BAYFIELD – A year ago, Courtney Bayles had no intention of playing college volleyball. That changed over the last few months, and the Bayfield High School senior signed her named to a National Letter of Intent to play for Adams State University on Wednesday at BHS.
“Last year, I didn’t want to play,” Bayles said. “Up until this past fall season, I was totally against playing volleyball. I was just going to go to school, but Terene (Foutz) and Danica (Frost) convinced me into playing. That’s why I was super late (signing), and I was trying to find the right program for me.”
After another strong season for Bayles as the Wolverines’ setter in 2017, Foutz, Bayfield’s former head coach and coach for the Four Corners Volleyball Club that Bayles also plays for, and Frost, the current head coach at BHS, began the process of showing Bayles what her volleyball future could hold.
Foutz talked with coaches at various programs that might need a setter, and several were intrigued. The 5-foot-11 setter had interest from schools across the Midwest, but nothing was a perfect fit until the Grizzlies came calling with a partial scholarship and a chance to stay close to home in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, a key factor in Bayles’ decision.
“It’s probably one of the best journeys I’ve ever been on with a student athlete, honestly, over the past four years,” Foutz said. “Her talent level and her height and the way she plays speaks for itself, but along the way from freshman to senior year, her journey was about starting to believe in herself, believing that she was good enough and could play at the next level.
“She’s been playing some of her best volleyball this club season. We got her back in club in December and just finished at the Diggin’ It in Durango, and it was probably some of the best volleyball I’ve seen her put out, and I think she’s going to get better from here. I think she’s seriously going to fly in the RMAC.”
Adams State, located in Alamosa, went 14-14 overall and 10-8 in the RMAC in 2017.
Bayles is the second Wolverine to ink with an RMAC program this year, joining Jade Pascal, who signed with Colorado Mesa University in November.
“This is an incredible opportunity for Courtney. I’m so happy to have them (Bayles and Pascal) in the RMAC,” said Frost, who played for Western New Mexico University when the Mustangs were part of the RMAC. “I got to play in the RMAC, and I know how strong that conference is. They’re going to go play some good Division II volleyball.
“I think she’s going to surprise a lot of people. She’s such a talented player and a hard-working girl, and I think Adams State is going to be a good fit for her. I am so excited to check up on her stats and watch her go head-to-head with Jade and Fort Lewis. It’s cool to see.”
Bayles plans to enter the nursing program at ASU.
During the last three seasons at BHS, Bayles played in 233 of a possible 235 sets and dished out 1,647 assists. She also served up 82 aces.
Bayles will move into a different situation at ASU, as she’ll likely be behind Rachel Ringler on the depth chart, a challenge she believes will push her even more.
“It’ll definitely be new since I’m used to being the starting setter for Bayfield,” she said. “I think it’ll bring out an even more competitive side of me because I’m going to have to compete for that spot. I think it’ll be a really good growing experience, and I think I’ll learn a lot this next year and learn how to compete for that spot to play as the starting setter for ASU.”
kschneider@durangoherald.com
