FOLEY—After a high-soaring prep career, Foley’s Flyin’ Lion was suddenly grounded.

A shoulder injury early in Lisa Alms’ senior season required surgery and put a big question mark on her chance to play college volleyball. But Wednesday, Alms celebrated with family, friends and coaches her return to the sport she loves with a

signing ceremony at Foley High.

Alms was counting on getting better in time to play spring club ball and show some college coaches what she could do. But her recovery did not progress fast enough.

Fortunately, a try out at the University of Mobile nine months ago had impressed coach Jon Campbell.

"We are excited to have Lisa Alms as a member of the University of Mobile Volleyball team,” Campbell said. “Her natural jumping ability will put her in position to compete for playing time as a freshman. Her positive attitude and good character will make an immediate impact on the team.”

 That turned everything around for Alms.

“Now I’m looking forward to continuing my volleyball career which I thought was completely over," she said.

"It was a hard eight months after the surgery. It wasn’t working like I wanted it to. So I wasn't able to play spring. But when I got this email (From coach Campbell)  I decided to keep trying and I would go out in the back yard with my mom or other people and just hit. And it finally just clicked and it gets better every time I work out.

"It's still a  work in progress, really, but each day I find a way to overcome it and keep looking forward to it. I do have the next four years laid out for me and I get to do what I love. To get to experience it on a whole new level with people who love it just as much as I do and are committed to it. I'm really excited."

Lacey Stejskal Powell, who coached Alms for two years at Foley said she knew the tall kid with the big heart would play in college.

“She has the athletic ability,  but  her drive to get better everyday and push herself to play at the next level was always there.

“I’m extremely proud of her. From day one, she worked so hard, she busted it. They (UM) are lucky (to have her)."

Powell, now the head volleyball coach at Saraland High School, plans to check in on Alms. "I’m just down the road so I plan to see her play as much as I can."

As a UM alum, Foley athletic director Todd Watson was extra happy to see a Lion play at his alma mater.

“We’re all really very proud of her for battling through adversity in the off season," he said. “We’re always excited when one of our athletes goes on and continues their education and especially to a great school like the University of Mobile."

Alms plans to major in elementary education. She is the daughter of Fred and Laura Alms of Foley.