DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
For the final time in their high school careers, the six seniors on this year’s Bellmont volleyball team played on their home court. The #1-rated Braves dispatched the Norwell Knights, a conference and 3A sectional rival, in straight sets, 25-17, 25-10, 25-15.
The numbers for this group of six girls (Sami Christen, Syd Schultz, Delaney Lawson, Kaydance Lose, Jackie Sutter and Hailey Cole) are astonishing. In their four-year career, the Bellmont program has lost just twice in a weeknight match at home. They have never lost an NE8 match, home or away, and they have made two (hopefully three after next month) trips to the State Finals.
Each senior was honored, along with their parents, before the match began with gifts from teammates and the program and head coach Craig Krull shared a brief memory or story about each player from earlier in their career. Krull also acknowledged the student section, who used the occasion to dress up as “seniors”, and retiring athletic director Dale Manis, whom Krull thanked for his service to the school and the volleyball team. Senior Andrea Curtis added the national anthem.
When the ceremonies ended, and the traditional call of “Let’s play volleyball!” was made, it was the six seniors who were tasked with winning the first set on their own without the aide of a substitution. The team rotated through, with each senior taking their turn at serve in front of the big student section, and fans were even treated with a couple of diving digs by Lawson on the back row.
Delaney, who is another in a long line of D-I volleyball commits from the program (Utah State), led the Braves with 15 kills. She was credited with five digs in the match.
Sami Christen led the team in digs from her usual position with 16 and also scored five assists as the alternate setter, mostly in that first set.
Kaydance Lose was a perfect 4 for 4 on kill attempts to go along with three digs. Her infectious smile and attitude will be missed by the home crowd next year.
Syd Schultz scored three kills and also picked up an ace in the first set. She has been lauded this season by teammates for her attitude and demeanor as her role on the team has changed over the last two years.
Hailey Cole was perhaps the most delighted player on the court, as she seems to thrive when she’s ask to do more. The future college basketball player has been known to leave her spot in the post and knock down threes for coach Heim, so it is no surprise that she would enjoy taking on every role on the court. She finished with seven kills on ten attempts, along with 32 assists and four digs. She also showed off her powerful serve with three aces.
Jackie Sutter was the only player on the Bellmont roster to register a kill, an assist, a dig, an ace and a block, showing why she has become a true fan favorite, dating all the way back to her freshman year.
Sophomore Alyssa Gumbel, who, along with MK Scheumann, has really forced her way into the Bellmont lineup this season with top-notch play, came back into the lineup for two sets and picked up seven kills and two aces.
The Braves are now 22-2, with three away NE8 matches left on the schedule, along with a tournament Saturday at Crestview (OH).