Miller said.
Tuesday at White Auditorium
NW Missouri State 19 25 15
No. 15 ESU 30 30 30
Att — 354. Time — 1:06.
Records — NWMSU (17-17, 6-7 MIAA); ESU (26-7, 10-3 MIAA).