Emma Ricuito is a student journalist at the Walter Cronkite school at Arizona State University assigned to cover Deer Valley High School volleyball.

Bailey Fuches was stellar for the Deer Valley Skyhawks girls volleyball team this year. But this wasn’t the first time she got to showcase her skills on the court. She just finished her third dominant season at Deer Valley, and she’s looking forward to one more.

Since joining the varsity volleyball team as a freshman, Fuches has played in 349 sets on the Skyhawks as a setter and opposite hitter. She has 1,612 assists in three seasons and enjoys helping set the offense up for success.

Deer Valley head coach Jackie Wallace has loved coaching Fuches since her freshman season and says that along with Fuches being one of the most dynamic players, she’s only getting stronger every year.

“Bailey has always – from day one – been very humble and just down to earth,” Wallace said. “She’s a very coachable player.”

Fuches is creating quite the resume at such a young age, including being named one of Deer Valley’s captains for the 2019 season. She has also been awarded Region Player of the Year three times, as a freshman, a sophomore and now a junior. In October, she recognized how surreal that achievement was for her.

“I felt really accomplished, I’m hoping to get it this year and next year too,” Fuches said midway through the season.

She’s now already achieved part of this goal. On Nov. 8, it was announced that Fuches had yet again won Region Player of the Year for the 2019 season.

One of the things that makes her an overall significant player is the fact that she can be used in more than one spot on the court. Fuches led the 4A West Valley region in hitting percentage with a .422 at the end of the season, proving she can be trusted to perform well wherever she’s needed.

“She’s just a phenomenal player,” Wallace said. “Not only is she an amazing setter, but she’s this unbelievable hitter.”

Back in just her first year of high school, a freshman on varsity, Fuches set personal records for herself that she has yet to break. She had 248 kills, 324 digs and 644 assists her first season, which remain her best in those respective categories.

“I was really proud of myself. I worked really hard for it,” she said.

Now, she finds herself on each statistical leaderboard in the region. With 247 kills, 478 assists, 61 blocks, 57 aces and 239 digs, Fuches exceeded the national average in all categories. During games, she thrives off the support she receives from on and off the court.

“I do it a lot for my parents, I like to make them proud, obviously the coaches too,” Fuches said.

Before graduating in 2021, Fuches has one more season left as a Deer Valley Skyhawk, then her historic days will come to an end. She has yet to commit to a college, but she’s looking to stay in state.

When it comes to her senior year, Fuches admits the Skyhawks will be losing some of the height the team’s been used to. Even with the departure of seniors like co-captain Savannah Davis, one Deer Valley’s most impactful middle blocks and all-around players, Fuches is still optimistic of the future.

“I’m really excited, I think even next year we’ll still have a really good team,” Fuches said.

A part of that team will be sophomore Emee Fellens, who looks up to Fuches, her captain and fellow setter.  

“She’s really positive, and she knows what she’s talking about too,” Fellens said. “So, if I ask her for like a pointer or something, she’ll give it to me, and I can trust her.”

There’s no doubt that the talent Fuches possess and the successful heights she’s already reached can bring her to bright places in the future. But as of right now, she’s focused on the Deer Valley Skyhawks. Making sure her impact on the team’s performance is as strong as it can be, not only for her last year as a Skyhawk, but for the future of the team at Deer Valley.