While some college athletes are getting extra years of eligibility in the US through waivers, injunctions and changes in policy, graduated Faulkner setter Ellie Cyr has found a unique way to continue playing the sport she loves while furthering her college education.
After putting up 1115 assists, 449 digs and 159 kills through her four years of NAIA eligibility as a Lady Eagle and earning her Bachelor of Psychology, the Montgomery native is preparing to call Derby, England, home starting next month. After signing with the Student Athlete Network, a recruiting agency that allows athletes to play professionally while earning a postgraduate degree in the UK, Cyr has enrolled at the University of Derby (pronounced DAR-bee) where she will pursue her master's in forensic psychology. While there, she will play for both the university club volleyball team and a local club team, Darkstar Volleyball Club, in the county of Derbyshire.
As her time at Faulkner was coming to a close, not wanting to see her volleyball career end, Cyr had ongoing conversations with assistant coach Tanielu Mose that led her to view moving abroad as an option. Former Faulkner outside hitter Krystalynn Leomiti, a distant relative of Mose's, played for clubs in Cambridge and London a few years ago as part of a similar program.
"I always knew, especially once I hit my junior year, I was like, 'Gosh, is this it? Am I going to be done after this?'" Cyr said. "I knew I was going to go get my master's anyways, and then Mose was kind of talking to me about how his cousin [Krystalynn] did that and how she loved it. And just, it's a cool opportunity to go outside your comfort zone. And I think that's a big thing for me, I kind of want to do something that I'm scared to do. I want to do something that's going to make me really uncomfortable to see how I handle that and how I can put myself out there."
Cyr will find a much different student-athlete experience than what she had in the States, starting with the sheer amount of time she'll be playing.
"It's basically like how I'd be at Faulkner. The only additive is we're required to play for their club, so basically the normal college season is with the University of Derby and then the rest of the season is with Darkstar Club. So, that's a new thing for me. That's like an entire year of volleyball, but I think that'll be cool to experience. And a lot of the rules are different over there, so I'm definitely going to have to get used to that. There's no eligibility, there's no contracts, there's nothing. So, it's just kind of, I'm going to school, but at the same time I'm playing volleyball just for fun.
"When we got everything sent back to us, it said it was from September 2026 to October 2027, so it's a little over a year. Honestly, I have no idea what the course is going to entail... It'll definitely be different, and no 'Canvasing' anymore!"
Wherever this leap of faith takes her, she will bring with her life lessons learned from her time in the program and in school at Faulkner.
"I definitely think it helped me with time management and being able to kind of just balance my school load, my volleyball load and my social life basically," Cyr explained. "And it wasn't easy to do that, especially as a freshman coming in, it was not easy. But I think it taught me a lot about myself and how I deal with things, how I deal with the stress of school and then the stress of volleyball.
"I think it just prepared me to ready for anything that happens in the moment and be ready mentally, be coachable, be calm, especially in my position as a setter. I feel like the coaches definitely taught me a lot about mental play and just how I need to present myself."
Head coach Tori Renda can attest to the growth and resiliency Cyr has exhibited throughout her time in the program, as the setter had to overcome injuries to conclude her Faulkner career on a strong note and reach this point.
"I'm incredibly excited for Ellie as she steps into this next chapter of her athletic career and education," Renda said. "Watching an athlete overcome two minor knee surgeries, rebuild her confidence, and rediscover her love for the game to the point that she wants to compete at the next level speaks volumes about her dedication, determination and resilience. Her journey reflects a deep desire not to let adversity define her, but to grow through it. I look forward to seeing how she contributes to the new team and thrives in a sport she genuinely loves. It has been an absolute pleasure to play even a small part in her development, and I can't wait to see what she accomplishes next."
Altogether, with gratitude for her time and all the teammates and coaches she's had the opportunity to share the locker room with at Faulkner, Cyr is ready for a new chapter of her life and volleyball career.
"I'm looking forward to the community I build while there and just being able to explore that new culture and explore the people," she said. "And I'm so freakin' excited to play on a new team after being on the same team for four years, so just something new and fresh. And so, I'm really excited for the new journey that I'm going to be on!"
