A BIG LEAP OF FAITH; RYAN MILLAR PREACHES CHURCH OF VOLLEYBALL.Byline: Lee Barnathan Daily News Staff Writer Sundays for the Millar family of Lancaster are as sacred as any in a Mormon home. It is a holy day of rest. Yet on many Sundays, Ryan Millar violated this tenet. Volleyball was too important. Besides, there were plenty of club tournaments on that day, and he felt an obligation to be there. Members of his ward agreed with his decision to play, partly because of his talent. ``Everyone accepted the fact that in Ryan's case he's an exception to the rule, like Steve Young,'' Millar's father, Steven, said. ``He has to play on Sunday.'' And like Young, Ryan Millar, a 6-foot-9 senior middle blocker, has blossomed into an elite talent. Behind his 133 kills in 209 attempts and 58 blocks, Millar has helped No. 3-ranked Brigham Young to a 8-0, 6-0 start heading into tonight's Mountain Pacific Sports Federation The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation is a college athletic conference whose member teams are located in the western United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I. conference match at Cal State Northridge. Along the way, Millar, who turned 21 last month, has been named the college Freshman of the Year, an All-America twice and the state of Utah's College Athlete of the Year Athlete of the Year
Before that, there is the matter of winning BYU's first national championship in volleyball. The Cougars never have advanced to the Final Four, and Millar could have attended Pepperdine and reached those heights. Instead, he chose BYU BYU Brigham Young University BYU Bayou BYU Bob's Your Uncle BYU Bayreuth, Germany - Bindlacher Berg (Airport Code) BYU Beyond Your Understanding and now has the chance to make school history. ``He's playing his best volleyball ever,'' BYU coach Carl McGown said. ``He's a very good volleyball player. He's a lot of fun to play with and coach.'' It all began in the Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley , where Millar was introduced to the sport by his older brother John. Ryan admits his faith sometimes didn't receive the priority it should. ``With any faith, we're supposed to keep Sunday holy. It's supposed to be a day of rest,'' he said from his home in Provo, Utah. ``Back then, I always wanted to play volleyball. I didn't care what day it was.'' Millar was significant in putting volleyball on the map in the Antelope Valley and helped Highland become the area's first dominant program. His junior year, the Bulldogs reached the Southern Section Division II final, and Millar earned a scholarship to BYU. ``I'm sure my whole ward loved getting exposure,'' Millar said. ``My junior year, a lot of the team was (Latter-day Saints Lat·ter-day Saint n. See Mormon. Noun 1. Latter-Day Saint - a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Mormon ). Four starters were LDS LDs See: Liquidated damages . We were pretty tight. To get that exposure for the church, they (church members) were excited.'' ``A lot of people know I'm not going to be able to go to church on Sunday,'' Millar said. ``They bring up (San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden quarterback and BYU alumnus ALUMNUS, civil law. A child which one has nursed; a foster child. Dig. 40, 2, 14. ) Steve Young. A lot of leaders say how I can use volleyball and my status to do good things for the church.'' Jim Kimel, the university's assistant athletic director Athletic director (commonly, "athletics director") is a position at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, which oversees the work of the coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic of academics and a church member, said the choice of what to do on Sunday is a personal one. ``He's got to make the decision,'' Kimel said. ``If this is his choice, then he has to live his life and let the chips fall where they may.'' If this is what the church wants, Millar is all too happy to oblige. He and his wife Suzanne plan to move to Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, city (1990 pop. 281,140), seat of El Paso co., central Colo., on Monument and Fountain creeks, at the foot of Pikes Peak; inc. 1886. It is a year-round resort and a booming military, technological, and commercial city. this summer so Ryan can devote his time to making the U.S. National Team. Rod Wilde, the national team's assistant coach and former coach and All-America at Pepperdine, said Millar only has about six months to make the team. No collegian has ever made the national team in such a short time. Plus, there are four other middle blockers now on the team, and three others - including Millar - who are getting looks. Wilde expects the U.S. will take only three middles to the Olympics. Still, Wilde recognizes Millar's advantages. He is a complete player, capable of passing and playing all the way around. And he has the skills to play at the national and international level, having shown that last summer when he worked out with the team. ``It's a tougher road,'' Wilde said. ``He's got all kinds of physical talent. It will come down to how he will respond this summer.'' CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Ryan Millar is hoping to lead BYU to a national title and earn a spot on the national team. Photo courtesy of Brigham Young University Brigham Young University, at Provo, Utah; Latter-Day Saints; coeducational; opened as an academy in 1875 and became a university in 1903. It is noted for its law and business schools. |
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