CALEDONIA — Imagine stepping out of your comfort zone and into a current of volleyball players more than 2,300 teams strong.
Bailie Cross and Ansley Brown had a chance to do that last month as part of the Level Elite Sports 18s and 14s travel teams that competed at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) National Volleyball Championship on June 19-22 in Orlando, Florida.
Not only did Cross and Brown survive, but they also parlayed that experience into another accomplishment. On Monday-Wednesday, Cross and Brown traveled to Tupelo High with their Caledonia High School volleyball teammates and came away with the Coaches Awards for their respective teams (varsity and junior varsity) from their stay at the Bob Bertucci Volleyball Camp.
Cross, a 5-foot-3 junior, said the Coaches Awards were given to the players who were the most focused, showed the most spirit, and were the most encouraging to their teammates.
“I love motivating people, and I love being on the court. It is my favorite thing to do,” Cross said. “When you’re in between the four lines, there should be nothing else that matters other than improving yourself and wanting to win.”
Cross has been a libero since the seventh grade. She said last year Caledonia High volleyball coach Samantha Brooks moved her to right side. This year, she might move her to the left side and hit in all of the rotations.
Cross will be ready for whatever Brooks wants her to do in part because of what she learned in June at the AAU event. She said it was an “incredible” experience with more than 170 courts in the convention center.
“You would look over to the other court and there were people that looked like they should be college level playing next to you,” Cross said. “It was great.”
Cross played with Level Elite Sports, which is owned/operated by former Mississippi State volleyball coach Tina Seals, in the fifth grade, took a year off, played with Tupelo Juniors, and then returned to play with Level Elite Sports. She been playing at Caledonia High since the seventh grade
Cross said she has been to big tournaments in Memphis, but not as big as the one in Florida. She hopes playing against players from different states will help her realize her goal to play volleyball in college.
“I was kind of hesitant at first (to play in the tournament) because I was worried about how good the competition would be there,” Cross said. “I talked to coach Seals about it and I just knew it was the right decision and that it would help me so much more with my career.”
Brown shared Cross’ excitement about the experience. She has been playing for Level Elite for one year and is entering her third year with the Caledonia High team.
“It felt great to hear my name called out,” Brown said of winning the award. “It shows that hard work pays off.”
Brown, a 5-3 freshman outside hitter/defensive specialist, hopes to bring the experience she gained back to the Lady Confederates. She said she plans to use everything she saw older players do to help her imagine what she will be able to do when she is older.
Brooks knows Cross and Brown will benefit from playing AAU because developing as a player means you have to stay in shape and play volleyball more than a few months a year. She said their performance at the AAU event and at the Bertucci Camp showed just how committed they are to the sport.
Bertucci is the volleyball coach at Lehigh in Pennsylvania. He also has coached at Temple, Rutgers, Tennessee, and Army. He has more than 30 years experience teaching and coaching the sport.
Brooks said any opportunity a player gets to play for another coach will help them grow. She also feels the decision Cross and Brown made to step out of their comfort zones will change their perspective and enable them to see how many great players there are out there and how hard they have to work to raise their levels.
“They know the game,” Brooks said. “I can put them in at any position and they would be able to play.”
Caledonia will open its season Saturday in Pontotoc. Brooks feels the team has a chance to reap the rewards from going to camps and working with different coaches. Even though the team is battling through some injuries in the preseason, Brooks feels the senior leadership of Cheyenne Ruth, Hayley Jernigan, Jensen Reed, and Gracie McCleskey will help provide stability. She feels defense will be the team’s strength.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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