Bloomfield, Missouri - Bailey Below signed to play volleyball at John A. Logan College on November 27, 2018 at Bloomfield High School.
John A. Logan College is a public community college in Carterville, Illinois.
Bill Burnside is the head coach for the Vols. Last year marked his ninth season as head volleyball coach at John A. Logan College. Over the previous eight years, the Vols have put together a 169-98 record, including a 20-10 mark this past year. The Vols also have three Great Rivers Athletic Conference championships and four Region 24 championships in the Burnside Era, including the 2016 Region championship last season.
"I think she is a good fit for us," stated Burnside. "She is aggressive at the net and I like the way she positions her hands as a setter. We will look at her more and see where she will play as an outside hitter or setter or maybe elsewhere. We are glad to have her."
Bailey chose John a Logan because it felt like home and most importantly because she enjoyed playing with the other athletes on the court.
"I visited John A Logan and it really felt like home. I really didn't want to make my decision on my first college visit, but it felt right," commented Below. "I then visited a second time and got to play with the girls. I had fun and I really liked it. That sealed the deal!"
"Hopefully I will be an outside hitter and setter at the college level,"
With her senior year coming to an end she has little time to reflect; however when asked about special memories she laughed a little and remembered the hamster!
Below's most memorable moment at high school was her junior year. "We got a hamster on senior night for Jewel. That was fun and crazy!"
"My most memorable sports moment was our Districts this year. It is my senior year and I got my sister here playing too. It was both emotional and fun!"
She was also named to the 2018 Class 2 All-State Team!
Below's future plans are to play volleyball and major in physical therapy or sports therapy.
Pictured front row from left to right are her family Allen Below, Jenny Thomas, Bailey, and Molly Below.
Back row from left to right: Bloomfield Volleyball Coach Haley Silman, John A Logan Head Volleyball Coach Bill Burnside, and Bloomfield Asst Coach Jessica Roper.
Malden, Missouri - The Bloomfield Wildcats volleyball team traveled to Malden on Saturday, October 27th to compete in the first round of Class 2 play-offs against Malden.
The Cats came out on top 25 - 17, 24 - 26, 25 - 19 defeating the Green Wave in three sets.
Malden finished their season 18-7-1.
In the other Class 2 play-off game Arcadia Valley defeated Maplewood 25-16, 25-17.
Arcadia Valley then went on to beat Bloomfield 25-15, 25-14 in the Class 2 quarterfinal.
Bailey Below paced the Wildcats with seven kills and two blocks. She added eight digs and five assists.
Karsynn Philips led Bloomfield with 14 digs and two service aces.
Melanie Phillips added four kills.
Bloomfield finished their season 19-17-1.
Arcadia Valley will compete in the round-robin semifinals at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau against Herman on November 2, 2018.
Clearwater, Missouri - The 2018 Class 2 District 2 High School Volleyball Tournament seeds have been released. Saxony Lutheran earned the #1 seed. Games will be held at the Clearwater High School gym beginning Monday, October 22, 2018.
Bloomfield received the #2 seed. Woodland earned the #3, Scott City #4, Clearwater #5, Greenville #6, and Puxico the #7 seed.
Saxony Lutheran received a bye on Monday event.
Scott City will play Clearwater at 5 p.m. Bloomfield will play Puxico at 6 p.m. and Woodland will play Greenville at 7 p.m.
Semi-final games will be held on Tuesday, October 23rd at 5 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. with the Championship game to follow around 7:30 p.m.
Class 2, District 1 Volleyball Tournament Seeds
#1 Saxony Lutheran (14-16-5)
#2 Bloomfield (13-17-1)
#3 Woodland (16-12-3)
#4 Scott City (13-11-2)
#5 Clearwater (13-15)
#6 Greenville (6-12-6)
#7 Puxico (5-14-1)
