HOPE — Throughout last year’s run to the Volleyball State Finals, Melanie Taylor was a steadying presence in Hauser’s back row.
Taylor stepped into the libero spot as a sophomore last season and helped the Jets to a Class A state runner-up finish. The 5-foot-5 junior is back in that libero role this year and hopes to lead Hauser to another deep tournament run.
“She’s really improved from last year,” Hauser coach Jeff Case said. “She did a really good job last year, obviously, but she’s stepped up immensely this year. She had great leadership skills, talks, always has a positive attitude. There’s just a lot of things good about her.”
On Saturday, Taylor came through with 35 digs to help the Jets survive Southwestern (Shelby) in five sets in the Hauser Sectional semifinals. She then notched 12 digs and two aces Saturday night in a three-set championship-game win against Rising Sun.
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For the season, Taylor leads the Jets with 393 digs and is second on the team with 50 aces.
“We lost all of our seniors and didn’t really have any seniors this year,” Taylor said. “So our leadership is different than the past, so being able to come out and win a sectional was huge.”
Last year, Hauser was led by four senior starters. As one of five juniors this year, Taylor is part of that leadership for a senior-less team.
“I’ve had a blast working with these ladies,” Taylor said. “They’re so cool, and they’re like my family. Being able to work with them and lead them on has been a huge honor.”
Taylor plays for the Hope-based HAVOC volleyball club in the offseason. She is considering playing in college.
In the meantime, Taylor has her entire senior season to play, along with what she hopes will be four more matches of her junior year. The Jets play in Saturday’s Morristown Regional, beginning with a 10 a.m. semifinal against Bloomfield.
“We always have had fight, even if we’re small,” Taylor said. “We’re the underdogs, but when the time is right, we always come out fighting. We just need to work hard as a team and come out with high hopes and good attitudes, and that should take us far.”
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Morristown Regional
Saturday
10 a.m.: Hauser (20-14) vs. Bloomfield (19-9)
Noon: Indianapolis Lutheran (12-20) vs. University (18-7)
7:30 p.m.: Championship
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