Ashley Miller

How long have you been coaching volleyball, and what inspired you to get started?

This will be my second year coaching with Alpha but I also have some experience volunteer coaching at a middle school in my hometown. I have always had love for the sport so I felt that coaching could be my outlet to be able to give back. I have enjoyed seeing the progress athletes can make with the right training for them and I love to see them flourish as people and players.

What do you enjoy or look forward to about coaching for Alpha?

I enjoy the cohesive environment that Alpha has to offer. I feel that all the staff work together to provide the best overall experience for each athlete that walks in the door. Something I look forward to for this coming year is being able to work with each of the girls on my team and find ways to make strides in their progress every practice.

How do you approach developing athletes both on and off the court?

My approach with my athletes is providing them ample constructive criticism as well as the tools to help work through any struggles that come there way. I also am a firm believer in providing positive feedback when it it due. I celebrate my athletes successes with them and help them to set higher goals for themselves going forward.

What can athletes and their families expect when they join your team in terms of development and growth?

Athletes and parents can expect a coach that will put their full effort into ensuring the athletes grow

throughout the season both on and off the court. I will be sure to provide plenty of feedback and push the athletes to reach their full potential.

My favorite drill to do is any progression drill because it allows the players to slow down the game of volleyball and really work on the technical side of the game. I also love these drills because it allows for great communication to happen, which plays a vital role in volleyball. This is a great way to challenge athletes and force them to work together as a team to reach a common goal.

What’s one piece of advice you’ve received as an athlete or coach that you still carry with you today?

The biggest piece of advice I have received and taken with me was to take mistakes made and use them as motivation to push yourself even further. As challenges have come and gone throughout my life, whether that is through the sport of volleyball or in daily life, I take that with me because mistakes are natural, it’s what you do about them that shows character and can make you so much stronger going forward.