WACO - Bailey Hanner has ridden the ups and downs that have come with her high school career much like a surfer.
There have been coaching changes - Alex Edwards being her third head coach in four seasons. There was the COVID-19 pandemic that affected her junior season, limiting the number of matches she would play. But in the end, the Texas State volleyball-signee got the storybook ending she rightfully deserved.
After posing for a group photo with a pair of gold TAPPS medals hanging around her neck, the Fort Bend Christian Academy senior let out a scream while hoisting the TAPPS 5A Volleyball State Championship trophy into the air.
"It's such an amazing feeling to me," Hanner said. "It's been a crazy four years for me here. I'm so blessed that Coach Alex was here to come and change this program around and bring home a state championship.
"Of course, I wanted to go out with a bang for my senior year."
VYPE 🎥: Fly Eagles Fly!@FBCAVolleyball captured the program's first-ever State Championship on Saturday. Relive the day!! #txhsvb
(@FBEagles @baileyhanner_ @averyhodgee @sheastone_ @KFColonel19 @TAPPSvolleyball @KPRC2RandyMc @KPRC2Ari @HTownHSS @KPRC2Vanessa @BayleighMinor) pic.twitter.com/EXZ2gK1S7e
— VYPE Houston (@vypehouston) November 20, 2021
In the past two seasons, Hanner has played in 186 sets for FBCA, racking up 798 kills (4.3 kills/set), 415 digs, 112 aces, 91 blocks and 38 assists.
But what made this season different than others? What made this team - one that would finish 35-4 overall and as the 2021 TAPPS 5A Volleyball State Champions - tick?
"The chemistry and the depth was the biggest thing," Hanner said. "The seniors were close. We all played together before. Also, the freshmen - Bayleigh Minor and Layne Bulow, they're just so amazing and so young still. I can't wait to see how they develop."
As Hanner prepares to trade in her green and black of FBCA for the maroon and gold of Texas State, the final chapter of her legacy on 7th street in Sugar Land, Texas is finally written with two words - State Champion.
"It hasn't really set in yet," Hanner said. "I'm so glad that all my work for this school and program has paid off. I'm so happy that Fort Bend Christian volleyball is on the map now.
"Everyone knows who we are now."
