EDINBURGH — The Hauser volleyball team reached a season-long goal Tuesday night by defending its Mid-Hoosier Conference title.
The Class A No. 6 Jets clinched at least a tie for the crown by knocking off Edinburgh 25-13, 25-14, 25-12. A win by the Lancers would have put them a half-game ahead of Hauser in the MHC race.
“It’s a big deal to win conference,” Hauser coach Jeff Case said. “A lot of people overlook it and just focus on postseason stuff, but winning conference is big for us.”
The Jets (23-2, 5-0) took full advantage of injury-riddled Lancers team. Edinburgh (14-10, 4-2) was without senior Mara Cox, who leads the Lancers in kills this season, and was unable to muster the focus and energy to take down Hauser.
“We just have to come in more focused and work harder,” Edinburgh coach Tina Bottorf said. “We have had a couple situations that’s taken our focus off of getting better. We have had a few injuries. We have to get everybody healthy, then refocus and go.”
For the Jets, focus has been key to their successful season.
“We are really looking at peaking now,” Case said. “Its all about total focus and total effort as we inch closer to sectional. Every time we step on the court, it’s an opportunity for us to get better. And if we are going to make a run this year, we have to take advantages of opportunities like this.”
Senior Brea Metz, who led Hauser with 10 kills, echoed her coach’s thoughts on taking full advantage of each day.
“We really don’t take teams for granted,” Metz said. “We play to our ability all of the time and we never try to get down on ourselves. We need to keep our energy up and we can’t think, ‘Well, we beat them once; we’re going to beat them again.”’
Alana Owen dished out 57 assists for the Jets. Sarah Tedder recorded eight digs, and Sydney Schoen served six aces.
Also for Hauser, Tannyr Davis pounded nine kills, Schoen tallied four kills and an assist, Owen had two blocks and seven digs and Tedder added eight digs and an ace. Taylor Henderson notched four kills and an assist, Metz had three blocks, Madie Sherman added two blocks and Hailey Lange contributed an assist and an ace.
The Jets have added a home game against Greenfield-Central on Tuesday. Hauser can wrap up an undefeated MHC season with a win at home against Waldron on Monday.
