Hamilton, ON- Brendan Mills had just finished his first year with the McMaster Marauders men’s volleyball program in 2022 when he realized what he really wanted.  

The London native had just won an OUA championship. He experienced what it’s like to play university volleyball. He realized the happiest times of his life have been when he’s playing the sport five to six days a week. It became his dream to do this as his job.

So, Mills set his sights on doing so. He wants to keep playing volleyball when he’s done at McMaster. He realized what that meant. He realized all the work that goes into it. That meant developing a professional mindset.

Nearly two years later, Mills’ work and mindset continues to pay off as the Marauders advanced to the OUA Finals with a three-set victory over the Guelph Gryphons on Mar. 1.

The outside hitter played his role by attacking and defending. How that happened? It’s everything he does going into the game – and during it. It’s everything he needs to do to make his dreams a reality.

Ben Kerkhoff also noticed Mills’ mindset. The two of them have known each other since the seventh or eighth grade. They came from the same hometown and went to the same high school. Now, they’re at McMaster together. Kerkhoff is in his fifth year as a libero.

When Kerkhoff first met him, Mills wasn’t sure if he wanted to be a basketball player or a volleyball player. He kept working hard though. Kerkhoff has seen him come a long way since then.

“He’s super passionate,” Kerkhoff said. “He wants to be the best in the world. He wants to play for Canada.”

Kerkhoff knows how committed he is to the team. He knows all the time he spends watching film. He sees his teammate push himself really hard. He’ll see him get frustrated sometimes when things don’t go his way.

He also sees him realizing that professional mentality to stay focused and consistent. To help Mills get to that next level he’s trying so hard to reach.

“The drive and willingness to go all in on something he cares about is what’s allowed him to propel himself to the top,” Kerkhoff said.

That professional mentality can take many forms. Physically, mentally and skills wise. That informs everything he does, every decision he makes. What will make me feel the best and play the best come game day, he’ll ask himself.

Taking care of his body, his sleep and his mind. He knows he has to take care of academics as well.

Outside of the volleyball court, Mills will do all the workouts and cool downs needed, according to Kerkhoff. “My body is my biggest weapon,” Mills said. “I need to keep it in the best shape possible.”

It’s not just about quantity though. Mills finds himself listening to his body more. He knows to do less reps if he can’t handle it on a certain day.

He’s diligent about rolling and stretching. He tries to not mask the pain he feels. Instead, he’ll listen to it. He knows what he needs to work on. He’ll take ice baths to calm his inflammation.

Mills is taking more time to take care of his body. It’s more of a priority than before.

When he’s on the court, he’ll work with his coaches on improving his game. McMaster head coach Brad Douwes pointed out how Mills has always been a good in system spiker. Now, they’ve been working on finding ways for him to spike out of system. Douwes saw Mills’ confidence grow in those situations.

On the other side, Douwes also saw him really buying in defensively. See how focused he is. How much better he wants to get.

For Mills, it’s simple. In volleyball, you’re either helping your team win a point or lose one. “I can be the best attacker in the world,” Mills said. “But if I can’t dig a ball, I can’t stay on the court.”

Every single part of my game really matters, he’ll think to himself. He knew he wanted to – no, needed to – put a lot of work in defensively. He’s worked at keeping the ball off the floor. That’s helped the team earn points they would have otherwise lost.

Douwes saw him show that against Guelph as the Marauders executed their defensive plan really well. Mills had two digs in that game and 92 on the season – a jump from 58 and 16 the previous two years. His defensive work has paid off.

What was Mills thinking as he went into the Guelph game? He and his teammates have talked about staying steady and composed. He’s shared his experiences with them.

Kerkhoff saw his composure point after point. Like he’s flipping a switch and focusing on the next point. He’s making plays and hitting good shots. He had fifteen kills in total.

“You can almost just see it in his eyes,” Kerkhoff noted. “The guy’s ready to go.”

Mills is one of the best players in the country when he’s playing like that – which he was against Guelph, according to Kerkhoff. The libero felt how fun it was to play alongside him. To see him get into that zone.

Douwes saw him manage his emotions and energy – staying focused and not getting frustrated or distracted. “Everything he did today was for the team,” he noted.

Mills describes himself as a relatively confident person by nature. When those moments come where his confidence might falter…he tries to get himself level.

“I am a good player so when I do something well, I let that put me out of the hole that I might be in,” he noted. He’s been trying different strategies in practice to be level.

He’ll breathe. He tries to slow down his breathing whenever he’s anxious or stressed out.

Mills knows he can go into a hole and block people out when he’s struggling with his confidence. Instead, he’ll listen to his teammates and coaches and focus on what they have to say. He sets his attention to them and thinks a bit less.

He hears their reassurances. “They all take care of me,” he said. “Just kind of trusting in them helps me trust myself.”

He’ll do this throughout the game. He’ll hear them during a game. During every huddle. Every point is a reset. One point at a time. That’s part of his mentality shift.

After all the work that led to the Guelph game – and the win itself – Mills could feel something. Enjoyment.

He’s enjoying the sport even more than before. His perspective has changed. “Looking at this from a different lens – and that’s okay,” he said. “I know that I wanted this for a really long time.”

He’s already played at U SPORTS nationals and on Canadian junior national teams. His dreams of playing professionally and playing for the senior’s men’s national team may lie ahead in the future.

In the present? He’ll keep working and doing what he needs to do to make that happen. He’s proud of his team for reaching the OUA Finals and nationals.

“As people, you want to see your hard work paying off,” he said. Mills knows how hard he’s worked day in and day out. He sees it paying off. He feels how much he’s enjoying it.

Featured Image: Kevin Lassel/McMaster Athletics