Don't tell Kylee Baker she can't do something. People have been telling her what she can't do for years, especially in volleyball.
The freshman outside hitter refuses to accept that.
"I've always been told that I'm too short to play in the front row," said Baker, who has played every set for the Cardinals this season. "Most of the schools that recruited me wanted me to play in the back row. I was disappointed, maybe even hurt. I wanted to play in the front row. I've wanted to show them they were wrong."
Generously listed at 5-foot-11 on Ball State's roster, shorter than the 6-foot minimum for most outside hitters, Baker's intensity and hitting ability dazzled one person in particular.
Former Ball State assistant coach Hugh Hernesman, who currently coaches at Northwestern State, recruited Baker. He expected Baker to be a star, despite her height.
"Kylee was the exact player we needed the past two years," Hernesman said. "She has great ball control and a big arm. She makes things easier for everyone else with her offensive skills.
"What we lacked was a volleyball player on the outside. That's not a knock on anyone we had, but we just needed more than an athlete."
Hernesman watched Baker play club volleyball in Plainfield, Ill., from the time she was 16. Baker's club was selling her as a libero, but Hernesman disagreed.
"I always thought it was a little funny her club was pushing her to be a libero," he said. "I told her coaches I think she can hit, and she's proven that she can."
Baker's nickname, "Bam Bam," reflects her ability as an outside hitter. She earned the moniker for the sound the ball made the first time she blasted a kill in front of coach Steve Shondell.
"Kylee is a gamer," Shondell said. "She loves to compete and thrives in the spotlight. She brings energy and enthusiasm to practice. Kylee is working hard to be a complete player. She doesn't just want to be known as a dynamic hitter."
Hernesman's foresight has paid dividends for Baker and Ball State. She is second on the team in kills and digs with 171 and 154, respectively. She leads the team with 17 aces.
What you see isn't what you get with Baker. While Baker is focused on proving her critics wrong, she steps away from the game and enjoys college life.
Baker started a friendship with junior middle blocker Kelsey Brandl in August when the freshman was feeling homesick. She said the two have been almost inseparable since.
Baker and Brandl are known for their sense of humor. Coaches had to tell them to be more serious during pre-match warmups because the two wouldn't stop with the jokes.
"We're really good friends on and off the court," Brandl said. "We pick on each other all the time. It's exciting to have someone to play around with, like a little sister."
It's too early to predict where Baker's career will take her. She said her game still has areas to improve, and she's working to become a better player.
But one thing is for certain: Baker has already proved she can be successful at the Division I level.
"It's been quite the journey," Baker said. "All I can do is dream that I'll become a complete player."
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