Retiring coach suggests stronger schedule

Retired Shakamak volleyball coach Jeri Morin says she is in the process of adding tougher competition to the team's schedule in order to help get them ready for post-season play. Above, Morin addresses her team during a timeout at the class 2A regional at South Decatur High School in Greensburg. The Lady Lakers fell in four games to Edinburgh. (By Rick Curl/Greene County Daily World). [Order this photo]

"I'm currently working on that right now," Morin said following her team's four-set loss to Edinburgh in Saturday's regional here at South Decatur High School.

"We're getting us into some good tournaments and we've picked up Terre Haute North and I want to continue to pick up some more 3A and 4A teams."

The last three seasons have been both good and bad for the Lady Lakers. Good in the fact they've won three straight sectional titles -- and bad in that they've lost in all three regional appearances.

During their first two forays to Greensburg, Shakamak fell victim to the Indianapolis Lutheran Saints, a team that normally faces off against larger and higher classed opponents.

This time around it was the Edinburgh Lancers who sent the Lady Lakers home disappointed. To add to the frustration for Shakamak, the Lancers who normally face tougher opponents as well, were playing a virtual home match with the school located less than an hour away from Greensburg.

Currently, the Lady Lakers non-Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference slate features a mix of teams scattered throughout all four classes with only one team -- Sullivan in Class 3A -- earning a sectional crown and advancing to the regional final.

The remaining teams on the docket aren't exactly powerhouses in any class and only two advanced out of the first round of postseason play.

That list includes Washington Catholic (A), Washington (3A), South Knox (2A), North Knox (2A), Cloverdale (2A), South Vermillion (3A) and Owen Valley (3A), who all dropped first round sectional matches, as well as Riverton Parke (A) and Edgewood (3A) who both bowed out in the second round of sectional play and West Vigo (3A) who fell in the sectional finals.

The Lady Lakers' schedule also did include three in-season invitational tournaments -- including their own. But Morin admitted that perhaps visits to tougher and more competitive tournaments during the regular season might yield much better results for the team during the regional or even beyond.

"The schedule needs to be addressed and everybody knows that," Morin said with a chuckle. "Just to get ready for the Indianapolis Lutheran's and stuff you have to play a competitive schedule."

Morin retired from coaching the team after eight seasons at the helm, citing a desire to spend more time with her family.

She finished her coaching tenure with a 165-83 mark that was highlighted by two conference crowns and three consecutive sectional titles.

Team's under her tutilage also won at least 14 matches in all eight seasons.

Jeri Morin's

Volleyball coaching record

At Shakamak High School

2002 -- 14-17

2003 -- 17-14

2004 -- 20-11

2005 -- 22-9

2006 -- 24-5

2007 -- *#@ 29-3

2008 -- *18-14

2009 -- *21-10

Total -- 165-83

*Sectional champs

#TRC champs

@SWIAC champ