McIntosh County Academy head volleyball coach Shanelle Palmer remembers when a new student-athlete approached her soon after arriving at the Darien, Georgia, school. The student had played volleyball at her previous high school in South Carolina and was now interested in playing for the Buccaneers.
“She was very shy and very quiet,” Palmer said. “She didn’t say a whole lot, but she was very nice and well mannered.”
That student was Hadley Baugh, and she had just finished her freshman season as a member of the Horse Creek Academy volleyball team in Aiken, South Carolina.
Palmer wasn’t sure what to make of Baugh at first.
“My first impression of her was she was very quiet, timid, and bashful,” Palmer said.
They say first impressions are everything, but Palmer’s impression of Baugh changed quickly after the coach saw her new transfer take the court.
“Oh, yeah, she came out of her shell when I saw her for the first time playing on the court,” Palmer said.
That was at the start of Baugh’s sophomore season. Now, two seasons later, Baugh has become a force on the volleyball floor, and her attitude is “engaging,” according to Palmer. Baugh is a setter for the Buccaneers, but can play any position on the floor, according to Palmer.
It turns out there was a reason for Baugh’s timid demeanor when she first stepped foot on the McIntosh County Academy campus.
“Hadley came to us from a bigger school in South Carolina (Horse Creek Academy), which is much bigger than our school, and the volleyball team had a lot of very skilled players,” Palmer said. “With Hadley being just a freshman, she had a bit of a tough time getting on the court and finding playing time.”
Baugh had been playing volleyball since she was in the fifth grade, and this sudden wall that she was facing set her back, according to Palmer.
“She fell behind by not being able to play, and I think that affected her a little bit off the floor,” Palmer said.
Fortunately for Baugh, her time away from the sport she loved didn’t last long.
“Hadley’s parents signed her up for some local camps and training, which helped her get back in the swing of things,” Palmer said.
Baugh’s McIntosh County Academy volleyball teammates welcomed her with open arms, and that has helped her to flourish with the Buccaneers.
“Hadley has turned into one of our best players,” Palmer said. “She can play any position on the floor, and her style of play is phenomenal. She’s very good, and she is one of my main characters, too. When Hadely is on the floor, she plays with so much energy. The amount of passion, love, and knowledge she possesses for the game of volleyball is far and few to find. She has the physical strength, communication skills, team work, ball control, game understanding, good sportsmanship, and encouragement for her teammates.”
In addition to starring for her high school squad, Baugh is a member of two area club volleyball programs, the 17U Waves and the 17U Sharks, whom she joined last year in her sophomore season.
As good as she is in her element on the volleyball floor, Baugh excels in a couple of other areas. In October of this year, Baugh was recognized for her artistic creativity as the McIntosh Art Association’s Young Artist Award.
She also excels in her classroom studies, according to Palmer.
“Hadley is the epitome of a student-athlete,” Palmer said. “She is so engaged with the sport she loves, and she is an honor student. I am ecstatic she is part of the One Buc family.”
