By For Rachael Stacey, Helena has never been just a hometown; Helena has been the starting point, the reset button, and now, the launchpad for future dreams, destination unknown.
A senior outside hitter at Carroll College, Stacey is closing out her collegiate volleyball career in the same city where it all began.
But her path back was anything but a straight line.
Stacey grew up in Helena and graduated from Capital High School. Like many young athletes, she didn’t limit herself early on.
“I grew up playing all the sports,” Stacey said. “I just love being part of a team and competing.”
Her intense drive showed early, and still defines her.
“Rachael is a competitor,” said volleyball coach Maureen Boyle. “She hates to lose, and wanting to do what’s best for her team is of utmost importance”.
By the time she reached high school, volleyball had become her focus. The energy of the game, the teamwork, and the fast pace drew her in. As graduation approached, she made the decision to pursue volleyball at the collegiate level – a choice that would take her out of Montana for the first time.
Though she considered staying close to home and looked into Carroll’s volleyball program, Stacey felt a strong pull to experience something new.
She also wasn’t entirely sure what she wanted from college athletics yet, and the idea of starting at a two-year program felt less overwhelming. In the end, North Idaho College offered both an opportunity to compete and the flexibility to figure out her future.
The move to Coeur d’Alene was both exciting and intimidating. For two years, Stacey balanced being a student athlete while studying psychology.
“It was definitely a big change,” Stacey said. “Leaving Helena and starting somewhere new pushed me out of my comfort zone.”
At North Idaho College, she grew not only as a volleyball player, but also as a person. Living away from home taught her independence. Competing at the junior college level sharpened her skills and deepened her love for the sport.
At the same time, her psychology classes began shaping her long-term academic goals.
“I fell in love with Coeur d’Alene,” Stacey said. “It’s such a beautiful place, and I had a really good experience there. I learned a lot about myself.”
North Idaho’s campus sits right on the lake. Sometimes, Stacey and her teammates would head to the beach after practice, sometimes even jumping in for an ice bath. Weekends were often spent visiting a friend’s cabin on a nearby lake, swimming, boating, and soaking in the scenery.
She lived in the dorms, where she quickly built close friendships.
“We hung out every day,” she said. “We’d go on drives to get food, shop. Or just talk.”
By her second year, Stacey moved into a house off campus with five roommates, a group she now considers lifelong friends. The experience gave her a sense of independence, community, and belonging.
Still, after two seasons, she felt there was more she wanted to accomplish, both academically and athletically.
Rather than settling, Stacey started asking herself what was next.
Stacey reached out to Carroll’s head volleyball coach, Maureen “Moe” Boyle, to explore the possibility of transferring. The idea of returning home while continuing to compete felt right. Soon after, she committed to finishing her degree and playing volleyball at Carroll.
The transition back to Helena came with a new perspective.
Returning home wasn’t about retreating.
Returning home was about growth.
At Carroll, Stacey continued majoring in psychology.
This time, everything clicked!
“I truly felt like psychology was the right major for me once I got to Carroll,” Stacey said. “The professors here are incredible. The classes are more personal, more challenging.”
Those relationships helped clarify her goals. Through coursework, discussions, and hands-on learning, Stacey realized she wanted to work directly with people in a therapeutic setting. Her plan is to pursue a graduate degree in clinical mental health counseling and earn her Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) certification.
But first, she’s taking a thoughtful pause.
After graduating this spring, Stacey plans to stay in Helena for a year. She will move into a house with close friends, work full time, and save money.
“I know I have at least two more years of school ahead of me, so I’m open to seeing what I’m meant to do.”
Her openness reflects a pattern that has defined her college career.
Stacey doesn’t shy away from change; she embraces it.
With each choice, she’s grown stronger: Leaving Helena. Returning home.
Each step required initiative and confidence.
That willingness to grow is something Coach Boyle has seen up close.
“Rachael is one of the most authentically genuine people I know,” she said. “She is unbelievably kind and caring. She cares so much about the well-being of those around her.”
Teammates and classmates describe her as driven and forward thinking. Stacey is constantly looking ahead, asking: “What’s next?”
That mindset has shaped her success both on and off the court. As an outside hitter for the Fighting Saints, Stacey has been a steady presence; competitive, focused, and team-oriented.
Off the court, she has balanced practices, travel, classes, and long-term career planning without losing sight of her goals.
“I’ve gotten to meet some awesome people through volleyball and school,” she said. “That’s something I’ll always be grateful for.”
From the gym floors of Capital High to junior college in Idaho and back to Helena to the
Fighting Saints, Stacey’s journey has reflected resilience and purpose.
Each chapter added something new.
Independence.
Clarity.
Confidence
Now, as her collegiate volleyball career comes to a close, she isn’t viewing graduation as an ending. Graduating is another transition. Another opportunity.
Helena may be where her story started, but it’s also where she learned that growing sometimes means leaving – and coming back stronger.
Boyle believes Stacey’s impact will last.
“She leads by example in her calm and outwardly collected demeanor. She has helped create an environment where people feel supported, motivated, and connected.”
Rachael Stacey’s journey has come full circle. She welcomes a new chapter.
“When I think back to who I was at 17, leaving Helena for the first time, I remember how unsure I felt.” Stacey said. “I thought I needed everything figured out and was afraid of making the wrong choice. Now, I’ve learned that growth comes from taking risks and trusting yourself.
“I still don’t know exactly where life will take me, but I’m OK with that.”
