VOLLEYBALL: Carstens signs to play at Simpson

Nodaway Valley senior volleyball player Bailey Carstens signed to further her academic and athletics career at Simpson College this fall.

Carstens faced the unexpected obstacle of a coaching change at her college of choice, but the new coaching staff is very excited to have the Wolverine standout committed to their program. Her grandfather, Dean Carstens, is a former dual-sport athlete for the Storm.

“Trying to find a college has been pretty difficult for me, trying to decide where I want to go, but Simpson was the right choice when I went on the college visit and I’m very excited to start there next fall,” Carstens said. “The process was definitely different than I feel like it is for most. I decided I wanted to play volleyball in college after my junior year and went on a recruiting site. Simpson reached out to me and I thought ‘Simpson’s a great school, why not give it a shot.’ When they got their new coach, I said I really wanted to play for her.”

A 5-foot-9 hitter who is versatile in which position she can play, Carstens finishes her high school career as a three-year varsity contributor with a total of 180 kills and 91 blocks, having also played a considerable amount of club volleyball. She has a “burning passion” for the sport and isn’t ready for her time playing it to be complete.

To take her game to the next level, Carstens said you can “never have enough touches on the ball” and becoming faster and stronger will all help her in the long run.

“The old assistant coach who scouted me liked my positive attitude. I think that’s really what drew her in as me being a good fit. They liked my playing style and could see my personality shine through,” Carstens said.

Carstens, the daughter of Kyle and Lisa Carstens, said she’s grateful for her well-round experience at Nodaway Valley, where she has been involved in a host of activities, including FFA, National Honor Society, student council and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She holds leadership roles in many of these and is the president of her class. She is an officer for the Washington Stars 4-H Club, is president of the Adair County Youth Council and a member of the student leadership team in her youth group at Cornerstone Fellowship Church. Additionally, she’s the reigning Adair County Fair Queen.

Carstens hopes to study pre-dietetics to be on track to become a dietitian.