Holding Out For A Hero

FARMINGTON -- Kaylynn Bates was holding out for a hero and got what she wanted when Rockhurst University volleyball coach Tracy Rietzke interrupted her dinner to offer a scholarship.

Bates becomes Farmington's first volleyball athlete to accept a scholarship in the sport when she signed a national letter of intent to play women's college volleyball for Rockhurst University, of Kansas City. Bates was accompanied by her family during the ceremony held late Monday afternoon at Cardinal Arena. Two sets of parents, Geoff and Kristin Bates, and Kim and Jeremy Krueger, bore witness to the final act of a storied high school career as a Lady Cardinal.

Bates earned All-State volleyball honors for the second consecutive year for the 2016 season. As a senior at Farmington, she was also named All-Conference 5A West and to the All-State tournament team. Bates set school records for most career kills (657), most career aces (161), and was named All-Conference three times. As a senior, she racked up most kills in a season (351) and most aces in a season (67) in leading Farmington to a coveted state tournament berth. Bates' skillset had her on the radar of several colleges, but she patiently waited, hoping Rockhurst which she had visited for a March try-out would make an offer.

"She did have offers from other schools, but she really wanted to go to Rockhurst," said Farmington coach Marshall Ward.

Bonnie Tyler recorded the song Holding Out For A Hero for the original Footloose soundtrack in 1984. The lyrics describe Bates' dilemna.

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night

he's gotta be strong

and he's gotta be fast

and he's gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a hero

To Lady Cardinal volleyball fans, Bates is something of a heroine herself. She was Farmington's go-to-girl, the primary option in their offense as an outside hitter at an under-sized 5-feet-6. Bates appreciates volleyball's foundation as a team-oriented sport and is quick to mention setter Callie Harper, who consistently dished up opportunities for quality hits.

"She got me lots of sets," Bates said. "I wouldn't get any of those kills or set any of those records without sets."

Bates was spurred by classmate Anna Dutton, who played middle hitter at 5-feet-10. They worked out together last summer pushing each other every day.

"We would work out every day and lift weights and stuff to our verticals higher because we're both not very tall and we both play front line," Bates said.

Ward attributed the delay in part to Rockhurst looking for a taller athlete. He notes the average size of an outside hitter on Rockhurst's roster is 6-feet while the average size of a middle hitter is 6-feet-3. Ward points out Rockhurst has fielded very competitive volleyball teams. The Division II Lady Hawks have made 10 appearances in the NCAA national volleyball tournament over the past 18 years. Six times they advanced to the "Sweet Sixteen" with a trip to the "Elite 8" in 2015. Last season, Rockhurst went 16-2 in conference play and 27-7 overall. The Lady Hawks have been ranked as high as No. 5 in the nation in the past two years and finished ranked No. 23 last season.

Ward advocated Bates' ability to play bigger than her size in conversations with Reitzke and Bates held out. Finally in June, Reitzke called wanting to sign Bates as a defensive specialist. She didn't have to think twice. The hero materialized and her dream of playing women's college volleyball for Rockhurst took shape.

I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light

he's gotta be sure

and it's gotta be soon

and he's gotta be larger than life!

larger than life

"I really wanted to go to Rockhurst because of the school and because of the location," Bates said. "I wanted Division II instead of NAIA."

The moment wasn't lost on Ward, a volleyball enthusiast with no coaching experience recruited by Farmington students to take over the volleyball program when Jessica McCullough stepped down after the 2012 season.

"It's big for our program," Ward said. "We've definitely had players in the past, who were talented enough, but either pursued another sport or did something else. Kaylynn's group were eighth-graders when I started (coaching). They were the first group I got to see all the way up. So, for one of them to be the first one to go up, that's definitely a good first. I'm glad it could be one in her group, and with all the records she holds I'm glad it can be her. I hope she does very good things for that school."