Miranda also knows that now is the time to pass the baton onto the younger teammates. Even though she hasn’t had much time to prepare for it, she is not worried. “I didn’t have to think about that until this year, but I am very content. More so happy than anything that I trust these girls not only to do it for me but for themselves. Seeing myself in them makes me feel secure.”
Miranda always had a goal in mind for every season, whether they were personal goals or goals that would help the team. She always wanted the best for the team. “My coach asked me if I wanted to play at the Maine Maritime Academy game and I told him, ‘You know what, these young girls got it. Let these girls play’.”
For her teammates, Miranda is a huge inspiration. Sophomore Bailey LaPlante mentioned the inspiration from Miranda. “We call her Granny. She’s a real authority figure and role model to us throughout the season. I look up to her.” Sophomore Alondra Lopez talked about the personal connection she has with Mir. “I’m so grateful to have a teammate that is basically an assistant coach for us as well. There is non-stop teaching from this woman, not even just with volleyball. It’s been great to see her improve as well as seeing her help us grow and learn as a team…. This woman is good at volleyball.” Both of these teammates, as well as the rest of the volleyball team, look up to Miranda as a friend, teammate and role model.
As she moves on from her ungraduate time here at UMPI to the next chapter in her life, Miranda is happy with the path she has chosen. “UMPI was the best decision of my life.”
Wherever she ends up, Miranda will be a leader as well as a teacher to whomever she meets. Just because her time at UMPI is up doesn’t mean her time with the sport of volleyball is. Miranda said, “Just because it’s my last season, that doesn’t mean the game is over for me.”
Congratulations on your journey, Miranda. You have touched many lives in your time here at UMPI, and you will continue to do so as you move on.
