Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

NORTH LIBERTY – There’s a long list of players responsible for the strong start to the season for Liberty High.

Seniors Ellie Wilson and Sydney Van Heukelom are in the middle of the best seasons of their careers.

Senior libero Edie Miller has continued to perform like one of the state’s best back row players. Brooklyn Wheeler, Ava Meidlinger and Norah Willey have all stepped up their production from past season.

A pivotal piece of the puzzle during a 15-4 start that has seen Liberty High rise to seventh in the Class 5A rankings has been the versatile production of senior Hadley Miller.

Rotating between setter and hitter as Liberty High shuffles from a 5-1 or 6-2 Miller has excelled in either role.

“Hadley is just a really dynamic player and we can just throw her in anywhere,” Liberty High coach Jessica Hauptman. “We’ve gone back and forth between a 5-1 and a 6-2 and so it just makes the decision a little easier. Some games we can use her hitting more and some we can use her setting more and it works in our favor that way.”

The versatility of Miller allows the Lightning the freedom to shift between its two offensive strategies.

Miller leads the Lightning with 244 assists and also ranks third on the team with 107 kills and second with a hitting efficiency of .289.

“I love hitting for my team and getting points,” Miller said. “As a setter you have to depend on your hitters so for me to be able to score to help our team that is really fun.”

Miller has posted at least 90 kills in each of her first three seasons and had a career-high 133 kills a year ago.

The 5-foot-7 Miller is well on her way to surpassing that total this season already with 107 kills midway through the season.

Miller had a career-high 12 kills in a sweep of Cedar Rapids Xavier on Tuesday.

“As a shorter hitter I have just been working on my spots,” Miller said. “I did spend a lot of time in the offseason and in practice on working on hitting.”

Miller has taken on a larger role as a hitter she continues to excel in all the areas that have made the four-year starter an all-conference performer.

Miller ranks second on the team with 19 ace serves, is fourth on the team with 80 digs and ranks fifth on the team with 13 blocks.

“I think definitely my confidence has improved and I’ve worked hard on my setting,” Miller said. “That just comes with a lot of repetitions in the gym. My coaches have helped me a lot with my setting.”

The focus for Miller and the rest of her Liberty High teammates that includes a strong group of seniors is following up a strong start to the season with an even better finish.

“We’ve all played together for so long, even just from a friendship aspect it helps a lot to play together for that many years,” Miller said. “It’s just really fun to play with your friends for all those years so we want to keep it going.”

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