It didn’t take long for former Ankeny Centennial volleyball standout Delaney Miller to make an impact on the NCAA Division II level.
The Wayne State (Neb.) outside hitter has been named Freshman of the Year in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. She was also selected to the all-NSIC first team after recording 10 or more kills in 14 of 18 league matches.
On Friday night, Miller pounded 17 kills as the Wildcats rolled to a 25-20, 25-11, 25-21 win over visiting Jamestown for their 12th consecutive victory.
“I wouldn’t say it was easy,” Miller said of her transition to the collegiate level. “I think it definitely took me a while to adjust to the level of play and find my role within the team. I had to compete against some super talented girls for a position, and they have pushed me every day in practice and made me a better player so that I could compete and succeed at this level.”
The 5-foot-10 Miller has helped Wayne State to records of 18-1 in the conference and 25-3 overall. The Wildcats are ranked third in this week’s AVCA/TARAFLEX Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll.
In NSIC play this season, Miller ranks third in kills per set at 3.79. She had consecutive 20-kill matches in October, recording 21 vs. No. 15 Southwest Minnesota State followed by a season-high 22 in a 3-1 win at Augustana College.
Overall, Miller is sixth in the NSIC this season with 3.47 kills per set and has 17 matches with 10 or more kills and three contests of 20 or more kills. She was joined on the all-NSIC first team by three of her teammates, including sophomore setter and former Council Bluffs Lincoln standout Molly Romano.
“I wouldn’t have achieved what I did this year without my teammates and coaches behind me and trusting me to bring my best on the court every day,” Miller said.
The Wildcats will be at home again Saturday afternoon hosting Northern State in a 5 p.m. contest at Rice Auditorium.