Mira Ledermueller left SU to regain form. Now, she’s back to what she knows.
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Mira Ledermueller knew she had to leave. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was “necessary” for the then-Syracuse sophomore. Her role on SU’s volleyball team had diminished, and her goal to play professionally after college was fading.
Others knew it, too.
“That was a great decision,” said Greta Schlichter, Ledermueller’s close friend and former SU teammate. “If she hadn’t done that, she would have regretted it.”
Ledermueller’s Syracuse career began as its primary setter. But after her role decreased as a sophomore, Ledermueller transferred to UT Arlington last year. With the Mavericks, she posted a career-high 943 assists and 213 digs.
Then, it was time to return to what she knew. After the 2025 season, Ledermueller reached out to SU assistant coach Gabriella Matautia about a reunion for her senior year, and the Orange gladly fulfilled her request. Now, she brings much-needed familiarity to a Syracuse team that returned one player from the previous season.
“I was very set that if they offered me, I would commit on the spot,” Ledermueller said. “I was really sad to leave, but I’m back, so that must mean something.”
Long before joining SU, Ledermueller’s career began in Dresden, Saxony, where she was a standout for 10 years at top German youth club Dresdner Sportclub. Between Dresdner and her sports-focused high school, Sportgymnasium Dresden, Ledermueller’s days were filled with volleyball.
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“I pretty much did the same thing that we’re doing right now in college, which was working out in the morning, going to classes and then practicing in the afternoon,” Ledermueller said.
After 10 years of consistent training, Ledermueller was finally rewarded. In 2019, she was selected to captain the German National Under-16 team at the European Championship, where Germany placed seventh.
Ledermueller met Schlichter while training during selection weekend, and their paths continued to cross. The pair played together on Germany’s U17 and U19/20 squads. When college coaches began calling, Ledermueller and Schlichter realized Syracuse was pursuing them both.
“It was so exciting when I found out that Coach (Bakeer Ganesharatnam) was talking to (Ledermueller) as well,” Schlichter said. “It’s definitely not easy to be so far away from home, but having somebody there was great.”
Ledermueller and Schlichter roomed together and formed an inseparable bond as they adjusted to the United States. When faced with additional challenges as international players, they knew they could turn to each other.
“Sports are covered way more in the United States than in Germany. Just being aware that you’re kind of in the spotlight. That attention was something that I wasn’t really used to,” Ledermueller said of the toughest adjustments in the U.S.
While Ledermueller settled, Syracuse didn’t. An 18-match skid capped a disastrous 2-26 2023 campaign. Despite the team’s struggles, Ledermueller had an exemplary freshman year. She was the Orange’s primary setter, starting 21 matches with a team-best 449 assists and third-best 130 digs.
It seemed Ledermueller had cemented herself as Syracuse’s setter, but the rotation changed. After rostering two setters, Veronica Sierzant and Ledermueller, in 2023, Syracuse added Piper Willinger and Elizabeth Schuster for 2024.
Sierzant split time with Ledermueller as setter and right-side hitter in 2023, but her role at setter increased a season later. She led SU with 659 assists, starting 17 matches to Ledermueller’s 12.
Although she drifted to the bench, Ledermueller had a solid sophomore campaign. She optimized her minutes, tallying nearly seven assists per set and 361 total, second-most on the team behind Sierzant.
Ledermueller still wasn’t satisfied.
“Once the season concluded, I sat down and thought about what I wanted from an athletic perspective,” Ledermueller said. “I knew that I needed more time on the court.”
Schlichter transferred to Iowa, and Ledermueller’s professional goals were in jeopardy. She decided to enter the transfer portal in search of more playing time. The process was complicated, but Ganesharatnam and Syracuse’s coaching staff lent a hand.
Mira Ledermueller sets the ball for her team during SU’s loss to Florida State on Nov. 10, 2023. Ledermueller was one of Syracuse’s main assets in 2023, but her role decreased in 2024, leading her to transfer. Lars Jendruschewitz | Senior Staff Photographer
Ledermueller stayed at SU for the spring semester, slowing her recruitment so she could get to know other programs’ coaches and visit schools without feeling rushed.
When it was time to decide, Ledermueller was drawn to UT Arlington. She said she connected with Mavericks head coach Tania Schatow from their first phone call and had a “fun” official visit.
The environment also attracted her. Ledermueller’s teammates were competitive, and her coaches focused on growth. UT Arlington quickly became a place Ledermueller saw herself growing into the player she’d envisioned.
She did just that. Ledermueller led the Western Athletic Conference with 943 assists in 104 sets as the Mavericks’ primary setter in 2025. She was also named WAC Setter of the Week five times.
“(Being the primary setter) definitely helped give me confidence,” Ledermueller said. “It was crucial for me to grow as a player.”
“You can practice as much as you want,” she added. “Just being able to do that was very helpful for me to grow.”
At the end of the season, Ledermueller felt ready to prove her worth elsewhere and entered the transfer portal. An old Syracuse friend suggested she should return to central New York.
Ledermueller laughed it off at first.
“That’s a silly joke,” she said. “I’m not really sure if that’s something that the coaches would like. I left, and I know that there’s a whole administration and how they’re viewing things.”
But as Syracuse experienced significant roster turnover, Ledermueller realized there was a chance for a reunion.
Initially, she contacted Matautia, who helped her set up a call with Ganesharatnam. With each conversation, Ledermueller grew more excited to return, and Syracuse’s coaching staff concurred.
“It was an easy decision,” Ganesharatnam said. “We are really happy that it worked out.”
With SU facing several questions in 2026, Ledermueller is a familiar face for a program seeking a fresh start.
Her focus lies in the current season. After a year away, it feels normal. She’s home.
“She’s very familiar with the system we run and the way we operate,” Ganesharatnam said. “She is really making an impact on the court and off the court.”
