Bairett achieves goal, signs with Lyon
FOUNTAIN LAKE — Fountain Lake senior Elizabeth Bairett said she intended for years to play volleyball in college. She will get that opportunity next season after she signed to play for Lyon College in a small ceremony in Irvin J. Bass Gymnasium on Friday.
“As a 10th grader, she came up to me and said, ‘I want to play volleyball in college,’” said Lady Cobras head coach Tina Moore. “At that time, we used her as a utility player. We didn’t really know what position she was, but she had it in her mind that she wanted to be a setter.
“I didn’t use her as a setter, to be honest, but she went out, and she trained with a couple of her club coaches and with us. Then, her senior year, we finally decided, ‘Man, we need to make Bairett a setter.’ From there, that’s where her career went this year, and hopefully that’s where her career is going. She made up her mind a long time ago, and I’m proud of her for sticking to that goal.”
Starting her volleyball career at Fountain Lake in the seventh grade,
Bairett learned many positions, becoming a utility player for Moore before her switch to setter in her senior season.
“She did lead our team this year in assists, obviously,” Moore said. “And I think she led our team in service points. I think she stepped up as a senior and did a great job, and now she’s been all-conference for us and an All-State player for us. I’m really proud of her, and I know she and her parents are proud also.”
Bairett will be joining the Scots, a team that went 18-16 last season and 8-4 in American Midwest Conference play. She will team up with former Lake Hamilton Lady Wolves Madisson Williams and Shelby Powell.
Scots head coach Ray Green, who just finished his 10th season at the helm of Lyon’s program, said seven players have signed to play in Batesville next season.
“We turned over a lot of kids to graduation,” he said. “The problem with good retention is you have these big classes every couple years, so you have to fill it. That’s where we’re at right now.”
Green said that he intends to have the 5-8 senior play at setter.
“She’s been setting for her club team and, obviously, in high school,” he said. “When she came and worked out, we did look at her passing, attacking; we did everything. She definitely does a good job setting the ball. Every tournment I’ve seen her at, she just continues to excel. She’s pretty athletic; she’s got good height to her.”
Despite being a freshman on a team that sported 16 last season, Green expects to see Bairett take the court in her freshman season.
“We have one returning setter, who will be a senior,” he said. “I don’t promise anything to anybody. Everybody’s got to compete for time, and I call (Bairett) quietly competitive. She’s not over the top. I think she’ll come in and push that kid and push the other recruits, and she’s got a good chance of seeing some court time.”
Bairett’s versatilty will likely work in her favor at Lyon.
“I think her athleticism in the setting position is key,” Green said. “Her demeanor as a setter on the court is important; she doesn’t ever seem too bothered — whether the score is high on her side or low on her side. She seems to be the same, and I think that’s steady and brings a lot of stability to a team at all times during a match, certainly at practice as well. We have a pretty competitive gym environment, and I think she’ll elevate that as well.”
Bairett admitted she did not need much time to make the decision to play at Lyon, but while she hopes to remain a setter, she will be happy to just take the court.
“I visited once, and I just knew that I wanted to go there,” she said. “If he puts me anywhere else, I’d love to be anything. Just to be able to play in college is enough.”