Jack Chat: Katie Bailey

Senior middle blocker Katie Bailey. (Photo by Sarah Hamilton)

Middle blocker Katie Bailey is one of the seniors that have helped NAU volleyball fight to a 12-0 start to their season — a new school record. Bailey is ranked second in blocks (53) and third in hitting percentage (.275) in the Big Sky Conference. She was awarded the Big Sky co-player of the week, the third Lumberjack volleyball player in as many weeks. The Lumberjack sat down with Bailey before practice to talk about the teams’ winning streak, Flagstaff, and what she would do with one million dollars.

Katie Bailey: No. I’ve just kind of always done it. Old Man Sam, the guy that hangs around and takes pictures of us, always called me “the mouth” my freshman year, [be]cause I guess after every point I kind of scream a lot. That’s just kind of what I do to cheer.

LJ: Is there a story behind why everyone does it? After every single point, you guys bring it in.

KB: I think “bringin’ it in” is kind of our new philosophy for this season. Before [this season,] we played more as individuals, and this year we have really come together as a team. So I think that’s why everybody comes in, just to celebrate.

LJ: What has been the most memorable experience for you over the past four years?

KB: This season probably has been. Just going [12]-0, [we have] the record right now. That’s just an exciting thing to do, and I’m glad I’m here to be a part of that.

LJ: [Moving] away from volleyball, what’s your favorite place in Flagstaff?

KB: My favorite place in Flagstaff? I really like [The] Basement [Marketplace,] or downtown anywhere. [The] Basement . . .is one nice place.

LJ: What is your favorite thing about NAU?

KB: I really love my college. I’m a business major, so I love the college of business. I love the professors in there, and the atmosphere.

LJ: What do you plan on doing with a business degree after college?

KB: I want to go into sports marketing. So, actually, next semester I’m going to try to go home to find an internship back in southern California.

LJ: That’s cool. How long have you been playing volleyball?

KB: I actually started my freshman year of high school, which is kind of late for most athletes, so about eight years now.

LJ: And you also did water polo?

KB: Yeah, swim and water polo

LJ: What made you decide to quit, or go to just volleyball?

KB: I did swim and water polo all [through] high school, [and] that was kind of my off-season sport when I was doing club. Just something else to do, kind of get away from just focusing on volleyball all the time, so it was nice to change it up a little bit.

LJ: Do you miss either of the two sports?

KB: I definitely miss swim. It was more of an individual sport; it all depended on what I did. I liked that [because] it was completely opposite of what volleyball is.

LJ: What made you decide to play Division-I (D-I) volleyball?

KB: I kind of always wanted to go D-I. I looked a couple D-IIs and D-IIIs around my area, but I always wanted to be a part of that style of competition.

LJ: Do you have a favorite team moment, on or off the court?

KB: It’s probably our pre-game. We go in, and it’s in the locker room. It’s just dancing around and a lot of music. Kobi [Christensen] does some pretty interesting moves on the dance floor.

LJ: Do you have any idols or mentors that you look up to?

KB: My club [volleyball] coaches are actually probably my idols for volleyball. I have always liked the style of play that they had, and just kind of their philosophies on the game.

LJ: Did they play volleyball?

KB: Yea. One of them played at Pepperdine and a couple others played at a D-III, but they all love the game and they just really know how to teach it to young kids.

LJ: That’s always good. If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?

KB: I would love to go over to Europe. England, Ireland, Scotland, that area; it’d be probably my favorite.

LJ: What would you do there?

KB: Um, just hang out. I would just like to go sight-seeing

LJ: Do you have any unique, or weird, quirks about you that no one really knows about?

KB: I’m a little OCD about things. So, if I have a mess in my room, or if my locker is messy, I can’t even open the door. I don’t like to look into it, so I have to keep everything kind of organized.

LJ: Have you always had that?

KB: Yeah, pretty much. It started in high school, I really don’t like messes around my room or anything. That’s just to keep me organized and to keep me sane, and I have to have it [like that].

LJ: What’s your favorite meal of the day?

KB: My favorite meal of the day? Probably breakfast. I’m a big breakfast eater.

LJ: Me too.

KB: (laughs) Right? I love that. Like omelets and stuff.

LJ: If you were to go pull out your iPod, what would be your last song that you played?

KB: It’s probably Jack Johnson or Donovan Frankenreiter. Someone kind of like, mellow.

LJ: Do you have any, like, pump up game music?

KB: No. All the girls make fun of me because I listen to like slow music before a game. So they don’t like it, but I don’t know, that just pumps me up.

LJ: Do you have goals for yourself or for the team?

KB: Actually, its kind of a joke this season that my goal is to get one dig per set. That’s back row when I play defense. I’m a middle [blocker] so we don’t pass that much. As a team, we would like to go to conference, obviously, and [have] a NCAA appearance. But personal goal: I would like to get one dig per set.

LJ: I think that’s a good goal! If you were handed a million dollars right now, what would you do with it?

KB: I would probably travel. Travel or donate it to breast cancer research, that’s a big thing. I had a couple girls on the team that have had family members [diagnosed] and then my family too. So either donate to that, go travel, or do something fun with it. I don’t know, buy a sports car.