PHOTO: UT VOLLEYBALL/COURTESY MILLER FAMILY
By Brian Gosset
I have known Makenna Miller for the past eight years – covering her since her freshman season at Justin Northwest.
Miller would become one of the top players in the metroplex. She is also one of the greatest volleyball players and athletes to go through the Northwest Texans.
During the summer between her junior and senior years in high school, Miller committed to the University of Texas – her dream school. One of the best players headed to one of the best colleges in the country.
But for most athletes, it wasn’t the most ideal careers.
Miller redshirt in 2022 as a UT freshman and didn’t play in 2024. As a sophomore, she only appeared in eight matches and 10 sets overall. This season, in her final year, she saw six matches and eight sets.
4 years. 14 matches. 18 sets.
Covering high school sports for over a decade, I have seen 100s of my former players go through college only to make an immediate change, whether it’s after one year or even one semester.
I have seen it all.
You put a lot of athletes in Kenna’s shoes – they probably would have left after Year #1. But Miller has her reasons – I don’t know them – however she chose to stay in Austin for four years. She recently announced that she was ending her volleyball career.
“Throwing out my smelly knee pads for the last time is a lot harder than I could’ve ever imagined,” Miller said in a Facebook post. “Ten years of dedication to a sport that’s given me more than I could’ve ever dreamed of. Thank you Texas volleyball for the best four years a girl could ask for. Volleyball will forever be one of the greatest joys.”
I can assume why Miller stayed with UT – it was her favorite school, her dream school and even if I’m an OU fan, the Longhorns are one of the top volleyball programs in the world.
Despite her low numbers, Miller can say something thousands before her and thousands after her can’t say – she’s a national champion. Oh – she’s a TWO TIME national champion.
As a freshman in 2022, UT capped a 28-1 season with a sweep over Louisville in the national final. They doubled down with a 28-4 record the following season and swept #1 Nebraska for back-to-back titles. It was UT’s fifth overall – joining the teams from 1988 and 2012.
She got to sing the national anthem at games and even played for the UT beach volleyball team.
While at Northwest, Miller was one of the most fun players I got to watch. Her athleticism was through the roof – leading the Texans in several season and career records. She won a superlative award all four years. She also was all-state, all-region and all-area throughout her career.
From a Sooner fan – you were the ultimate teammate Kenna and a great friend and person. You didn’t let playing time go to your head and you stuck it out when most wouldn’t have. Congrats on a wonderful HS and volleyball career and enjoy “retirement” and your two nattys 🙂
