One Ridgeview volleyball player did not let a broken right ankle spoil her season.

Junior opposite/middle blocker Josye Miller suffered the injury in late June. But she was back helping other players at camp in July and was ready to play Aug. 31, when the Ravens started their 2016 season.

Miller credits getting back on the court to doctors who quickly got her into surgery less than two weeks after the injury, as well as effective physical therapy.

“Obviously, I want to play in college, so I was thinking I’ve got to get back on the court,” she said. “This is kind of my year to be seen by colleges.”

Miller has been a starter in helping the Ravens to a 2-2 record going into their Sept. 13 match against Sisters, which was after the Spokesman’s print deadline. They begin Intermountain Conference play Thursday at defending state champion Summit.

Ridgeview swept its two most recent matches, against Madras and The Dalles, after finishing third in the prestigious gold bracket at the Mountain View tournament at the beginning of September.

Miller has been inspiring to the team, second-year Ridgeview coach Doug Magee said.

“I think when you get someone committed like that, it makes everybody else push themselves,” he said.

It was important to set an example for other players on the team, even when on crutches, Miller said.

“I would come and sit down and shag balls,” she said. “I helped the younger girls fixing their hands for setting.”

She said she is seeing improvement over last year’s team, which finished third in IMC with a 3-5 record (10-12 overall) before losing in the play-in round.

“I definitely feel that we’re more of a team than last year,” Miller said. “We’re all better and we might actually have a chance to go to state this year.”

Junior outside hitter Brooke Thomson also notices the team improvement.

“We just play together more, not playing so much for ourselves,” she said. “When we work together, we do a lot better.”

This year’s team has more heart and communicates better, said senior middle blocker Kenzie Bartlett.

“We lost four players (from last season), and it was, like, no big deal,” she said. “So many girls came up who love the game. I think we’re (Ridgeview’s) best team ever.”

Magee knows before realistic talk of state playoffs can begin, they have to worry about the challenging league, which not only includes reigning champ Summit, but 2015 state semifinalist Bend. The Lava Bears are ranked No. 4 in the state this season.

“If the girls play to their potential, they can play with anybody in the league,” he said.

Among the newcomers Magee has been pleased with are freshman opposite/middle blocker Susanna Bailey and sophomore setter/opposite Felicity Kohler.

The 14 players on the Ravens know they must show up each day, even when they are just practicing, Magee said.

“They know that every practice is a dogfight to see who plays,” he said. “If they’re playing Thursday, they have to earn their spot on Wednesday.”

In its fifth year of play, Ridgeview is ready to become a top competitor, Bartlett said.

“A lot of schools think we’re underdogs, and we are,” she said. “But we’re going to make them think twice about us.”

— Reporter: 541-548-2186, gfolsom@redmondspokesman.com