When Mya Ball walked into the University of Central Florida’s volleyball arena—named The Venue—she knew she had found where she wanted to play her college volleyball.
“When I got to UCF, it opened my eyes to what my future was going to be like,” Mya says of her verbal commitment to the Big 12 Conference school. “That’s what I want to do for the next four years: play for UCF, be around the girls, and just compete at the highest level.”
It’s that high level of play that has been part of Mya’s rise in a sport that is as much of her passion as it is the Ball Family dynasty.
Mya’s dad is Lloy Ball, the four-time Olympian who helped Team USA to Gold in 2008. Lloy is also Mya’s head coach at Angola High School and owns Team Pineapple Volleyball Club in Angola, where Mya has played her club volleyball.
“I remember when we lived in Russia for 5 years watching my dad play overseas. Just from the first game I remember going to, I just loved the sport and knew I wanted to play it. From then on, that’s what I’ve been doing my whole life.”
Mya’s grandfather, Arnie Ball, coached volleyball at IPFW for 34 seasons, leading the VolleyDons to 551 career wins and finding his name on the playing court at Hilliard Gates Center.
Brother, Dyer, is a junior for the Ball State men’s volleyball team. He recorded 64 kills, 27 digs and 15 blocks in 2022.
“It’s in the blood,” says Mya, who started playing at age 7. “It’s for sure been the family business.”
That bloodline has paid dividends for Mya, a 6’2” setter, and her Angola volleyball team.
Through September 12, the #7 Hornets are 11-0 this season and have lost two just sets all year. She leads the team in service aces (50) and blocks (24); and has added 130 assists, 56 kills and 71 digs. Mya has earned an Indiana Junior All-Star, 1st Team All-Northeast Corner Conference and All-Northeast Indiana honors. She was named an finalist for the Ayanna Patterson EmPower Forward Northeast Indiana Female Athlete of the Year, as well.
Angola is vying for three-straight regular season NECC championships, three-straight NECC Tournament titles, three-straight sectional titles and back-to-back regional titles.
Mya has trained with PSM for several years through club sports performance programming with Team Pineapple Volleyball Club as well as individualized training with the EDGE program.
"PSM Performance has helped me in every aspect of the game. Getting stronger in the weight room, all the agility work, sprinting, jumping. It's really increased my game."