Young Wildcats doing it ‘for the seniors’

Taryn Miller received a special surprise Friday afternoon at Municipal Auditorium, the site of the Missouri State Class 4 volleyball championships.
The little sister of former Examiner Volleyball Player of the Year Kaylee Miller and former Blue Springs soccer/volleyball standout Ryanne Miller was a little bummed, even though she was about to appear in the Class 4 final four at Municipal Auditorium.
“Both my sisters go to Graceland, and I didn’t think they were going to be able to come watch me in the Final Four,” the sophomore standout said after playing a key role in the Wildcats’ 5-1 round-robin record, which was good enough to get them into Saturday’s 4 p.m. championship match against Ozark.
“I was warming up and feeling kind of sad and lonely because they weren’t here, then all of a sudden I see them. They start yelling and screaming at me and it was just the greatest feeling.”
Better than playing for the first-ever Blue Springs team to reach the championship match at state?
“Well,” Taryn said, grinning, “it was almost that great. I wanted to share this with them, and I didn’t think I would be able to. Now, it’s even more special than I imagined.”
Miller and freshman Holly Tarvin starred Friday afternoon, alongside more established players like seniors Kirsten Erikson, Lisa Henning and Kiely Culbertson.
“This is for the seniors,” Miller said. “We’re just along for the ride. If Holly or I can do anything to help make this dream come true for the senior girls on the team it will be great.
“There have been so many great Blue Springs volleyball teams, including the ones my sisters played on, but we have the chance to be the first team to win state.”
That fact hasn’t been lost on Tarvin, who speaks like a seasoned veteran.
“Taryn and my time will come when we’re upperclassmen,” Tarvin said. “This is for the seniors. I’m happier for seniors than I am for myself. Honestly, I can’t believe we’re going to be playing for state.
“The seniors have been trying for four years and I get here and we go to the final four while I’m a freshman. I’m going to appreciate every moment of this, but I know it’s even more special to the seniors because this is it for them. This is their last chance. And we’re going to do everything we can to win this as a team.”