By DEAN JACKSON
WZBD.com
FORT WAYNE— It was a test of patience and perseverance—one that Bellmont coach Craig Krull had to embrace as his young team navigated its growing pains on the biggest stage of the season.
Krull has run the Bellmont girl’s volleyball program for 19 seasons. He has won two state titles and reached the finals five times. He knows how important development is. With the toddler-like boys program, he knows mistakes are part of the process.
The coach and team felt pleased Wednesday after winning 3-0 against Wayne in the first round of the IHSAA Boys Volleyball sectional. The set scores were 25-22, 25-20, and 25-21. However, for the Braves (3-10), the match was far from easy.
“It’s stressful because all I can do is try to coach them and help them get better,” Krull said. “I can’t go out there and play. I just feel handcuffed. But I thought they played well tonight.”
The win marks the first-ever tournament victory for the boys program.
Bellmont’s sectional win wasn’t just a test of mental toughness—it was backed by strong individual performances across the board.
Senior Gavin Krull delivered an all-around performance, posting nine kills, 11 assists, and five digs, along with an ace and a block. Teammate Cam Summers (#24) led the team with 13 kills, an ace, and a block. Mason Mankey added 20 digs to anchor the back row.
Bellmont took control early going up 14-5, but Wayne refused to back down. The Generals mounted a 7-2 run to tighten the score at 16-12, then surged with two 3-0 runs before falling 25-22.
The second and third sets followed a similar pattern, with Bellmont trailing 19-14 both times before launching extended runs to secure victory.
An 11-1 run in game two, sparked by two decisive kills from Summers, halted Wayne’s surge and helped Bellmont take control.
An 11-2 run in game three allowed the Braves to rally from behind and close out the match.
Summers’ two late kills, including one off a ball that lingered in the rafters at 19-19, turned momentum at a critical stage.
“I think we just need to talk more. We just started making more plays and got more free balls. We dug the ball more, got the serve, and just got it over every time,” Summers said.
While Summers delivered key offensive plays, senior Gavin Krull anchored Bellmont emotionally and strategically. His choice to miss a non-conference baseball game at Bishop Luers showed his strong commitment to the program more than his performance did.
“Tonight, even though it’s a sectional game and our baseball team is in a non-conference game, I didn’t think twice about coming here to play with the guys,” Krull said.
His leadership extended beyond individual stats—he ensured the team kept their composure when the match tightened.
“I can’t be getting nervous on the court. I got to keep it for the guys,” he said.
Bellmont has faced consistency struggles this season, but their sectional performance demonstrated flashes of what’s to come. Craig Krull understands that growth takes time, especially given that 14 of Bellmont’s 17 players also compete in other spring sports, making practice continuity a challenge.
“Of my 17 guys on the team, 14 of them play spring sports, so I rarely have them all out at practice,” Craig Krull said.
Despite the challenges, he sees foundational lessons being built.
“Hopefully, they can take this into the next match, into the years, and get those other kids to know, ‘Hey, this is what we did last time. Remember this.’ So it’ll just be a mental note for them to grow on,” he said.
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