'Feels like home': Kearns enjoying return to volleyball

The stars aligned for Haleigh Kearns' return to volleyball and the Prince Goerge, BC native is shining as a member of the St. Clair women's volleyball team. "She fit right in." Head coach Julie-Ann Milling told Powerplay Sports.

Kearns played university ball at Lakehead for a couple of years where she suffered a severe shoulder injury that forced her to the sidelines. "I knew I wasn't done," Kearns said. "I knew volleyball was something I still wanted to do and had a lot to give to the sport."

After shoulder surgery Kearns ended up as an assistant coach at Fanshawe last season. She met Milling last year when the Falcons visited St. Clair and sparked a conversation. "I wanted to come back to school. I wanted to get my personal training certificate and St. Clair has a great fitness and health program."

Milling was surprised but did not hesitate to take a chance on a player who hadn't played in five years. "I saw she's a left-handed right side (hitter) which is a big thing," Milling explains. "I've always wanted one."

Milling also didn't feel like she was taking a flier on Kearns because she was scrimmaging at Fanshawe and was into fitness.

Kearns hasn't looked out of place with 94 kills through eleven matches placing her 15th in the OCAA. She is 10th with an average of 3.7 points per set.

"There's not a lot of people at my point in life who are lucky enough to go back to school and also go back to volleyball," Said Kearns as she explains how fortunate she feels to be a member of the Saints team. "Julie-Ann has been great in helping me refine my skills again and I've seen a lot of growth in myself as an athlete but also as an older athlete and I couldn't be more grateful to Julie-Ann, our coaching staff and my girls as well."

The Saints finished the first half with a 10-1 record and are ranked 2nd in the OCAA heading into their first match of 2025 at Humber Saturday. The Saints finished 2nd at the Durham College Adidas Cup over the weekend featuring teams from Ontario and Quebec. St. Clair lost to Seneca in the final with Kearns and Arianna Karl being named tournament all-stars.