OXFORD, Miss. – As the Northwestern State volleyball team heads here for this weekend's season-opening Magnolia Invitational at Ole Miss, Bailey Martin has several reasons to be happy.
 
One of which is her decision to read the fine print.
 
Two weeks ago, first-year coach Sean Kiracofe made the decision to award Martin a scholarship for the 2015 season after his libero paid her way through school in 2014.
 
Kiracofe, however, made sure the reveal came with a twist.
 
"I was trying to get this ball so we could give it away at (the NSU scholarship) auction," Martin said. "That's what this meeting with (assistant athletic director for compliance) Dustin (Eubanks) was about. I went in there and Dustin told me I had violated NCAA rules, and I was going to have to sit out a couple of games. My eyes started watering up. He said, 'I'm going to need you to sign these papers so that you understand what we talked about.'
 
"I couldn't even see to read. I went to sign it, and he said, 'Wait, you have to read it first.' I saw financial aid, and I was like, "Wait a minute.' It was really exciting."
 
Martin is accustomed to being the one who helps others breathe a sigh of relief.
 
Last season, Martin stepped into the starting libero role after a season-ending injury to preseason All-American Keelie Arneson and helped propel Northwestern State to its first Southland Conference Tournament championship and inaugural NCAA Tournament berth.
 
"She played on a great club team (Texas Advantage) and a really good high school team (Lovejoy)," said Kiracofe, whose team will face Tennessee State on Friday at 3 p.m. before playing Oral Roberts (9 a.m.) and host Ole Miss (7:30 p.m.) on Saturday.
 
"She was ready for the situation – definitely not hoping it would happen but she definitely wasn't intimidated by the circumstances at all. While forced into it, she was more than prepared to produce."
 
After appearing in just eight sets as a freshman, Martin took full advantage of her first extended playing time. Playing in 94 sets, Martin tallied 454 digs, the fifth-highest total in NSU single-season history. Her career-high 39 digs at Mississippi State is tied for third in school history in a single match.  
 
Martin credited watching Arneson play for more than a season with helping Martin step in and contribute immediately.
 
"That made the transition a little smoother," Martin said.
 
That isn't to say watching was easy for Martin, a second-team Academic All-Southland Conference selection as a sophomore.
 
"I was like a horse waiting in the gate my freshman year," she said. "I wanted to play really bad, but I understood it wasn't my time. When it came, it was like boom."
 
Martin was a boon to the SLC Tournament champions and to Kiracofe's transition to head coach.
 
"(Martin brings) a lot of energy and relentless effort," Kiracofe said. "She is constantly back there working as hard as you want any libero to work and provides a positive outlook for the rest of the team. They may struggle internally from play to play, but she can bring them back and get them in a good state of mind."
 
Martin's on-court demeanor meshes well with her personality, which includes a healthy dose of selflessness.
 
It also opened her up to Kiracofe's jocular side.
 
"She's a sweet-natured girl," Kiracofe said. "I don't know if it would have worked out as well as it did with anyone else on the team."


Weekend Schedule
3 p.m., Friday — Northwestern State vs. Tennessee State
9 a.m., Saturday — Northwestern State vs. Oral Roberts
7:30 p.m., Saturday — Northwestern State at Ole Miss (TV: SEC Network Plus)