Catching Up With: Hannah Bailey

03.23.2020 | Volleyball

This is the first in a four-part series, with cyclones.com catching up with former Cyclones continuing their playing careers overseas.

For many Iowa State volleyball fans, the disappointment of the 2018 season, the only of the previous 14 that did not end in a trip to the NCAA Volleyball Championship was partially covered by the story of Hannah Bailey. Her star-crossed career at Iowa State, which had seen her miss significant portions of her career due to injuries, saw her come back from another injury to be a starter for ISU as the Cyclones claimed the 2018 NIVC title.

For Bailey, it was the end of one chapter to start a new one.

“To continue on playing post-college was a difficult decision for me, especially after my injury in my senior season,” Bailey reflected. “I still had so much passion for the game, and an urge to play. So I took a chance and went for it.”

Hannah Bailey in action at middle blocker for the Cyclones against North Texas in the quarterfinals of the 2018 NIVC

This next chapter took Bailey over to Sweden to begin her professional career with Gislaved, a community of about 10,000 to the southeast of Gothenburg. Bailey did her homework on her new potential home and was ready to take the next step.

“I did a lot of research about Sweden before making my decision,” Bailey said. “It is one of the top countries to live in and my agent (Charlotte Harris) lives in Sweden and had many great things to say about it.”

From a playing standpoint, Bailey remained on the right-side but with the different substitution rules in Europe, that meant that she would be playing in the back row, something she did very little of as a Cyclone.

“One aspect I have had to continue improving is my back row game, both in attack and on defense,” Bailey noted. “It has been difficult at times, but I have had fun with it.”

Bailey hitting on the right side for her professional team, Gislaved, in Sweden

Another major transition for Bailey has been the tempo of play, with Swedish volleyball playing more high-ball to the pins compared to what she was used to as a Cyclone. However, the level of competition that the Cyclones faced night-in and night-out has helped her as much as anything.

“We play at such a high-level and against very physical players at Iowa State, and that helped my transition,” Bailey said. “The ability to compete and play in high-level scenarios in college was great. I am so thankful for all the great coaching I had at Iowa State to help prepare me for a professional career.”

Off the court, the culture in Sweden was not difficult for Bailey. While Swedish is the official language of her adopted homeland, over 80 percent of Swedes also speak English. The challenge came from living on a different schedule compared to friends and family.

Bailey credited the high-level of competition Iowa State played for some of her success transitioning to the pro game.

“It was hard being so far away, and that’s before the seven-hour time difference,” Bailey noted. “FaceTime became my best friend, I tried to talk to my family as much as I can, they are my biggest fans so hearing their voices and seeing their faces always made it better. I got to come back home for two weeks over Christmas, which was a nice break during the season.”

As it always seemed to be the case during Bailey’s career as a Cyclone, there was one more twist. With the emergence of COVID-19 and the coronavirus, Bailey had to cut her season short, with the playoffs supposed to have started the next weekend and Gislaved in the competition. Bailey returned home to the United States, with the Swedish Federation suspending the season last Monday, choosing not to declare a champion for 2020.

“It was extremely devastating not to finish the season,” Bailey said last week. “Our team was really starting to peak at the right time and come together. Our team was really starting to come together, and we were playing at our highest level.”

Bailey (#1) and her teammates after a victory. Due to COVID-19, Bailey had to return home to the United States, while the remainder of the Swedish season was canceled

While this is a set-back for Bailey, she is used to it and is ready to get back onto the court when the time is right.

“I am very thankful for my past experiences, it has helped me be resilient through all of this,” Bailey observed. “I continue to tell myself that everything happens for a season and to stay positive.”

Wherever Bailey is playing in the 2020-21 season, she is grateful for her time at Iowa State and what the people continue to mean to her.

“I miss my Iowa State family so much. I think it’s important to remember, especially in times like this, to never take that time for granted and to be present in all that you do on and off the court.”

Hannah Bailey