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30 CAVALIER CORNER cavalier profile MILLA CIPRIAN Second-Year • Volleyball Any volleyball court is Virginia's Milla Ciprian's comfort zone. U.S. Bank Stadium, where the Cavaliers won the NCAA Divi- sion I men's basketball championship, is not. That's where Ciprian was in April because she was one of four student-ath- letes chosen to sing the National Anthem. "I was more nervous on that stage because 72,000 is not your average crowd," Ciprian said. "I sing a lot to myself, but I never had singing lessons. "Volleyball is more comfortable for me." How comfortable was Ciprian on the court for the Cavaliers as a first-year? This comfortable: • Her 1.35 blocks per set stand as the fourth-best mark in pro- gram history regardless of class. • She set a single-match record for blocks (13) against Boston College, the most by a Cavalier in a five-set match. • She set the second-best blocking mark (10) in a three-set match in school history against Wake Forest. • She finished the seasons with 105 blocks, the most by a first- year since 1989. "I know for a fact that blocking is one of my favorite things to do," Ciprian said without a hint of braggadocio. "I'd say discipline is what helped me in practice and focusing on what I need to do one step at a time. It helped me to be the best player I can be. "My coaches are a huge part of why I've become the best I can be in my first year by building up my volleyball IQ." Ciprian comes from a volleyball family. Her parents, Nestor and Lydia, each played volleyball in college. "I became interested in volleyball with my mom who played in an adult league," Ciprian said. "After work she would play and I said 'Mom, I want to try this.' I tried out for my middle school team in sixth grade and didn't make the team. "My parents put me in some camps and I signed up for travel clubs. I made the [middle school] team in seventh grade and it became my passion. When I found out there is college volleyball, I decided I wanted to be one of those people." — Mike Scandura Photo Matt Riley/courtesy UVA