Mia Roland commits to University of South Carolina
Owen junior announces plans to continue softball career in the SEC
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
September 23, 2025
Owen junior multi-sport athlete Mia Roland announced, Sept. 16, her commitment to the University of South Carolina softball program. Photo by Fred McCormick
Just days into her third year of high school, Owen multi-sport athlete Mia Roland was contemplating what was, perhaps, one of the consequential decisions of her young life. When collegiate softball programs were permitted to begin contacting high school junior student-athletes, Sept. 1, the phone calls, emails and text messages began pouring in.
Her athletic future came into focus, Sept. 16, when the decorated Warlassies standout declared her commitment to the University of South Carolina in a social media post.
Roland has been Owen’s top athlete in each of her first two years on campus. Her explosiveness and versatility on the volleyball has led to a resurgence of the program, which currently boasts a 12-1 record and holds the top spot in the Western Highlands Conference. Her commitment to the Gamecocks softball program, which finished its 2025 campaign ranked 8th in the country after matching the best start in its history, was the subject of chants from the Owen student section at a home volleyball match, following her announcement.
While she has also emerged as the leading rebounder for the basketball team, in a sport she only began playing as a freshman, her “true love” has always been softball.
“By around 8 years old, playing softball was something I could really see myself doing in the future,” Roland said. “But, since about the seventh grade, once I started getting into travel ball, I decided to focus on softball, because I fell in love with the competition, being out there on the dirt and the physical, mental and emotional challenges of the game.”
By the time she debuted on the high school field, the shortstop was poised to lead the Owen softball to its best season in more than a decade, as she batted .532 and hit 8 home runs while driving in 44 runs. Her debut season included a walk-off grand slam at home in the opening round of the playoffs.
Roland helped lead her team back to the third round of the playoffs last season, while improving in nearly every statistical category. Through two years in maroon and white, she has batted .561 with 18 home runs and 80 RBI, stealing 48 bases and fielding at a .908 percentage.
Her performance on the high school and travel ball diamonds earned her an invitation to compete in the Premier Girls Fastpitch Futures All-American Game, last July, in Irvine, California. While her team of sophomores fell to their junior counterparts and NCAA D-1 commits, Roland finished the nationally televised contest by going 2 for 2 and blasting a 2-run home run to left-center field in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Confronted with a variety of colleges and programs to consider, she established a simple formula for selecting environment that best suits her.
“Going into the process I considered the coaching staff, the level of competition, on and off the field, and making sure wherever I went had a strong academic pathway to what I want to pursue,” Roland said. “Also, I wanted to be part of a program that will be competitive on the field, into the postseason. Finally, the culture of the university itself, and the people there, were also really important to me.”
She felt “at home” as soon as she arrived at the University of S.C. campus in Columbia.
Mia Roland was only weeks into her junior year at Owen, Sept. 16, when she announced on social media that she was committing to play softball for the Gamecocks. Courtesy photo
“S.C. was actually my first visit, but the moment I stepped on the campus I kind of fell in love with the whole environment,” Roland said. “Everything around me felt so cozy, peaceful and homey.”
A subsequent visit to a second college reinforced her instincts.
“At the time, I didn’t know if that feeling was like a first visit thing, but after going on another visit to a different school, it kind of confirmed all of the things I liked about S.C.,” Roland said. “I had others scheduled, but S.C. really lined up with all of the things that were important to me, personally.”
Her decision to commit to the program, led by second-year head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard, was a relatively easy one for Roland.
“It’s a dream come true, honestly,” she said. “The opportunity to be able to represent the University of S.C. is super exciting and an honor to me.”
While committing to an NCAA Division 1 program represents a milestone for Roland, the work to put herself in position to produce at the next level is just beginning.
In two seasons with the Warlassies, Mia Roland has batted 561 with 18 home runs and 80 RBI, while stealing 48 bases and fielding at a .908 percentage. The Owen junior, on Sept. 16, announced her commitment to the University of South Carolina softball program. Photo by Fred McCormick
“I still have a lot of work to do be ready to actually go play at that level,” she said. “I think deciding where I’m going to go next gives me a sense of direction and the chance to really focus on continuing to get better.”
The athlete is already identifying skills to hone this year.
“The vocal part of leadership is something I haven’t always done, so I am working on that right now,” Roland said. “I’m also really committed to fundamentals, which I think will help me be more consistent when facing strong competition.”
While Roland, who leads the Warlassies on the court with 157 kills and 162 digs in 44 sets played, is locked in on the volleyball court, she embraces the idea of being challenged on the diamond by some of the top athletes in the nation.
“The opportunity to compete at such a high level is exciting,” she said. “Playing in the SEC you end up getting on the field in front of a lot of people, and you’re facing some of the top athletes in the country. I really want to be a part of the legacy they’re building in S.C.”