Millie O’Ketter experienced more than just the sights and sounds of a European summer during her 11-day stint in Pula, Croatia, with stops in Slovenia and Venice, Italy, along the way.
O’Ketter excelled at her libero position for the Bring it On Promotions Under-18 team at the Global Challenge, an international volleyball tournament that saw her compete against top-level competition from across Europe and the United States. Now back in Durango, O’Ketter said her brief time in Europe will prove to be invaluable once her final season with Durango High School begins in just a few weeks.
“It definitely gave me a new perspective on the game,” O’Ketter said. “All of the teams were super athletic, really well balanced and competitive, and it was rigorous but very cool. Some of these club teams have been playing with each other for nine or 10 months, but we had only met each other and started practicing together a few days before the tournament.”
BIP went 5-2 and finished in fifth place, with its only losses coming at the hands of the eventual winners, BFTM Ancona of Italy and TVG of the Netherlands, which took second. Other highlights included a stop in Venice as well as seeing the Iranian national team in action.
O’Ketter led her team in defense, tallying 47 of the team’s 111 digs. She also led BIP in serve-receive accuracy and was second in assists.
With just two days worth of practices under her belt, O’Ketter said she got along well with her new teammates and they played at a high level. Coaches preached staying true to their game rather than trying to teach the players new tactics and techniques, she said.
“I think that the other teams there were super competitive, and you don’t always see that in the U.S.,” O’Ketter said. “You could see that the other teams were playing with each other for a while and they had expectations to uphold. We started to find our groove after a few games, and because we had such a short time together, the coaches just wanted us to enjoy the experience.”
While O’Ketter knows how valuable her time in Europe was, she’s now shifting gears to focus on her final season at DHS, where she will be one of the key returners for the Demons.
Head coach Colleen Vogt said O’Ketter’s experience, on top of the passion she has shown throughout the summer, will be crucial once the season rolls around.
“We’ve definitely seen a lot of Millie this summer, throughout June and most of July; we just had the final open gym today and she was there as usual, even after just playing in Europe,” Vogt said. “Her commitment to the game is so great to see, and I think it was huge for her to represent her school, her team and her country. She’s such a joy to be around, and her love for the game is infectious.”
Vogt said O’Ketter, who verbally committed to Northern Arizona University, will be the go-to outside hitter for DHS this year after she played the role for the first time last season.
“I mean, she definitely understands her role on the team and how valuable her leadership is going to be this season,” Vogt said. “We’re going to be a young but exciting team. While she’s a natural libero, she’s also a great hitter, and I think that with a year under her belt at that role, she’s ready for Year 2 at that spot.”
O’Ketter knows that in order for DHS to have success this season, the key will be about trusting one another.
“I want to bring a lot of excitement back to DHS volleyball again, creating a fun culture, and hopefully, it will play out well,” O’Ketter said. “I think just forming a really close relationship together with my teammates is going to be important. Trust is going to be a big aspect for us this year, and to be a senior leader, I’m excited what we can do this year.”
Durango will open the season Aug. 27 in Farmington.
bploen@ durangoherald.com
