Bailey makes history as first eighth grader to play under new rule

Hillcrest’s Jalise Bailey became the first eighth-grader in the state of Iowa to compete at the varsity level under a rule change mandated by the state legislature earlier this year.

The rule change allowed eighth-graders in fall, winter and spring sports to compete at the high school level in the state for the first time, joining over 20 other states in allowing eighth-graders at the varsity level.

According to Bound, Bailey became the first player to utilize the rule in an official varsity match when she subbed in against English Valleys on Monday, one of only two eighth-graders to be listed on varsity rosters across the state alongside Mason City’s Emma Peters, who played in the Riverhawks’ season opener approximately two and a half hours later.

Bailey described the jump in difficulty preparing for her first varsity season,

“Getting ready for the season was kind of scary,” Bailey said. “Better hitters, better digs so when you hit it hard they might dig it up anyway instead of letting it drop, the setters are really good, they tip it on you all the time.”

Raven coach Tanna Boshart said that Bailey has fit in well at the high school level, bolstering a young Raven squad that lost now-alumni Niva Helmuth and Claire Withrow from last year’s front row.

“I thought she played really well at the net,” Boshart said of Bailey. “She’ll continue to get stronger.”

According to Bailey, that fit has been largely due to her teammates, who have welcomed her to the team with open arms,

“They’re all really nice, they’re not weird about it or anything,” Bailey said. She went on to describe advice that her teammates have given her as she’s stepped into the team “They tell me every once in a while where there’s a spot to tip, one of them came up and told me, ‘Swing your arm this way to make it go there.’”

The young middle struggled at points during her debut, committing several net violations, but showed grit and physicality at the net before settling in for four kills against Highland and claiming the match-winning kill against Pekin.

“She’s tall, which is helpful,” Boshart joked of the 5’10” eighth-grader, tied for the tallest member of the team. “She’s able to get her hands on a lot of balls, and tonight, we really needed a block. I wasn’t necessarily planning on playing her in the middle, but it felt like we really needed a block, especially against English Valleys, and she did a really nice job.”