Volleyball coach honored before Jets win

HOPE — Hauser volleyball fans filled the gym with claps and cheers before Thursday’s match against Shelbyville even started.

Hauser coach Jeff Case was being awarded the game ball for his 400th victory, which came Aug. 26 in the the Scottsburg Tournament. The cheers continued as the Jets went on to earn their seventh win in eight games by beating Shelbyville 25-17, 25-14, 25-16.

“It was good, but at the time you’re just worried about playing the games,” Case said about his 400th victory. “You worry about that stuff later.”

Hauser (13-2) never trailed in the first two sets. The Golden Bears were within 18-14 in the first set before the Jets scored four straight points to create distance on its way to taking the set. Shelbyville kept it close in the second set at 12-11 until Hauser took off for seven consecutive points to stretch the lead yet again.

The third set was the closest for the Golden Bears (1-7) until about midway through. Every time it looked as if the Jets was going to take off, the Golden Bears responded with a short run of their own. That was until Hauser scored the final seven points to take the match.

Case said being able to get early leads helps win sets.

“I think it’s important to get a little separation,” Case said. “It helps the team play loose. I thought we really hit our serve settings really well. They were right on the money on most of them. I thought our blocks were pretty good.”

Sarah Tedder led the Jets with seven kills and matched Sydney Schoen with 11 digs. Schoen, Alana Owen and Madie Sherman all had two aces.

Schoen also had six kills, and Hannah Johnson added five. Johnson and Sherman led the team in blocks with three apiece, and Owen had 22 assists.

“I thought we came out strong,” Schoen said. “We were really pumped up and ready to play. I feel like we’re improving every single day, and everyone is just working hard. We’re all learning how to work together with some younger girls and newer girls. We’ve been doing a really good job of playing together, and I just feel like we are all improving as a team.”