HOPE — After giving up the final 11 points of the second set to fall behind two sets-to-none Monday night, Hauser could have rolled over and played out the string.
Instead, the Jets fought back to push Class 3A Madison to the brink.
Hauser had a match point in the fifth set, but the Cubs rallied to score three in a row to pull out a 25-12, 25-20, 23-25, 13-25, 17-15 volleyball victory.
“It would have been real easy for us to roll over, but I’m happy that we came back and started playing,” Hauser coach Jeff Case said. “Hopefully we a can learn from this and be stronger to start the games and finish a little better.”
Prior to the match, Case was presented with a plaque for his 500th career win, which came Aug. 21 against Edinburgh in the Henryville Tournament. He now is 503-158 in 20 years coaching the Jets.
Hauser (6-3) got off to a slow start Monday. But after Madison cruised in the opening set, the Jets seemed destined to tie the match when it led 20-14 in the second. But the Cubs, behind the serving of Ava Armbrecht, ran off 11 in a row to take a 2-0 lead.
“That was hard to believe,” Case said. “I don’t know how we gave up that many points in a row, but we did.”
The third set went back-and-forth until Hauser scored the final two points after it was tied 23-23.
The Jets then led from start to finish in the fourth set. They led 9-6 went they went on a 12-1 run. Andie Clark served five consecutive aces at one point, giving Hauser a 21-7 lead.
The fifth set went back and forth, with the Jets taking a 12-9 lead after back-to-back aces from Clark. The Cubs went ahead 14-13 and looked to have won match point, but was called in the net on a kill attempt. A Madison assistant coach was given a red card for arguing the call, and the Cubs were issued a point penalty, giving Hauser the lead at 15-14. But then Madison scored three in a row to take the match.
“I’m really happy that we bounced back from the terrible start,” Case said. “We’re young, so we’re a little up and down. I’d just like to start a little stronger. We have to work on ball control and just keeping things clean. We weren’t talking to start with, but that came on.”
Andie Clark led the Jets with 25 digs and eight aces. Kenzie Bostic pounded 17 kills, Adrianna Musillami recorded 28 assists and Aniston Bostic had two blocks.
Also for Hauser, Aniston Bostic notched 10 kills, and Charlie Clark added six kills, 15 digs and four aces. Musillami tallied nine digs and two aces, Kenze Bostic had one block and two aces and Andie Clark added two assists.
All 13 varsity players on the Jets roster saw action in key moments and made contributions.
“I’m happy everybody was able to come in and play and do well,” Case said.
