Like Mother, Like Daughter Millie Burgess Becomes Dominant Volleyball Player

Twice this season, Millie Burgess has recorded a career-high 29 kills in a match, helping the Rebels post a 7-3 record.

By Rubin E. Grant

When Millie Burgess and her older brother, Joshua, were little, their parents enrolled them in a number of activities, including various sports.

It didn’t take young Millie long to decide what she liked best.

She was in kindergarten when she began playing volleyball. 

“It was so much fun,” she said.

At the time, her mother, Mandy Burgess, was the head volleyball coach at Vestavia Hills, so it’s not surprising little Millie gravitated to volleyball.

Besides, Mandy Burgess, whose maiden name is Nuss, played volleyball in college at Huntingdon and in high school at Berry/Hoover, where she was a three sport-standout in volleyball, basketball and softball. She was a member of Hoover’s first graduating class in 1995.

Apparently, Mandy Burgess passed the volleyball genes on to Millie, who has developed into a dominant 6-foot-1 junior outside hitter for Vestavia Hills.

Twice this season, she has recorded a career-high 29 kills in a match, helping the Rebels post a 7-3 record heading into a tournament at Thompson last Saturday.

Vestavia Hills coach Ashley Hardee said talent and athleticism aren’t the only things Burgess brings to the team.

“She has such an infectious personality and brings a huge amount of energy that not a lot of other players have, and she always has a positive attitude,” Hardee said. “The whole team feeds off of her and plays with a certain spark and speed.

“It’s a pleasure being her coach. She makes volleyball fun.”

Mandy Burgess is enjoying watching her daughter perform. She left coaching after 18 years at the end of the 2019 season to spend more time with her family.

“It’s fun to see her play,” said Mandy Burgess, who teaches physical education at Pizitz Middle School. “She has worked hard in school ball and club ball to become a good player.

“She is surrounded by great teammates and good coaches.”

Mandy Burgess had no desire to coach her daughter, even growing up. 

“I thought it would be better not to coach her matches,” she said. But mother and daughter talk constantly about volleyball at home.

“She tells me all the time that when I’m on the court to be whatever the team needs me to be,” Millie Burgess said.

Millie Burgess also receives encouragement from her brother. The two are only 18 months apart in age. Joshua Burgess, a senior, is a member of the Rebels’ bowling and track teams.

“He’s my built-in best friend,” Millie Burgess said. “He helps me when I’m down and he helps me with my homework. I love him.”

Millie Burgess also loves her teammates on the volleyball team. She has played with some of them since kindergarten.

The Rebels have six seniors, including outside hitter Jordan Madsen, a three-year starter and team captain, and middle hitter Ava Scott Windham. The other seniors are setter Emily Byrket, right side Ella Wisdom, and defensive specialists Caroline O’Neill and Piper Metty.

“We have great team chemistry and a drive to want to win while also having fun,” Burgess said.