Fresh off a string of victories at Yorktown on Saturday, the Bellmont Braves put a thumping on the Heritage Patriots, sweeping their rivals to the north in straight sets, 25-22, 25-12, 25-18.
MaryKate Scheumann hit at over a 50% rate to finish with 17 kills. Alyssa Gumbel was second among all players with nine kills.
The Braves’s victories over the weekend propelled them forward in the first set of rankings released by the Indiana Volleyball Coaches Association. The computer “Z Ratings” have the Braves as the 15th best team so far in 4A and 36th overall. Still early in the season, the Braves are likely to climb, especially considering the fact that they already hold victories over #16 Crown Point and #28 Zionsville.
The team’s three losses have come to #5 Yorktown (in five sets), #27 Avon and #38 Bishop Dwenger.
The Braves also received a lift (no pun intended) by the return of Lilly Selking, who had been in a walking boot for the past two weeks. Her return roughly coincides with the injury to the team’s other main setter, Liz Bobay. Selking played in two sets and finished with a game-high 20 assists, while Gracie Riggs played one set and registered 11 assists.
Senior Gabby Roussey led the Patriots in aces with two, while Lucy Buuck had a team-high 20 digs. Ava Johnson was the team’s leader in kills with seven.
Heritage will take an entire week off before playing again against Adams Central. That match will be broadcast live on 92.7 FM.
The Braves are back in action at Snider on Thursday before playing in a four-way tournament at Carroll Saturday. The schedule for the event has not been made available to WZBD yet, but fans of the team should be able to hear two matches on 92.7 FM Saturday morning. Also playing in the event with Bellmont are #11 Carroll, #28 Zionsville and #2 Hamilton Southeastern.
