Lauren Miller

Barry Faulkner

Entering her first season of varsity volleyball at Newport Harbor

High, Lauren Miller didn’t know what to expect. But the 5-foot-11

outside hitter knew what to expect from herself and the results have

been as emphatic as one of her spikes.

“I’ve always wanted to be on varsity,” said the former junior

varsity standout, who produced a match-high 10 kills in the Sailors’

three-game sweep of Westlake in Saturday’s CIF Southern Section

Division II-AA title match at Cypress College.

“I just wanted to come and do my best ... to play a lot harder. I

was excited to show people I could do better than they thought.”

Miller has shown a strong hitting presence for the Sailors, who

host South Torrance in the Southern California regional semifinals of

the CIF State Championships Saturday at 7 p.m. But she has also shown

a well-rounded game, according to her coach, Dan Glenn.

“She’s cagey, as far as a lot of little things,” Glenn said.

“She’s got a good feel for the game. She’s a pretty good attacker,

she has a good serve and with Emily (Turner), Alyson (Jennings) and

Lauren on the court, our ball control is pretty good. She’s also very

competitive, which is one of the things I like best about her.”

Miller had three aces and was also an effective blocker in the

15-7, 15-2, 15-11 triumph over Westlake. She had 11 kills and one ace

in the Nov. 19 semifinal sweep at Mark Keppel.

Miller, who plays for the Huntington Beach-based Golden West

Volleyball Club, said she worked hard on her passing skills before

this season.

“Last year, my defense wasn’t good at all and (Glenn) said that

was an area I needed to improve on,” she said. “I really focused on

my passing during the club season.”

Miller has also had to work on taking care of her knees, which

developed tendinitis during the club campaign.

“I do therapy three times a week and they don’t bother me now,”

she said.

Glenn said the knee problems led to somewhat of a slow start this

season. But it wasn’t long before Miller was not only a regular, but

a leading contributor.

“Once she became pain free, she has gotten stronger as the season

has gone along,” Glenn said.

Miller is gratified to be such a big part of the Sailors’ success

and believes she is at her best at this time of the year.

“When the pressure is on, I play well,” she said. “I think I’m

more aggressive and more fired up for big matches.”

Miller, who at 15 is a year younger than most of her fellow

juniors, said she has already targeted the area she needs to improve

before her senior season.

“I want to get better at jumping higher, so I can hit over the

blocks,” she said.