Every time Lehi middle-hitter Bree Bailey takes to the volleyball court, two things are guaranteed: The 6-foot-4 junior will reach double-figure kill totals, and she will have Utah's tallest, and often loudest, cheerleader shouting words of encouragement from the stands.

The daughter of former Utah Jazz player Thurl Bailey, Bree Bailey and her teammates often get a kick out of hearing her dad when they watch the film of a previous game.

"At games, he's pretty loud and we can always hear him on film," said Bailey. "Sometimes having him around draws a lot of attention, but I love it."

The elder Bailey has plenty to cheer about these days, as the Pioneers entered the week with one loss to Snow Canyon and a third-place finish in the Rocky Mountain tournament.

When Bailey first showed up at fall camp as a freshman in 2009, Pioneer coach Jamie Ingersoll saw a diamond in the rough who was all arms and legs. Ingersoll said hard work has put Bailey in the position of being one of Utah's elite.

"Bree just turned 16 and I think her potential is limitless because of her work ethic," said Ingersoll. "It's taken her a while to grow into her body, but her desire to be the best makes her special."

While Bailey is clogging the middle and hammering kills with regularity, she's quick to offer praise to her setter, Shelby Sorenson.

"She's just so consistent and gives me the perfect set about 99 percent of the time," said Bailey.

Bailey started playing volleyball in the eighth grade and says it took some time to become more than just a front-row player.

"Last year I'd serve and come out," said Bailey. "I worked pretty hard over the summer on staying low and communicating with my teammates."

Ingersoll said Bailey's all-court improvement makes the Pioneers that much more dangerous.

"She's getting better defensively, and just having her in that back row as a hitter gives us another weapon."

Verbally committed to Arizona State, Bailey is looking to help her team improve upon a fifth-place finish in last year's state tournament.

"I think we have a unique group of girls," said Ingersoll. "They have the potential, now they just have to go out and make it happen." —

Pioneers killing it

Lehi middle hitter Bree Bailey, daughter of former Utah Jazz player Thurl Bailey, has yet to have fewer than double-digit kills in any match this season for the Pioneers.

Outside hitter Mikayla Dunford, an Idaho State recruit, teams with Bailey to form one of the most formidable front lines in Utah volleyball.

The Lehi volleyball team has deemed 2010 as "our time" and has set the 5A state championship as its goal.