Inverness athlete earns ACAA second All-Star spot
August 11, 2025
Inverness native Sarah Ryan recently found great success with her varsity volleyball team. Leading her league in blocks this season—a show of her strength and athleticism—and finishing with a 12-8 record, Ryan earned the Most Improved title from the Mount Saint Vincent University Mystics. The success landed Ryan a spot on the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association’s (ACAA) Second All-Star Team.
Sarah’s interest in volleyball began when she was in grade four. Ryan and a few friends attended volleyball camps run by Cindy Watson and Norma MacKinnon, and she credits the time with friends as the beginning of her keen interest in volleyball. Additionally, the sport created space for Sarah— who considered herself a shy kid—to be confident.
Another plus for the sport is the connection and sense of community. “The way volleyball brings people together is my favourite thing about the sport,” Sarah says. “Some of my most long-lasting memories and friendships were born from volleyball”.
Starting at home with her parents and four siblings, Sarah says her community has always rallied around her and cheered her on in her volleyball career. Whether it was fundraisers or packing the high school gym to the rafters during home games, the support of her hometown has made her career possible. Even from hundreds of kilometers away, Sarah says she still feels the support as Inverness locals contribute to fundraisers for her university team.
It is this overarching sense of community, family, and friends that brings Sarah home during her school breaks—and the beauty of the Inverness Beach doesn’t hurt, either. Sarah says the support encourages her through both sport and life, and she often finds herself homesick and missing her people while she’s away.
When she’s not on the court or studying, Sarah is likely working out, listening to music, soaking up the sun outdoors, or enjoying her favourite early- 2000s flicks “Coach Carter” and “Almost Famous”.
Sarah’s passion for volleyball continuously drives her to advance in the sport and play as long as she can. She works hard to improve her skills, saying she takes it one day at a time and tries to get one per cent better each day—great advice to any budding athletes! This drive and passion make Sarah a natural leader on every court she steps foot on. She frequently hears from teammates that her calm demeanor and level-headedness is a positive force on the team.
The career-long Middle says volleyball has awarded her many opportunities—including travel throughout the Maritimes and beyond, and the chance to represent Nova Scotia in interprovincial games. Volleyball has also given Sarah the confidence to thrive in leadership roles and to challenge herself, even outside of the sport. Ryan was recently honoured as an Academic All-Canadian, recognizing her dedication to both athletics and academics.
In the future, Sarah hopes to win an Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association Championship and compete at Nationals. Once her biology degree is complete, Sarah plans to continue to graduate school. Post-varsity, Ryan plans to stay involved in the volleyball world and play recreationally for years to come, while also saving some time to travel and see the world.
Best of luck, Sarah!