For Linn-Mar volleyball coach Teresa Bair, milestone ‘reminded me how blessed I have been’

The red, numeric balloons were so large, they didn't fit in Teresa Bair's car.

The roses and the cookies were a nice touch. But roses eventually wilt, and cookies inevitably go stale.

Bair hit a milestone Tuesday night — her 700th victory as a high school volleyball coach — and the real rewards were intangible.

'I guess it just reminded me again how blessed I have been ... all the kids, the coaches, the people, the relationships,' she said.

Class 5A fourth-ranked Linn-Mar swept Waterloo East in a Mississippi Valley Conference match, moving Bair's 28-year record to 700-187 at the high school level.

She is in her fifth year at Linn-Mar, where she has assembled a 121-47 mark. Tuesday's postmatch celebration included commemorative signs marking the achievement, plus balloons and refreshments.

Now 58, Bair built the Tripoli program from scratch in 1983 and turned it into a dynasty, winning six state championships in a seven-year span from 1999 through 2005.

She left there for Loras College, where she coached seven seasons, winning two Iowa Conference titles and posting a 132-112 ledger.

'I think one thing that has helped a lot is that I haven't had a lot of turnover in assistant coaches,' Bair said. 'Continuity makes a big difference.

'The kids here have bought into what we're trying to do. They're doing things outside of the arena. We're trying to make things fun and meaningful.'

Linn-Mar is 10-3 and hosts its invitational Saturday.

SWEET MUSIC AT NORTH TAMA

When she's not serving as the school's band instructor, Channing Halstead is orchestrating a winning melody with the North Tama volleyball program.

The 1A 11th-ranked Redhawks take an 11-0 record into their match Thursday at No. 1 Janesville.

'We're trying to earn respect,' Halstead said. 'We know with these girls, we have the skill set and volleyball knowledge. Now it's a matter of getting that mental aspect, focusing on finishing matches.'

North Tama was 16-12 last year, and has sprinted out of the chute this season. Included on the list of wins was a triumph over No. 8 Montezuma and a conquest of Vinton-Shellsburg, a 3A program and Halstead's alma mater.

The Redhawks' attack is led by sophomore right-side hitter Katie Kopriva (4.96 kills per set) and junior outside hitter Karly Jans (2.93). Setter Isabel Sierra (8.56 assists per set) and primary back-row player Takoa Kopriva (3.78 digs per set) are sophomores.

'We're young, very young,' Halstead said. 'But a lot of these kids have played a lot of club volleyball.

'We pride ourselves on defense. I would put our defense up against anyone.'

Halstead is hopeful the Redhawks can continue to climb in the rankings to avoid a similar first-round regional nightmare than they faced in her first three years.

'We had to go against Janesville the first two years, then Hudson last year,' she said.

'When (the pairings) come out, we're hoping 'anybody but Janesville.''

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