With an overall record of 5-10, the Hanover High volleyball team has to win all five of its remaining games in order to qualify for tournament play. But whether the season ends with senior night Oct. 28 or continues, the young team with just two seniors and three sophomores has shown grit, determination and a lot of improvement along the way.

Led by senior captains Meaghan Raab, and Haley McCusker, and junior Captain Taylor Scott, the team has had some great games against tough competition.  They won a set in a challenging 3-1 loss against  a strong Quincy High School team, which not every team can do. They pushed the match against Silver Lake to 5 sets, making their opponents sweat before losing 3-2, and they played well in Monday’s 3-0 loss to Pembroke.

One of the team’s biggest celebrations this season came Sept. 12, when Coach Dave Jakub had a great victory. He reached 200 wins in his volleyball coaching career with a 3-1 win over Norwell.

“We all knew we had a very good chance of winning the game and that it would be Jake’s 200th so we were all really excited,” recalled junior Captain Taylor Scott. Hanover had lost to Middleboro three days before, but hopes were high and the girls were ready. Sure enough, their hard work and motivation paid off.

In celebration of Coach Jakub’s milestone, the volleyball team presented a large celebratory banner and a big cake. Scott recalls how her coach was clearly touched by the moment, despite his humble insistence that 209 wins were more important than 200, as 209 would bring his players to tournament.

A longtime physical education teacher, Coach Jakub began coaching volleyball at Hanover High School in 1999. His devotion to the game is legendary; those who know him will say that any free time he has, he spends watching, reading or thinking about volleyball.

The team will face Plymouth South on October 19 and will surely pose some fierce competition. A win would keep their postseason hopes alive.