Braves claim regional title in sweep of Benton Central

It seemed like a coronation more than a volleyball match.

Saturday’s regional final against Benton Central was Bellmont’s to lose, and they came to play, beating the Bison for the second straight year for another trip to semi-state, winning 25-15, 25-20, 25-17.

*Members of the Bellmont team celebrate in the moment after receiving the trophy from Norwell AD Kelby Weybright.*

In the end, the formula was the same for coach Krull and his Braves as it was in the morning against Angola, but after Bellmont proved the naysayers wrong in that incredible win over the Hornets, there was just no way this team was losing.

Rex Brewer and Kent Arnold sum up a wild day of volleyball to recap Bellmont’s regional victory at Norwell.

MaryKate Scheumann was the star once again, leading all players with 16 kills in the three sets. She also had 11 digs.

Sophomore classmate Alyssa Gumbel had one of the best games of her career and finished second on the team with 11 kills as part of the team’s eight-man rotation.

*Paid for by Matt Dyer for City Council, Rob Noetzel-Treasurer.*

Understandably tired from the morning round, coach Craig Krull sent his girls home with their parents after the win and asked them to take their minds off volleyball for at least an hour or so before returning as a team to focus on Benton Central.

The Braves swiftly and soundly defeated the team from Benton County without much drama at all.

Rex Brewer and Kent Arnold call the final match point of the day at the 3A Norwell Regional.

Hailey Cole finished with three kills herself, going with her usual 34 assists and seven digs. Cole will spend another week on the sidelines of basketball practice shooting free throws until her volleyball days are over.

*Hailey Cole picks out a teammate with the set during Saturday’s regional final.*

The 18th regional title in school history means that just three schools in Indiana history have won more.

Delaney Lawson was an intimidating figure at the net against the Benton Central Bison in the regional championship.

The IHSAA announced Sunday that the semi-state match between NorthWood and Bellmont will be played at Huntington North. That will be a rematch of a showdown which was heard by many volleyball fans on WZBD earlier in the year.

The Bellmont Braves have used a balanced attack and a rotation of role players and big hitters all season long, and that did not change Saturday night in the Regional Final.

The 3A match at Huntington North will be the second match of the session, with the first match beginning at 1 p.m.

Ironically, both matches are exact rematches of last year’s Plymouth Semi-State, with Blackhawk Christian playing Southwood again and the Braves taking on NorthWood.