Volleyball coaches count on veteran players for leadership and to help put marks in the win column.

The Jackson County coaches said they feel they have some good leaders this fall.

Cougars

Senior Bailey Tabeling said she is super excited about playing all-around at Trinity Lutheran this fall.

“My responsibility in the middle front is to be the leader and to communicate with my team when I can. As the only senior on the court this year, I will have to use my voice and be loud and encouraging to my teammates,” she said. “They will get down on themselves, just like I did at their age, but I will have to do my best to make sure they keep their head up and forget about it. Mistakes happen, and there is nothing anyone can do to prevent them from happening except for them.”

She looks forward to getting some digs, which is going to be a new experience for her.

“Playing in the back row is a new experience for me, but I have been putting in the work at practice and over the summer to get better,” Tabeling said. “Coach has me pass with Laura Roeder, who is one of the better passers on the team, and I believe it was to challenge me to get better. I believe I have accepted the challenge and worked hard to make sure she knew what I was capable of in the back row.”

Trinity Lutheran’s Bailey Tabeling goes for a kill against Hauser last season.

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Tabeling has helped the Cougars reach the state championship game in Class A twice, and last Tuesday, she helped Trinity defeat Class A No. 2 Loogootee.

Tabeling feels that Trinity is different from other places because it’s more than just a team, and it feels like a family.

“One, we are a small school, so everyone already knows everyone by the time games start. Two, the people at Trinity are amazing. They are wonderful people who are easy to talk to and become friends with,” she said. “Lastly, the coaches here. We have coaches who are dedicated to the sport and help us younger kids become better. They are tough on us because they know the potential we all have, and they want to see us do our best. They are not only our coaches but our mentors. They are always there if we ever need to talk and understand that we all have off days.”

Owls

Seymour seniors Cali Cummings and Addi Lemon are hoping they can help the Owls at least equal last year’s 26-win season and bring the school a sectional title.

Cummings said she has been playing varsity since her freshman season.

“I played JV and varsity my freshman season. This year, I’ll be a middle hitter and middle blocker. I need to get some kills and just help the team out,” Cummings said. “When my passers are able to do their job and Addi is able to get me a good set, I’ve got to put that ball down.”

There are three girls on the SHS roster listed at 6-feet-2, including Cummings. She said, “I think it will be a good season, and we’re working on our blocking, too, so I think between putting balls down and stopping the other team, I think our season will be really good.”

The Owls got off to an 8-1 start that included winning a tournament at Bloomington South last week. Seymour was ranked No. 3 in Class 4A last week. The Owls are now 11-4 after competing in the Avon Invite last weekend.

Seymour’s Cali Cummings blocks the ball against Columbus East earlier this season.

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Lemon is beginning her third season as the Owls’ setter.

She said teamwork is the key to having success.

Seymour’s Addi Lemon tosses a shirt to a group of elementary volleyball players prior to the Owls’ home match with Columbus East earlier this season.

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“Without communication, if I don’t get a perfect pass or if we’re just bickering in the back, it’s all just going to go south. It all starts with your attitude and just working together in general. Practice is so important,” Lemon said. “We run plays every single practice, and we work together as a team the whole time. It’s going to be a big year for us seniors, and I think we’re going to leave something behind for the younger girls. I think we mostly need to work on communicating more and who takes which balls on the court.”

Braves

Kalee Borden is the only senior at Brownstown Central.

“I just make sure we’re all comfortable around each other because we do have a young group, lots of freshmen, so letting them know that all of these teams are going to be faster, just preparing them for a faster pace,” Borden said.

Borden is in her third season as a varsity starter and plays outside left when she is in the front row.

“I block their right side and middle, and then I hit around the block,” she said.

She was the Braves’ leading attacker in helping them get off to a 3-0 start.

When Borden is in the back row, she said, “I play left back all three rotations. You’ve got to make sure you get in your defensive position depending on where they put the ball, and getting the ball to the setter is first priority.”

She enjoys defense and getting digs, but she also loves to get up and hit the ball.

Brownstown Central’s Kalee Borden goes low for a dig during a match against Seymour last season.

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“I enjoy both a lot. I just enjoy playing volleyball. I enjoy making friends and growing up around people and see everyone else grow along with you,” Borden said. “Having a good team is always a good part. We all become a family through the years because we all play together.”

Borden said in order for the team to reach its goals, they have to come in and mean business every day.

“Every day, we need to work hard in practice and have everyone come together as a team,” she said. “We are young, and a lot of us haven’t played together, so we need to make sure we grow together throughout the season and go uphill for postseason when we’re playing our best ball.”

Tigers

Pearl Shirley and Carlee Walker played volleyball their freshman year at Brownstown Central before switching to Crothersville, and they have been starting for the Tigers ever since.

Shirley is an outside hitter and plays back row.

“I feel pretty confident (attacking) this year,” she said. “This is my third year hitting, so it’s kind of exciting. I have to look and see where the open spots are. Blocking is kind of new for me, so I kind of shut my eyes. I know you’re not supposed to. I’m getting better this year. I need to work on my timing.”

Crothersville’s Pearl Shirley takes the shot during the match at Medora earlier this season.

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Shirley said her play in the back row is decent and added she has improved on getting digs and passing.

“We will definitely be better than last year,” she said. “We’re in here three hours every day and working hard. I like the fast pace of volleyball. It is very important to win the first set. It gives you a lot of confidence to win the other sets.”

The Tigers have already won three matches so far this season.

Walker plays the libero position for the Tigers.

“I play middle back. My responsibility is getting the ball up. I like getting the ball up and giving my teammates a chance to attack it,” she said.

She said she has been working hard in practice on lateral movement.

“It could use some work. I like playing defense. I like serving,” she said.

Crothersville’s Carlee Walker serves the ball against Medora earlier this season.

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Walker said in order for the Tigers to have a winning season and finish near the top of the Southern Athletic Conference, they have to be confident.

“It is going to take confidence and hard work,” she said. “It’s really important to win the first set. Just like Pearl said, it gives you confidence.”

Hornets

Jenna Bowers and Laykin Hinderlider are juniors and are the most experienced players on the Medora team.

“I like to play outside left as a hitter,” Bowers said. “I just like to hit. That’s my main thing.”

She said it takes teamwork to be successful.

“If there is no teamwork, you don’t get the team chemistry. You’ve got to get the pass to get the hit to get the kills. If there is none of that, you don’t score,” Bowers said. “It is very important to win the first set. It gets your energy up so you’re not slumped for the second set. I like the team chemistry part of it where you have to work together. I think we’ll have a good season. It’s going to take hard work, for sure.”

Medora’s Jenna Bowers, right, returns the ball during the match against Crothersville earlier this season.

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Hinderlider is in her second season as the Hornets’ setter.

“I try to get it to one of my hitters so we can try to get a kill. I think our back row defense is going to be pretty good,” she said.

Medora’s Laykin Hinderlider, left, sets the ball during the match against Crothersville earlier this season.

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She is confident the Hornets can have a winning record.

“It’s going to take a lot of teamwork and working together,” Hinderlider said. “I like that I get to set up my hitters and watch them hit. It’s very important to work hard in practice.”

The Hornets will host the Southern Roads Conference tournament on Sept. 24.