WHITEHALL — Hart's focus heading into Tuesday's match against West Michigan Conference Lakes foe Whitehall was clear: There are 15 matches left on the Pirates' schedule, and if they win them, they win the state championship.
A lofty goal, to be sure, but if the Pirates don't meet it, Tuesday's relatively easy 25-13, 25-14, 25-19 win over the Vikings showed it won't be because they weren't locked in enough on the task at hand.
"If we win 15 games, we win conference, we win districts, we win regionals, we win state," Hart coach Shawn Bectel said he told his players. "Can we do it or can't we? Obviously, they responded the way I want. I know that's a tall task, but that's what we always think towards. This week, we knew that we had to take care of tonight. We've got to take care of next week and then win three games at conference (and) we're conference champs, at least have a piece of it. We still have everything in front of us."
The Pirates (22-12-3, 4-1 WMC Lakes) lost only to Fremont so far in league play, and would earn at least a share of the league title if they could beat the Packers and win the Oct. 24 tournament, which Orchard View will host.
Tuesday's was one of Hart's more efficient matches, as it hit for a .239 average as a team. Peyton Erickson and Reese Smith each had 13 kills to tie for the team lead, and Erickson hit for a .400 average. Erickson also had four blocks, and Grace Tucker and Calyn Eisenlohr kept Hart's offense running smoothly with a combined 35 assists.
"Our middles played great tonight," Bectel said. "They were hitting their corners, and they really set the tone. I thought our setters did a great job of getting them the ball. Our defense was right there, too."
A big part of that defense is senior libero Alayna Schiller, who has been racking up massive dig numbers all season. She was everywhere again Tuesday, totaling 25 digs. Her back-row play helps set up the rest of the team.
"For my money she's the best libero in the state," Bectel said. "She probably leads the state in digs. There was one play, I think she had four digs in one play before a point was even scored. Teams can hit at us, but like I've said before, she's like a human cheat code. What do you do?"
Schiller said her veteran teammates do a great job getting the offense going once she retrieves the ball. While she'll often tell Eisenlohr or Tucker her idea of where to set the ball, often they're thinking the same way before she even does so.
"A lot of the time they'll know exactly where to go," Schiller said. "I don't even have to tell them. I try to tell them where to place the ball, but they just know. It really helps when they just know and are really smart with their plays."
As for what she does best on the floor, Schiller points to her role as an on-court leader more than any volleyball skill.
"I think I'm a good encourager," Schiller said. "I feel like that's one of my strong suits, and I can never lose that because it's something I can control, so I try to do it every day."
Bectel probably wouldn't argue with that, pointing to Schiller's approach to each day in practice and in matches as a huge asset of hers.
"I think it's the whole package, to be honest," Bectel said. "If you're ever around her, she's a fun kid and she loves what she does. She works hard. I never have to get on her at practice. She keeps it light. You can joke around with her. But she has big dreams, and I think that she puts in that time. She lifts weights. She does the little things that other people are afraid to do."
In addition to their offensive efficiency, the Pirates continued their excellent work at the service line, making only four errors. Several long serving runs during the match were instrumental in building leads, especially in games one and two. Game one saw the Pirates leading just 14-10 despite benefiting from several Whitehall errors before pulling away, and in game two, Schiller went on a five-point serving run to help the Pirates blow open a tie game. Calyn Eisenlohr later went on an even longer run, seven points, to lock up the game.
Hart wasted no time in game three, scoring the first three points and never looking back. Whitehall made a brief push late in the game after Hart had built a huge lead, but it wasn't enough to stop the sweep.
Bectel said the way his team approached Tuesday's match bodes well for its conference and postseason runs. That kind of mentality could bring a district title to Hart.
"I thought we clicked in all facets of the game, so I was pretty excited for the kids," Bectel said. "Kudos to them. They came out, they knew what they wanted, and they took it."
