Aussies Abroad #4 – Ella Milne
College in Canada strengthening our 2032 hopefuls.
In this installment of the Aussies Abroad Series, Volleyball Australia caught up with Ella Milne – a Queenslander competing for the University of Saskatchewan in Canada.
Growing up in Toowoomba, Ella’s first introduction to volleyball was through her school and the local ‘Social Wednesday’ night games held by the Toowoomba Volleyball Academy.
“I am from Toowoomba in Queensland, and I started playing volleyball at Centenary Heights State High School, and socially with my family,” Milne said.
“Social Wednesday night games with the Toowoomba Volleyball Academy was where it first started.
“Gradually my friends and I made a school team and we worked our way up through the ladder.
“I was invited to go to Canberra and after a long time deciding, I went for it and moved to Canberra in 2020 to join the AVA [Australian Volleyball Academy].
“I went back and forth between loving indoor and beach, but after three years I finally decided to pursue indoor.
“I chose the University pathway in America and was initially accepted into Hofstra University, but unfortunately became injured within the first month and I never got to play.
“Ultimately, that college program wasn’t for me, so whilst awaiting a transfer I took part in other sports before I found the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, which is where I am currently.”
Despite jumping around positions before settling as an opposite, Ella’s passion for the sport and desire to play internationally has always been present.
“When looking at my journey so far, my proudest moment was debuting for the national team in Indonesia and then also moving to the University of Saskatchewan.
“I have loved the people in Canada and the skill level of the team and the knowledge of the coaches here.
“Coming to a different country allows me to learn about differences between Australia and Canada I would have never thought of before.
“When I first moved, I definitely bit off more than I could chew – moving from smaller towns, straight to New York City.
“I struggled with the location and found that I missed home more when I wasn’t around a family-like environment with people that I was comfortable around.
“Although the second move to Canada has been much smoother because I’ve found a second family here and they make it easier to be away from home.
“The experience of playing in another country’s leagues are not comparable to what I would find at home.
“Canada West has great teams like the NCAA and every game is a great learning opportunity and a chance to get better against more skilled players.
“Every player here is different and has completely different styles, so seeing what someone does and trying that out is also good for my development in the sport.”
Reflecting on her career so far, Ella acknowledges the support from her family and previous coaches who have helped her be where she is today.
“There is always someone I look up to on each part of my journey, and someone who I am working extra hard for,” she said.
“I do it for myself but I could never have gotten very far without all the people who believe in me.
“My family supports what I do, so each time I play, I know they are watching and I play for them.
“All of my previous coaches, even if they only coached me for a short period of time, have had a large effect on where I am.
“But beyond performance, being an athlete means being in the community and inspiring future generations of women in sports.
“It means helping out where I can with younger athletes coming up in their volleyball journey.
“It means being tenacious and engaging and having a want to succeed in all aspects of life, it means being vulnerable and understanding.
“Being an athlete doesn’t happen for everyone so I am grateful for all the benefits of what I learn in my journey.”
Following her studies in Canada, Ella’s aspirations lead to Brisbane 2032, with her goals to play professionally in the lead up to a home Olympics.
“I study Arts and Science at University of Saskatchewan, but my classes are more so focused around Studio Arts,” Milne said.
“I am hoping for my future that I finish my degree at University of Saskatchewan and I get the opportunity to play professionally and get more experience and get more skilled as I work up to the Olympic level for 2032 in Brisbane.”
Ella’s weekly schedule is designed to optimise her performance, with a mix of intense training sessions, gym workouts, and mental preparation.
“At the University of Saskatchewan, we train every weekday for about two hours, plus three lift sessions a week,” she said.
“I live in the dorms currently so my week also involves meal prep.
“Our game days are either Friday and Saturday, and we usually travel to games on Thursdays and coming home on the bus means sometimes not getting home till 4am on Sunday morning.
“Unlike the NCAA, our season is from September through to April, with preseason in August.
“For me, game preparation is something I like to do whilst being around the team, as well as watching a lot of videos on the other team and reviewing the game plan.
“I usually have to give myself a pep talk because I get really nervous to the point where it could affect me playing.
“I tell myself that at the end of the day I will leave it all out there because the best is all I can do and having fun is what makes me play well and no one plays a good game when they’re stressed and scared.
“I’m nervous because it’s important to me and I just have to make sure they are happy nerves.”
For young Australians wanting to make a start in volleyball, Ella reminds us that having fun and enjoying what you do should always be at the core.
“To anyone who is just starting their volleyball career, my advice is to keep having fun and be kind to yourself,” she said.
“The journey is long and sometimes you can’t always see the light at the end of the tunnel, but the end goal is always there.
“But you’ll never make it to the end goal if you don’t enjoy what you do, plus if you don’t enjoy it, then what’s the point – life is too short not to have fun.”
