St. Clair Women’s Volleyball Add Local Top Recruits
The St. Clair College Department of Athletics and women’s volleyball program has announced the signing of three local top recruits for the 2021-22 season. The women that will be joining the Saints program are Mikayla Stocks, Ashley Maleyko, and Jade Thompson.
“Our head start on recruiting wouldn’t be possible without assistant coach Julie Ann Milling. Jules has done a lot of leg work in meeting with athletes virtually, chatting with them in person, and educating them on what St. Clair has to offer. She has certainly gone above and beyond for our staff in just her first term as a coach and we wouldn’t be able to add such quality athletes and individuals to our program without her persistent recruitment of these athletes,” stated head coach Jimmy El-Turk. Milling was added to the coaching staff this year as part of the CCAA Female Coach Apprentice Program after being a key player for the past four seasons.
Stocks is from LaSalle where she is attending Sandwich Secondary School. While at Sandwich she was a 3 time WECSSAA Champion which included three undefeated seasons. The 5’3 Libero also has played with Sky Volley Windsor, South County and Michigan Force Clubs. Mikayla was a Canadian National Champion at the 14U level with the South County Bandits. She was named the Top Libero in 17U at the Michigan Force Volleyball Academy. Stocks will be enrolled in the four year Honours Bachelor of Applied Arts in Social Justice & Legal Studies.
Stocks is looking forward to her educational and sport experience at St. Clair. “It is amazing that St. Clair offers this degree program where I can benefit from small class sizes and gain valuable, practical experience in my field of study. I am proud to stay local and play for St. Clair as they finished top three in Ontario last year and I look forward to playing with an elite group of women along with being coached by Coach El-Turk who has lots of provincial and national experience.”
Coach El-Turk can’t wait to add Stocks to his roster, “Mikayla brings an incredible work ethic and high volleyball IQ. She reads the game at a level unlike many athletes I’ve worked with and is going to bring her hard hat to practice every day. We are excited to add Mikayla’s defense first attitude into our gym over the next four seasons.”
Maleyko is a LaSalle native who will be graduating from Villanova High School. The 5’10 Outside Hitter/Middle Blocker also has played for the Sky Volley Windsor Club. She won the Coaches Award with Sky in 2017 and 2019. Ashley is looking forward to taking the three year Business Administration Accounting Program followed by the Nipissing University Bachelor of Commerce Degree.
Maleyko is excited to join the Saints program, “St. Clair College has built a top varsity team in the province and I look forward to being a part of the team and developing further as female student athlete. In addition to having an amazing experience playing varsity volleyball, I will receive a great education with the academic program offered by St. Clair College.”
“Ashley is a diverse, multi-sport athlete with good instincts and high attack velocity. She has played mostly middle blocker in her club career but has transitioned to playing outside hitter and her ability to play and train at multiple positions as she grows into a long term, point scoring outside hitter will be of big value to our program, ” stated El-Turk.
Thompson is from Windsor where she is finishing up her high school career at St. Joseph’s where she was a WECSSAA finalist in 2017 and 2018. The 6’0 Middle Blocker will be taking the 3 year Business Administration- Accounting Program at St. Clair followed by the Nipissing Degree. Thompson also played club volleyball for the South County Bandits. She won the South County Award of Merit in 2019.
Jade chose St. Clair College because of the business programs offered and it allowed her to play her favourite sport while staying in town for all 5 years of schooling. “I am so excited and grateful to have been offered such an amazing opportunity and I can’t wait to see what the future will bring on and off the court!” stated Thompson.
Coach El-Turk is looking forward to Thompson’s addition to the Saint’s roster. “Jade allows us to add more size to the Middle Blocker position. Jade’s spike touch and lateral quickness are two great foundational pieces that will give her a head start on her development into becoming an elite OCAA Middle Blocker.”
St. Clair finished the 2019-20 regular season with a record of 13-5 in the OCAA West Division ending up in 3rd place. The Saints won bronze at the OCAA Championship only losing to the eventual champions Fanshawe in the semi final. The Saints were ranked as high as 3rd in the OCAA during the season and were ranked as high as 13th in Canada.