Commanding the court: Stella Bailey sets the standard for volleyball, breaking all-time assists record

Adrien Gobin/ THE GATEPOST

By Izabela Gage Sports Editor When Stella Bailey, a senior setter on the Framingham State volleyball team, stepped onto campus four years ago, her father told her, “You can break records, and you can win championships.” In her collegiate career at Framingham State, she fulfilled both of those goals when she became the program’s all-time assists leader, closing her career with 3,208, as well as four straight MASCAC All-Conference Second Team selections, and the 2023-24 MASCAC Championship title. She said, “It means that I achieved what I sought out to do my freshman year. That was my silent goal from day one.” Bailey said the achievement represented years of effort, discipline, and determination to improve. “For four years, you wake up every single morning and think, ‘What do I have to eat? What do I have to do? What weights do I have to lift to make sure that I'm the best player possible?’ So I guess it means that hard work does actually pay off.” But she added the milestone didn’t feel real until the exact moment it happened. “As much as it was a goal, it wasn't the goal. The goal was always to be the best teammate to my team possible. The numbers come, and that's awesome, but it never became real until it actually happened.” Bailey said the losses over the years were more impactful than the wins. “The games that stood out were the games that we need to do better in.” She added, “Every time we got knocked out in the playoffs, I felt that within my soul.” She recalled how each loss drove her into the next day’s workout with a list in her head of what she could have done better. As a setter, she also tallied 1,011 digs, 178 service aces, and 95 kills. Head Coach Richard Casali said Bailey’s all-around skill, especially her defense, exceeded what he expected. “We could play her at libero if we wanted to, and she could handle it.” He said he didn’t see that level from her in high school, simply because the competition wasn’t strong enough to expose it. He added she worked hard at being a versatile player on offense and defense. “She has over 1,000 digs - that speaks for itself.” Bailey said her perspective on volleyball and competition shifted dramatically across her four years. “When I was a freshman, the most important part of playing a sport was winning, no matter how much it hurt. And now I understand the importance of actually enjoying what you do.” She said embracing enjoyment made her a better athlete and person, “physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially.” That mindset shaped the standard she wanted for her team. “When we go out to practice, you give 100% of what you have. We understood that we're collegiate athletes. … It helped us to keep this precedent of a high level of volleyball, and I would say that's probably how we were able to do well.” Bailey served as captain for her junior and senior seasons, something she said she’s grateful for because she didn’t like the type of leader she was at first. “My first year, I was all about, ‘This is how we win,’ but I was wrong.” She said she learned that leadership wasn’t about repeating the previous year’s formula, but figuring out what the current team needed. She described her junior-year roster as especially difficult to lead. “We had no seniors and like 11 freshmen. It was a very young team, and that was really hard, especially because I was only a junior, and we had no seniors to set the precedent.” She said the biggest challenge wasn’t gameplay, but figuring out “what standards we align ourselves with. Who are we as a team? What do we really care about at the end of the day?” Her teammate, junior Natalie Reynolds, said, “She leads by example and set the standard for the type of players we should all be. She is the type of athlete who you just aspire to be like.” She added, “Whether we were stepping onto the court for a big game, or to run 10 laps, Stella was enthusiastic through it all. She made even the down moments have some positives and she always knew how to lift each person on the court up.” Her teammate, sophomore Sarah Medeiros, said, “Stella’s support and enthusiasm helped to encourage players on and off the court to be more confident. She had so much faith in our team and what we were capable of.” Bailey said her biggest success as a captain came when the team finally answered those questions together. “We had a lot of meetings where we would just talk about what we want to do. It felt really good … to understand that we were able to grow together with love.” She said by the end of the season, “It just felt good that we were able to create an environment that people genuinely love to be a part of and to know that we have a team full of friends that will be lifelong friends forever.” Bailey said her freshman year was “a horrible situation. … I would go home to my dorm, and I would cry.” That experience fueled her determination to leave the program better than she found it. “I hope the girls are best friends forever. Coach is tough. … It has to be us who lift each other up.” Her teammate, junior Jaimee Lowe, said, “Stella is a bright light on and off the court. … Her positive attitude and constant encouragement build trust and confidence, letting everyone know that we’re not alone and that we can achieve success together as a team.” Medeiros said, “Stella put in a tremendous amount of effort as a captain to build our team chemistry. I think this past