Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Volleyball Senior Leaders Have Long-Lasting Friendship
9/19/2018 4:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Over the past three years, outside hitters Regan Coughlin and Bailey Mason have been models of consistency for Middle Tennessee State volleyball. During the early afternoon hours in the fall, the sounds of 12 girls shouting out commands to each other while the blue and white ball volleys over the net in the Alumni Memorial Gym are often followed by the laughter of the two seniors that line up on the left side of the formation. The laughs they've shared date back nearly 10 years to their days in downstate Illinois.
During tryouts for the Illini Elite Cardinals club team in Coughlin's hometown of Bloomington, Illinois, the two were placed in the same position group and immediately hit it off.
"Right off the bat, we were best friends," Coughlin said with a laugh. "We were the people on the team that everyone hated because we were goofy and loud and always having fun and messing around," Mason recalled.
They began playing for the same club at 12-years old, and finally were placed on the same team together during their 15U season. Throughout their high school years, the support the pair had for each other on the court led to an even closer friendship off the court.
When Coughlin wasn't playing for the Cardinals or at Normal Community High School, she'd make the 40-mintue trip south on Highway 51 to watch Mason at Maroa-Forsyth High School in Forsyth, Illinois, and Mason would do the same for Coughlin. The experience and chemistry they built over those years in Illinois have helped them develop their take-charge mentalities they bring to the court today. But the laughs they share are the memories that resonate most from their early days together.
"During our 16U year, it was my turn to be in the game and Regan was out keeping stats for me and I served the ball and it was probably the worst serve of my life," Mason said, smiling about the memory. "So the next time I rotated around, Coach (Andy Erins) put Reagan in for me to serve, and hers were just as bad as mine."
After Coughlin came off the floor, Erins looked at her and said "If I would've known that was going to happen, I would've just left Bailey in."
As the end of their high school days neared, Mason committed to Truman State Community College and Coughlin decided on Coastal Georgia Community College. The lifestyle of juggling volleyball on top of those pesky general education courses hindered their relationship a bit. During the height of Snapchat's early days, they kept up through that and by text message a few times a week.
"Freshman year of college there's so much going on that you don't really have time to be said or say 'aw, I miss all these people,' because you're so busy," Coughlin said. "But the second that I found out that (Mason) was going to be visiting MTSU, I freaked out."
Heading into their sophomore seasons, the former teammates became teammates once again after Mason followed up Coughlin with her commitment to MTSU. The first person that Mason called after she committed? Coughlin.
"It was crazy being in high school together and being best friends," Coughlin said. "You never think that you're going to play with any club teammates again and being able to is so fun."
Over the past three years, the fun they've had on the court has translated to success. The Illinois natives have combined for 806 kills and 3.91 kills per set. Defensively, they've amassed 656 digs and average a combined 3.43 digs per set. Things have been business as usual.
"The chemistry is still the same," Coughlin said. "We still goof off and laugh and have the best time, but we're also a lot more serious. We go all in."
"We're seven hours away from home, so having someone here that you've known for your whole life and on the court has made (the chemistry) just the same," Mason said.
Navigating through their final season together, the seniors helped lead Middle Tennessee to a three-game winning streak after starting the season 1-5. Now, the focus shifts as they look to claw their way into their first conference tournament together and help the program get back to its' winning tradition.
"I want us to be able to fight in every single match," Coughlin said. "I think if we continue to do that, I think the outcome is going to be so great that it would allow us to get to a conference tournament."
"We want to be known as the seniors that turned the program around and get us over that hump. I want us to be remembered as the team that got over that hump."
They may not be the happy-go-lucky 12-year olds they were when they first met, but the laughter and leadership they've brought to Murfreesboro from the land of Lincoln sets the tone as they guide the Lady Raiders back to prominence once again
During tryouts for the Illini Elite Cardinals club team in Coughlin's hometown of Bloomington, Illinois, the two were placed in the same position group and immediately hit it off.
"Right off the bat, we were best friends," Coughlin said with a laugh. "We were the people on the team that everyone hated because we were goofy and loud and always having fun and messing around," Mason recalled.
They began playing for the same club at 12-years old, and finally were placed on the same team together during their 15U season. Throughout their high school years, the support the pair had for each other on the court led to an even closer friendship off the court.
When Coughlin wasn't playing for the Cardinals or at Normal Community High School, she'd make the 40-mintue trip south on Highway 51 to watch Mason at Maroa-Forsyth High School in Forsyth, Illinois, and Mason would do the same for Coughlin. The experience and chemistry they built over those years in Illinois have helped them develop their take-charge mentalities they bring to the court today. But the laughs they share are the memories that resonate most from their early days together.
"During our 16U year, it was my turn to be in the game and Regan was out keeping stats for me and I served the ball and it was probably the worst serve of my life," Mason said, smiling about the memory. "So the next time I rotated around, Coach (Andy Erins) put Reagan in for me to serve, and hers were just as bad as mine."
After Coughlin came off the floor, Erins looked at her and said "If I would've known that was going to happen, I would've just left Bailey in."
As the end of their high school days neared, Mason committed to Truman State Community College and Coughlin decided on Coastal Georgia Community College. The lifestyle of juggling volleyball on top of those pesky general education courses hindered their relationship a bit. During the height of Snapchat's early days, they kept up through that and by text message a few times a week.
"Freshman year of college there's so much going on that you don't really have time to be said or say 'aw, I miss all these people,' because you're so busy," Coughlin said. "But the second that I found out that (Mason) was going to be visiting MTSU, I freaked out."
Heading into their sophomore seasons, the former teammates became teammates once again after Mason followed up Coughlin with her commitment to MTSU. The first person that Mason called after she committed? Coughlin.
"It was crazy being in high school together and being best friends," Coughlin said. "You never think that you're going to play with any club teammates again and being able to is so fun."
Over the past three years, the fun they've had on the court has translated to success. The Illinois natives have combined for 806 kills and 3.91 kills per set. Defensively, they've amassed 656 digs and average a combined 3.43 digs per set. Things have been business as usual.
"The chemistry is still the same," Coughlin said. "We still goof off and laugh and have the best time, but we're also a lot more serious. We go all in."
"We're seven hours away from home, so having someone here that you've known for your whole life and on the court has made (the chemistry) just the same," Mason said.
Navigating through their final season together, the seniors helped lead Middle Tennessee to a three-game winning streak after starting the season 1-5. Now, the focus shifts as they look to claw their way into their first conference tournament together and help the program get back to its' winning tradition.
"I want us to be able to fight in every single match," Coughlin said. "I think if we continue to do that, I think the outcome is going to be so great that it would allow us to get to a conference tournament."
"We want to be known as the seniors that turned the program around and get us over that hump. I want us to be remembered as the team that got over that hump."
They may not be the happy-go-lucky 12-year olds they were when they first met, but the laughter and leadership they've brought to Murfreesboro from the land of Lincoln sets the tone as they guide the Lady Raiders back to prominence once again
Players Mentioned
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