ORANGE PARK - Former Ridgeview High volleyball and softball ace Ashlyn Halford has been traveling extensively since her days as a Lady Panther (2021), with stints at two colleges and, now, a trip overseas 30 hours away.

"I went to North Dakota for volleyball and ended up playing softball as well," said Halford, who played in 2023 at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Kansas. "When I was there, at Williston State College in Williston, North Dakota, I met my now partner, who is Australian, while he was playing baseball."
Halford continued her sports at Williston, achieving outstanding seasons in both volleyball and softball, where she played as a libero and an infielder and pitcher, with great success.
"We were together for a few years while we finished college, then decided to return to Australia," said Halford, who held an impressive .511 batting average with 26 runs batted in, 12 doubles, two homers and 10 steals. "I'm currently living in Melbourne, just south of the harbor and coaching a club volleyball team."
After Williston, Halford spent a year at Mid-American, but did not complete her studies as she wanted to pursue a career in real estate.
"I graduated from Williston with an Associate of Arts, but then wanted to do real estate, which didn't need a degree at the time," said Halford. "We got to Australia on January 2, 2024."
Halford's partner continued his baseball in Australia, which put Halford in athletic circles, where she found her club volleyball team, Heidelberg, within the Heidelberg Volleyball Club organization, which offers a junior development program, a state league competition stream, and adult volleyball classes.
"It's exactly like our JJVA teams in Jacksonville were," said Halford. "We don't play tournaments on the weekends with one or two games, and then the top eight go to a finals tournament, so it fits my work schedule."
Halford, though coaching, is currently a property manager for a real estate group but endeavors to expand her coaching while living in Australia.
"I do plan on staying in Australia and making it my new home," said Halford, now 22 years old. "I know my mom misses me a lot, and I miss them and plan on an April 2026 return to Florida."
Halford noted she has seen a lot of kangaroos but no sharks.