When Alter High School volleyball coach Tina Jasinowski learned of the death of University of Dayton junior Kacie Hausfeld and her father Tom Hausfeld in April 2010, she was upset and looked for a way to help cope.

Fan-favorite Kacie was a setter on the UD volleyball team for the past three years. She helped anchor the Flyers to another Atlantic 10 Conference championship last fall with a team-leading 6.1 assists per set.

"Everybody was looking for something to do," Jasinowski said. "What can I do to help myself through this?"

For Jasinowski, who coached Kacie for four years and won two state titles, it became about the fact that Tom and Kacie were positive, giving people. She decided that she wanted to be involved in something that preserved their legacy and helped people to continue remembering that positive attitude.

According to Jasinowski, Tippecanoe High School volleyball coach Pat Carus approached her and said he wanted to be involved in a memorial event. Carus had known Tom Hausfeld for years and wanted to participate in whatever he could. Jasinowski said they decided to host a volleyball match in the Hausfelds' memory.

The Hausfeld Legacy Volleyball Match was held Thursday, Sept. 2, with the varsity match beginning at 6:30 p.m. Trent Arena, Kettering Fairmont High School's gymnasium, hosted the event due to the high attendance.

Alter was scheduled to play at Tippecanoe at that time, but Carus volunteered to move the match back to Kettering so his team could be involved in the event.

"It's a way to stay positive in the wake of something horrific," Jasinowski said. "It is a positive thing; I didn't want to call it a memorial but preferred legacy to remember [Kacie and Tom]."

Before the varsity match, there was a dedication, and Kacie's Alter jersey was retired. Jasinowski said she hoped the game would be a "positive" and "uplifting" event for all.

She also focused upon Kacie's attitude and leadership throughout high school, not just her contributions as a player on the court.

"She made a huge mark in terms of statistics and player contributions, but also her senior year, we would not have won state without her leadership," Jasinowski said. "I have no doubt about that. From junior to senior year, she really gained the maturity. I really think she was the primary reason we were able to win that."

The Hausfeld Legacy Volleyball Match is planned to become an annual event, which Jasinowski believes will be great for Kacie and Tom's memory and for their scholarship fund, she said.

"It will be nice if we can keep getting the people to come out and keep on giving their money to that fund," she said. "That will keep things going well."

T-shirts and wristbands were sold at the match with all proceeds benefitting the Kacie and Tom Hausfeld Scholarship Fund.