Jaqueline Kershaw didn’t expect attending an Army Basketball tournament in Japan would lead to a life-or-death moment. After she finished playing in her game, she saw a referee collapse. When Kershaw, an army medic, rushed over, her adrenaline took over as she knelt beside him and started pressing down on his chest. She stayed there doing steady compressions until the ambulance arrived. After the ambulance took him away, she thought she would never see him again. But months later when she was back for a softball tournament, she received a message that someone wanted to see her. To her surprise, it was the referee she saved on that day, alive and grateful to be so. That lifesaving moment made him change his lifestyle for the better. He told her he lost a bunch of weight and became the healthiest he’s ever been, all of which he credits to Kershaw’s life-saving actions in that gym.  

Kershaw now works as a volleyball coach and administrative monitor at RNE. She has been playing volleyball since she was 11 years old, but she also played softball and ran track and field in high school. She then went on to play volleyball at the collegiate level at Coastal Carolina University. However, it wasn’t without challenges. After an injury during her freshman year, Kershaw was redshirted, meaning she had to sit out a season of play to extend her eligibility in college sports. She took that as an opportunity to transfer to Benedict College where she played the remaining three years of eligibility. After Kershaw graduated with a degree in political science, she joined the Army and played in the military league for the 14 years she was there. 

For Kershaw, her experience playing college sports was not only about athletics. It was also about life lessons that would shape her philosophy and develop the coaching style she would implement while working with her high school players.

“Sports teach you life skills—perseverance, determination, and discipline. To get better at a sport, you have to focus on improvement, and the same applies in life,” Kershaw said. 

She uses the same principles and instills them into her high school athletes, some of whom aspire to play in college. Kershaw coaches high school volleyball with a realistic, disciplined approach. While she’s aware that not every player will be able to play at the collegiate level, she pushes her players to get out of their comfort zone and improve themselves. If they do have the drive, she uses her connections to help them play volleyball at the next level. 

“I don’t believe in putting kids out there who aren’t ready. I don’t want them to embarrass themselves or get hurt.” Kershaw said.

In 2017, Benedict College recognized her achievements by inducting her into the Benedict Hall of Fame for volleyball, softball, and track and field, formally recognizing her as a tri-sport athlete, an accolade she views with humility. 

“It’s a reminder of the support I had throughout my journey. Many people don’t have that, and I’m grateful,” Kershaw said. 

Kershaw has been coaching volleyball since she was 16 years old,  but has been coaching here at RNE for six years, the 2018-2019 season being her first.  

“I coach because I love it, and I love volleyball,” she said. “It teaches life skills beyond just winning or losing. In life, you’re going to face obstacles. Quitting is easy, but getting up and fighting through is what really matters.”