DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
DECATUR – The Bellmont Braves are on quite a roll this season and perhaps no victory this season will be as sweet as the 5-0 sweep the Braves handed rival Norwell in the wind Thursday night.
Members of the team were on the courts immediately after the final bell of the school day, working to clear the courts of moisture from a morning rain.
Highly anticipating their chance to take their best shot at home against conference and sectional rival Norwell, the Braves came out firing, capturing the opening set in four of the five varsity contests, as well as in the first JV match.
The team quickly clinched victory with straight-set wins at No. 3 singles with Lillian Jin, then at No. 1 doubles with Ella Ross and Lilyana Suarez.
Bellmont continued after an hour, picking up wins at No. 1 singles with Leila Jin, then at No. 2 doubles with Alyssa Coffey and Averie Coats.
The team then cheered on Emma Fuelling at No. 2 singles as she came back from a loss in the opening set to win the next two, completing the sweep.
Head coach Kyle Arnold was ecstatic after the win.
“I honestly don’t know the last time Bellmont swept Norwell like that,” said Arnold. “It’s unbelievably satisfying. That was special.”
Leila Jin’s win at No. 1 singles was intriguing to Arnold, who felt that the wind may create a different set of conditions for his senior standout. In the end, the wind made no difference, as Jin seemed to absorb every ground stroke that Macie Saalfrank had to offer, using quick footwork to get in position to return.
“She’s been really impressive,” agreed Arnold of the older Jin. “Leila is smart about placing her groundstrokes and mixing in slices. She keeps her opponents guessing.”
Still undefeated on the season, the Braves are one win on Monday at Bluffton away from a regular season sweep of the four other sectional opponents.
Bellmont 5 Norwell 0
No. 1-Leila Jin (B) d. Macie Saalfrank, 6-4, 6-3
No. 2-Emma Fuelling (B) d. Aubrey Meyer, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
No. 3-Lillian Jin (B) d. Lucy Gerbers, 6-1, 6-2
No. 1-Ella Ross/Lilyana Suarez (B) d. Emmaline Johnson/Gabbi Hoeppner, 6-3, 6-2
No. 2-Alyssa Coffey/Averie Coats (B) d. Aubryn Keller/Bria Reinhard, 6-4, 6-4
Junior Varsity
Izzy Krull (B) d. Campbell Sloan, 6-3
Charli Swindell (N) d. Shaylin McCray, 6-3
Emma Easley (N) d. Tori McCullough, 6-1
Sofia Steury/Lilly Alberding (B) d. Layla Frisch/Hazel Lewis, 6-4
Molly Threewits/Cassie McGregor (N) d. Faith Cook/Veronica Franz, 6-3
Addie Gaier/Vivian Reidenbach (N) d. Sammy Knipstein/Elle Laurent, 6-1
Sofia Steury/Lilly Alberding (B) d. Kennady Bixler/Layken Mialkowski, 6-2
Melissa Hoag (N) d. Izzy Krull, 6-3
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