DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
MUNCIE – For several years, teachers and administrators at Bellmont High School have been extolling the virtues of grit and determination to the students, and especially the athletes, at the school. Teacher and coach Sandy Busick, herself one of the true female athletic legends at BHS, must have been beaming Saturday night after the 3A state championship volleyball game between Providence and Bellmont.
Although the Braves ultimately fell to the same opponent as last season and stood on the podium as runners-up for the third time in four years, the heart and determination shown in the final three sets will not soon be forgotten in Bellmont lore.
After falling behind early and dropping the first set, the Braves could have easily realized just how good this Providence team was again and simply played their way through the night without putting up too much of a fuss.
Instead, the Braves took a deep breath and took the early lead in the second set, overcoming multiple stoppages of play on controversial calls on both sides of the court. Both coaches had heard enough from the officials at one point or another, taking their frustration out on their respective sidelines. Providence head coach Terri Purichia was shown the yellow card by head official Mark Yeoman, but the two teams played some incredible, compelling volleyball and extended the set beyond 25 points.
Like a battle of two tennis greats trying to play their way through deuce and advantage, the two teams were tied at 15 different points in the second set and the lead changed nine times before Lilly Tappel, the eventual Mental Attitude Winner in 3A, scored a kill and the Braves mishandled the serve to fall behind 2-0.
Then came the third set, one that may ultimately define how the community views this team in history. With the original pioneer of Bellmont Volleyball, Phyllis Hebble, in attendance, the Braves played their best volleyball of the season to win the third set, somehow playing around the injury and eventual removal of setter Hailey Cole and DS Katie Mills. The two dove for the same ball and Cole’s shoulder laid a crushing blow to the body of Mills, who did not return.
The indispensable Cole was obviously in pain, but the Braves had no game plan to go without her. After 10 or 12 points of Cole bump-setting and being unable to serve, she was removed and spent the final moments of her career on the bench with tears in her eyes and ice on her shoulder.
None of those obstacles kept the Braves from hanging in the game. A combination of nearly every girl in the rotation stepped up to fill the void in the Braves’ passing game and Delaney Lawson found herself receiving serves and digging out balls in the back row. MaryKate Scheumann eventually settled into the setter role and finished the game with 12 assists, leading the Braves to a gutsy 25-23 win in the third set.
Providence, however, was simply too good and could smell the blood in the water with the Braves down to a rotation of just seven players in the fourth set. They went on to win their fifth state title in the last 11 years with a 25-21 victory in the fourth set.
Cole finished the game with 35 assists and two kills in her 2.5 sets played, while Mills was scored with three digs.
Delaney Lawson led all hitters with 22 kills. MaryKate Scheumann was second for the Braves with 16 kills and 15 digs.
Jackie Sutter had seven kills and 13 digs for the Braves.
Kaydance Lose picked up two blocks and two kills, while Syd Schultz contributed greatly throughout the match. She had two digs.
Bellmont libero Sami Christen led all players with 22 digs.
Alyssa Gumbel, a player who will be a key returner for the Braves next season, had nine kills.