BAILY SUCCESSFULLY JUGGLING FAMILY AND JOB.

Byline: Adrienne Matt Special to the Daily News

Like many women, Calabasas resident Mary Baily juggles career and family. There's one difference, however: Baily is a professional volleyball player.

Baily makes it clear that her priorities are family first - husband Rick and 3-year-old son Kyle - and then volleyball. This weekend, Baily and her partner, Helen Reale, will compete in the Ocean Pacific U.S. Open in Huntington Beach.

It's that first priority that makes the second possible.

``If it weren't for (Rick), I couldn't do this,'' Baily said. On this tour ``you might break even but you can't pay the mortgage,'' she said.

Her in-laws have come to understand her volleyball career is important. She was at tournaments in Dallas and Atlantic City when they came to visit this year. But their pride in her accomplishments is evidenced by her young niece bragging to her classmates that her aunt is a pro volleyball player.

Baily has enjoyed the support of her parents and immediate family at every Southern California event, including her days as a starter at Pepperdine.

``My family's always been there, cheering me on,'' Baily said. ``They've traveled to watch every game they could, from the fifth grade on.''

Although Baily's office has sand-covered floors and ocean views, it's no day at the beach. Baily and Reale put in grueling hours training, lifting weights, running and doing drills in order to be in peak condition for the Women's Pro Beach Volleyball Association's two- and three-day single-elimination weekend tournaments.

Before her first year on the tour in 1992, Baily taught kindergarten while in training. She would teach during the day, prepare plans and then practice in her ``spare time.''

``You just can't train that way and be in top shape,'' Baily said. Thanks to the support of her husband, she was able to set aside teaching and take the leap into the role of professional athlete.

After having a trying season last year, Baily and Reale have competed as a team in seven tour stops this season and rank 18th. Due to entries from Germany and Australia, Baily and Reale will be seeded 21st for this weekend's tournament.

``Last year was tough,'' Baily said. ``We trained for four months together and then Helen found out she was pregnant . . . I was happy for her but I had to scramble to find another partner.''

Reale gave birth to a healthy son but Baily struggled to retain a consistent partner. Now she's paying the consequences of lost points and a diminished record. She and Reale - who's still not in top condition, although you wouldn't know she had a baby five months ago - are making strides this season.

The duo are in a five-way tie for 31st in points (out of 136 players) and they've had three top-13 finishes - taking home some purse earnings. Baily is third on the tour in digs and fifth on the tour in attacks. She's above the tour average for points on serve.

``This season we've played higher-ranking teams and beat them (in Miami and San Diego),'' Baily said. ``We know we can do it (get seeded higher), it's just a matter of beating those teams at the right time.''

Baily's sights are set on making the top-16 cut this season.

``Finishing 17th is not good enough for me,'' Baily said. ``I think we should be getting 13th to 19th place (in tournament play). We're playing as well as we've ever played.''

Perhaps a part of Baily's desire to do well this year is that she'd like to have another child - and sock away some points and compete with the top competition while she's in great shape. Reale's return from childbirth has only strengthened Baily's desire to add to her family.

``We have a lot of the same goals,'' Baily said. ``That's encouraging. I really want to have another (baby).''

In the five years she's been on the WPBVA Tour, Baily has earned only $3,445 but she's the first to tell you it's not the money that keeps her motivated.

``I'm having a great time playing and I want to keep this up,'' she said. It also helps that she has secured some sponsors: Jantzen, Aloe-Up and PowerBar.

``If you've been forced into playing volleyball, you're not gonna make it. If you're not playing for you, you're not gonna make it,'' Baily said. ``You have to have other goals besides volleyball. It's important to have outside interests too.''

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Photo

Photo: Mary Baily (diving) will compete in the Ocean Pacific U.S. Open.

Robert Hack / International Sports