The past four years at Covenant have been life-changing, and I will always cherish the memories and experiences that I have formed while playing volleyball. Not only did my relationships on and off the court develop into lifelong friendships, but my relationship with God has grown exponentially.

Relentless Recruiting and Surprising Kindness

Covenant took me by surprise when I first visited the school. I had already verbally committed to another college for volleyball and was set on playing there. Joanna Ehman, the previous head coach for the Scots, had other plans, however, as she was relentless over email, convincing me to come on a visit. I will never forget how intentional Coach Jo was with me, and she won me over right away with how much she cared for me right off the bat. Once I stepped foot on campus, it was game over - I knew I was supposed to go to Covenant. I was blown away by the kindness of the team, the joyful faculty, and most of all, the preeminence of Christ in every setting. Meriel Chupp and Riley Howe were also a huge reason why I came to Covenant, as they hosted me for three separate weekends and took me everywhere with them. I had been on countless visits to other schools, and nowhere else had I felt truly pursued and loved.

More Than Just a Student-Athlete

As I think about my time here at Covenant, I get emotional thinking about how far this volleyball program has come and how far I have come. I came into the program prideful, headstrong, and insecure, and by the Grace of God and through the grace of others, I am leaving a different woman. My coaches over the past four years have poured more into me than just volleyball IQ and skills - they have encouraged me, held my hand while I've been at my lowest points, and always pointed me back to Jesus. My experience at Covenant has been so incredibly special and I am beyond blessed to have had the opportunity to grow here.

Champions for Christ in Volleyball

Our team made history this year, as we won two conference championships back-to-back, advanced to the NCAA tournament with a Pool B bid twice (which is pretty hard to do), and were ranked #24 (the first time the volleyball team has ever been nationally ranked!). It was absolutely exhilarating to be on a team with as much talent as we have had these past few years, and though I am leaving my athletic career behind, I am ending on a good note. I even got to play alongside my sister, Ella Bailey ’26, for two years! Even with the success that our program has had, I know that ultimately, our identity is not in something that is perishable, like championships, records, and stats; it is in Jesus. As believers, we are called to pursue excellence in all that we do, be in the classroom, on the court, or on the field. Covenant pushed me to do just that, while gently reminding me our Savior is the reason behind all the hard work and triumphs.

I will always look back on this time: playing the best sport in the world with my best friends, united by our love for Jesus and love for each other. Thank you, Covenant, for the best four years of my life.

This article was originally published on Covenant’s athletics website.

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