season was a fantastic showcase of how much our chemistry has improved over the last year. Chemistry is formed off the court, which is why it was so crucial for us to have team-bonding dinners, many of which were set up by Stella.” Bailey hopes that principle continues long after she graduates. “I hope the team and all sports in general are able to have a team culture that's very positive.” Casali said Bailey became a model for how culture is sustained through accountability and example. “She comes in to practice, and she starts running all by herself. Then the rest of them know it’s time to get to work.” He said her leadership extended beyond the gym. Bailey and co-captain Carly Beaulieu, a senior, ran study sessions twice a week, guided recruits, and acted as mentors. “That’s a lot of responsibility on a person, and you can't just give that to anybody. You have to know that these people can handle it, and she can.” Reynolds said, “Stella was always finding ways to make us closer as a team. Through this, we have developed friendships on this team I didn’t think was ever possible. We are so close, and have our captains to thank for that.” Medeiros said both Bailey and Beaulieu “prioritized team bonding, especially during preseason, which set up a very good foundation for us to get along throughout the rest of the season. “We had four freshmen coming in for preseason, and within a few days, it felt like we were a team that had been playing together for years,” she added. Reynolds said, “I believe Stella Bailey is the best setter that has ever stepped foot in this school. Not only her skill, but her determination and leadership made her the incredible player she is.” Medeiros said, “Whenever we were in a rut, she knew exactly what to say that would get us motivated to get to the next point without putting anybody down. “Personally, if I was having a hard time on the court, I knew I could count on Stella to look at me and say, ‘We’re going to get you a kill right now,’” she added. Casali said setters naturally run the floor, but Bailey did it with her own balance of intensity and composure. “She's learned she can be demanding, but she also has to be calming too. “When somebody makes a mistake, she pats them on the shoulder and says, ‘Don't worry about it. You'll get the next one,’” he added. He highlighted how the team won against Westfield in the semifinals this season. After a rough set, he said he thought they were in trouble, but Bailey kept them focused. “She has a way to hold them to a higher standard when things aren't going particularly well. She was the one telling them, ‘We don't need 16 points right now. We need one point.’ Without the kind of leadership she displayed, I don't think we would have won that game,” he said. Medeiros said, “I think her legacy will be shown in how motivated the team is now. She started a fight for the MASCAC title that is still not over, even with her graduating. “Stella helped us all to realize our true potential as players and to showcase that on the court, which will carry over for next year. It’s rare to come across players who are as motivated and willing to do what it takes to win as Stella. She’s really an inspiration for all members of the team now and the new girls coming in,” she added. Lowe said Bailey is “an exceptional leader both on and off the court. She always knows the right thing to say and goes above and beyond to lift the team’s spirits.” Bailey said as she leaves the Framingham State volleyball program, “I hope people think I worked hard. My teammates would say if they ever thought they were working hard, they would think of me and say, ‘No, I need to work harder.’” She said her advice for future setters and captains is, “Feel your glow. There’s a glow in your heart for things that you really enjoy. In tough times, feel your glow and remind yourself, ‘What are you doing here?’ There’s no point in doing something if you don’t love what you’re doing.” Athletically, she said she plans to step away from intense competition. “Being an athlete, there are a lot of things that are negative about that term. You aren't able to really listen to your body.” Instead, she said she wants to focus on what feels good for her, like eating healthy, yoga, and meditation. Bailey said after graduating, she is going to be a secondary education art teacher, a career she said mirrors the lessons she learned as captain. “I’m super excited about it. I’m going to have the same principles,” she said, “like really listening to people, figuring out each person’s individual needs.” She said she still plans to coach someday. “I’ve coached before, and I loved it. The goal is to teach kids that they can love the sport and it doesn't need to be something that's negative and something that you have to do, but it can be something that you get to do. It's something that you love to do.” Casali said, “I’ve told her this before, ‘I hope you coach, because you are going to be wonderful at it.’” He said he knows Bailey is capable of anything and she’ll be successful in whatever she chooses. “She is a compassionate person. She’s going to have a wonderful career.” Casali said Bailey’s impact will continue through the players who watched her, and she leaves behind a blueprint of being encouraging, demanding, and driven. He said, “Players like Stella bring in other players. … She obviously made the program better.” Reynolds said, “It will be very hard to ever top the work she has done here, and I am so lucky I ever got to play with her. She is truly special.”