By CONOR NICHOLL

cnicholl@dailynews.net

In one-half of a season, the Hays High School volleyball team has already won more games than it did in the 2007 and 2006 seasons, respectively. Helped by team chemistry, new head coach Bob Schmitz and improvement in nearly every area, the Indians have produced a strong resume.

"I think it is a lot better, because I think our team gets along a lot better this year," junior outside hitter Raena Sander said. "There is no fighting at all and I think it shows on the court. We are definitely a better team than we were last year."

HHS has a chance to bolster its already impressive season Thursday at the HHS Quadrangular in the final home matches of the season. Hays High is 10-6 overall, including a 3-0 record at home. Three more wins Thursday would match the total victories from the last two seasons combined, when the Indians finished 5-27 and 8-25.

"That would be a cool thing," senior setter Kelsey Hedlund said.

The Indians further solidified themselves as a strong team in last weekend's Newton Invitational, a tournament that featured several of the state's top squads. Hays High finished 2-2, with 2-1 wins against Class 4A Andover Central and Class 6A Wichita North.

They lost to Class 4A Buhler 2-0, and fell 2-1 to Class 5A Newton, 12-4 this fall and receiving votes in the most Kansas Volleyball Coaches Association coaches' poll.

"Our games Saturday, our blocks were really good and that helped us a lot, too," Hedlund said. "We just played really well and everything just went our way."

Similar play could help Hays High win the quad Thursday. They will play 6A Dodge City, a Western Athletic Conference foe, in the first match at 3 p.m. Earlier this season, HHS lost to Dodge in what Schmitz labeled as "one of the worst games we have played."

"We have been playing a lot more consistent lately, so I think it is going to be a different outcome," Schmitz said.

The Indians also will face 4A Abilene, a perennial power that is 8-6, according to the KVCA Web site. Salina South, which has a similar record to HHS, rounds out the field.

"We are capable of beating them, just as long as we played as well as we did Saturday, I think we have a pretty good chance," Hedlund said.

Hays High has solidified its starting lineup in recent matches and shown positive changes from past years. Junior Kamri Nehls has moved into the starting lineup, a move that Hedlund said "helps with our blocks a lot." Overall, Nehls has 22 kills.

"We have been working with our same hitters and our same setters, so we are kind of used to that now and now that we finally have a rotation," Hedlund said.

Offensively, the Indians have been led by junior outside hitter Ashli Dryden, a returning first-team Western Athletic Conference selection. Dryden has collected 117 kills with a .377 kill percentage.

Senior libero Emily Younger paces the squad in digs per game (2.59) and also leads the squad in passing (2.32 on a 3-point scale). Senior setter Liz Shelton and Hedlund lead the team in assists in the 6-2 offense.

"I like it a lot," Sander said of the 6-2. "It has worked out for both setters, but I see more of Kelsey. I really like it. I see more of Kelsey, but I like Liz setting me, too."

Serving-wise, Hedlund, junior Macy Linn and Shelton rank among the Class 6A-3A leaders, according to the area-wide statistics published by The Hutchinson News.

The serve, helped by the coaching change from Gary Anderson to Schmitz, has been one of the team's biggest improvements.

"During practice, we always serve at the beginning," Hedlund said. "I think we are not afraid to take chances this year because we know that there is not going to be a punishment. If we do make a mistake, we just move on and we try to do better. Also, I think we are a lot smarter when we serve. We try to find the open holes on the court."

Hedlund leads the team in serve percentage (97.5), while Linn has a team-high 20 aces. Shelton has contributed 18 more, including three at Newton.

"The serving is really good," Schmitz said. "(Hedlund and Shelton) are both doing excellent jobs on their serving. (Linn) places the ball extremely well and makes people move to the ball to get to it."