August 12, 2026
By Justin Troyer
The Nest, Inside Orchard View Athletics
Presented By:
Muskegon, MI--When Alecia Miller steps onto the volleyball court at Orchard View, she brings with her a lifetime of competition, a love for the game, and a belief that coaching is about building much more than athletes.
Entering her fourth year as the Orchard View Varsity Volleyball head coach and her 10th year coaching overall, Miller is preparing for a season that will bring plenty of challenges — and plenty of opportunities.
After losing nine seniors from last year's team, the Cardinals enter the season in a rebuilding phase. But Miller isn't looking at rebuilding as simply replacing players.
She's looking at it as an opportunity to build something special.
A Love of Competition
For Miller, volleyball has always been part of her life.
She grew up just down the road and graduated from Oakridge, where she played both volleyball and softball. Today, she continues to play competitive slow-pitch softball while also helping with Orchard View's youth baseball and softball programs.
Her path into coaching began long before she ever wore a coach's whistle.
"My parents coached JV and Varsity volleyball when my brothers and I were little, so we literally grew up in the gym," Miller said.
As the youngest sibling — and the little sister to two older brothers — competition was simply part of growing up.
"You learn real quick to compete," she said.
That competitive spirit, combined with her family's love for the game, eventually led Miller to coaching.
"I have a passion for the game and I enjoy passing that on," she said.But what she wants to pass down extends well beyond volleyball.
Building Better Athletes — and Better People
Ask Miller about her coaching philosophy, and her answer is simple.
"I want these young women to be good athletes but more importantly, I want them to be amazing humans."
That philosophy is at the center of the Orchard View volleyball program.
Miller wants her players to learn teamwork, communication and responsibility through the game — all while making sure they have fun along the way.
She also hopes the lessons learned inside the gym stay with her athletes long after their playing careers
are over.
"I hope my leadership helps these young women build confidence in themselves," she said. "My goal is that they take lessons learned through volleyball and use it off the court as well."
For Miller, wearing an Orchard View uniform comes with responsibility.
"It's a privilege to put on an OV volleyball uniform," she said, "and I expect my athletes to do so with respect for themselves, their teammates, the coaches, the school, the community and the program."
That standard is part of what she hopes will define her years on the Cardinal bench.
A New Team, A New Opportunity
The 2026 Cardinals will look significantly different from the team Orchard View fans watched last season.
Nine seniors graduated, leaving plenty of holes to fill and creating an opportunity for a new group of athletes to step forward.
"We are going to have a talented group of sophomores moving up to help fill important spots on the Varsity team," Miller said.
Several players have also spent the summer putting in additional work, something Miller believes could pay dividends once the season begins.
"I'm excited to see the growth from day one to October," she said.
And while Miller isn't focused heavily on statistics, she still has a competitive goal for every team she coaches.
"I always shoot for more wins than losses."
But the bigger goal is building a team founded on respect, trust and growth.
Cardinals to Watch
While positions aren't set in stone entering the season, Miller already knows several players will have important roles.
Haylee Doty
Doty served as the team's manager last season but was far more than someone on the sidelines.
She practiced with the team throughout the season and became a valuable part of the program.
Doty also plays club volleyball during the offseason, giving her additional experience heading into her senior year.
"She's ready to put all of her hard work to the test," Miller said.
Jasmine Bell
Bell is just a sophomore and is still developing her game, but Miller has already seen tremendous progress.
Bell first stepped into an open gym in 2025 and has continued to grow.
Miller describes her as having a tough serve and a scrappy defensive style — two qualities that could make her an important piece of this year's team.
More Than a Season
One of the things Miller is most excited about isn't necessarily something that will show up in the standings.
The Cardinals are planning several special event games designed to bring elementary students and members of the community into the volleyball experience.
For Miller, developing the connection between the players and the community is important.
And she sees that connection continuing into the younger levels of the program.
"The 7th grade team has girls that have been involved in camps and leagues since I started in 2023," Miller said.
Seeing those young athletes finally put on an Orchard View volleyball uniform will be special.
It's another sign that the program is about more than one varsity season.
It's about building the foundation for what comes next.
The Cardinal Mentality
For Miller, being an Orchard View Cardinal means playing with something extra.
"Cardinals play with a little extra grit and that 'chip-on-our-shoulder' mentality teaches lessons beyond the sport."
There will undoubtedly be growing pains.
But there will also be opportunities.
Every practice. Every match. Every mistake. Every victory.
Each one becomes another brick in the foundation of the program Miller is building.
A Message to Cardinal Nation
Miller's message to the parents, families and fans supporting Orchard View volleyball is simple:
Thank you.
"Thank you parents for allowing your daughter the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than themselves," Miller said. "Thank you for trusting me to help guide them to becoming responsible and respectful adults."
She also wants Cardinal fans to come out and experience what makes volleyball special.
"Volleyball is such a fun sport to watch and celebrate," she said.
Fans will have the opportunity to watch a young team develop throughout the season — and perhaps witness the foundation being laid for future Cardinal volleyball teams.
Miller is grateful to be part of that process.
"I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Cardinal Community," she said.
And while she may have grown up wearing the colors of a school down the road, she now proudly represents Orchard View.
"There are quite a few of us coaches and staff that went to school down the road and now we proudly represent the Orchard View Community with a different bird on our shirts."
For Coach Alecia Miller and the Orchard View Cardinals, 2026 isn't simply about replacing nine seniors.
It's about discovering who comes next.
It's about growth.
It's about building confidence.
And most importantly, it's about becoming something bigger than the individual.
The foundation is being laid. Now, Cardinal Nation gets to watch it grow.
Cardinal Supporters: Poo Patrol Muskegon
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