HOPE — It’s become an annual rite of passage that the Hauser volleyball team gets a firetruck escort through the town of Hope each October.
That was the case again Saturday night after the Class A No. 3 Jets won their seventh consecutive sectional title. Hauser rolled to a 25-11, 25-18, 25-12 win against Jac-Cen-Del.
“It’s an awesome feeling,” junior Sydney Schoen said just before boarding a school bus that would follow a police car and fire truck through town. “Everyone is excited and pumped up, and we’re looking forward to playing in regional.”
The Jets (32-3) will host the regional Tuesday against Greenwood Christian Academy, which upset Indianapolis Lutheran in five sets in the Lutheran Sectional final. Hauser and Lutheran had met in the regional the past four years.
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Saturday, Hauser had a little trouble at the beginning of the first two sets. The Jets led only 13-9 in the opening set before a sideout and seven straight points with Alana Owen at the serving line extended the margin to 21-9.
In the second set, the Eagles led 12-11 before a sideout and six consecutive service points from Taylor Henderson.
“We were pumped up and ready to play, and I know they were, too, and that’s why they stuck with us at the beginning,” Hauser coach Jeff Case said. “We were just able to put a little stress on them with our serving and ball control and offense and were able to separate. We’re playing really good defense.”
There was never a doubt in the third set. Schoen served the Jets to a 10-0 lead, and they never looked back.
“I just got in rhythm,” Schoen said. “Earlier in the match, I felt like I wasn’t in rhythm, but then eventually, I just got into it and started serving aggressive and was hitting my zones.”
Schoen led Hauser with two blocks, 17 digs and seven aces. Brea Metz pounded 22 kills, and Alana Owen recorded 39 assists.
Also for the Jets, Tannyr Davis had seven kills and a block. Sarah Tedder notched 12 digs and Owen served two aces.
“We came out a lot better than we have in our past games,” Metz said. “We stayed up and positive the whole game, and I think our play showed with that.”
Hauser advanced to the title game with a 25-14, 26-24, 25-16 semifinal win against Rising Sun on Saturday afternoon.
In that match, Metz pounded 10 kills, Owen recorded 17 assists, Maddie Sherman had three blocks, Schoen notched 12 digs and Tedder and Hailey Lange each served three aces. Davis added eight kills and two blocks, and Tedder had nine digs.
