DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
DECATUR – Playing with the pressure of an undefeated season and also battling the wind, the Bellmont Braves got an improbable win from No. 1 singles player Leila Jin to flip what was looking like a loss into a big victory over the Leo Lions.
The Braves took an early 2-0 lead with wins on the north side of the BHS tennis complex at No. 3 singles (Lillian Jin) and No. 2 doubles (Alyssa Coffey and Averie Coats), but finding the winning third point looked like a tall task.
“Yeah, after it got 2-0,” said head coach Kyle Arnold, “(Assistant coach) Mason (Vrablic) and I talked about how it felt like we were going to need to steal one because their No. 1, No. 2 and their No. 1 doubles were so good.”
With the Braves dropping the match at No. 2 doubles, the focus turned to the top two singles matches.
Leila Jin fell behind 4-0 in the third set and it looked like the perfect season was over.
“Hannah was just playing phenomenal,” said Arnold of Leo No. 1 Hannah Staedtler. “She was picking Leila apart at will.”
Then the senior put the team on her back.
“Leila started doing Leila things and popped off six straight games to steal the set and the match. It was unbelievable.”
Jin came off the court in tears from the roller coaster of emotions in that third set.
“I was really happy for Leila. She took some tough losses last year sliding in the No. 1 spot. To get some close matches going her way this year, especially with how the team is playing, is awesome.”
The Braves will continue their season with a home match against Dwenger Monday.
Varsity Results
Bellmont 3 Leo 2
No. 1-Leila Jin (B) d. Hannah Staedtler, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
No. 2-Farrah Norman (L) d. Emma Fuelling, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
No. 3-Lillian Jin (B) d. Madeline Lamont, 6-2, 6-2
No. 1-Leah Marquardt/Sophia Amstutz (L) d. Ella Ross/Lilyana Suarez, 6-2, 6-3
No. 2-Alyssa Coffey/Averie Coats (B) d. Ashley Stopher/Lauren Codgell, 6-3, 6-3
Junior Varsity Results
Nora Pfister (L) d. Izzy Krull, 6-1
Ava Fuller (L) d. Shaylin McCray, 6-2
Halle Miller (L) d. Tori McCullough, 6-0
Sofia Steury/Lilly Alberding (B) d. Marin Emch/Isabella Scherschel, 6-4
Halle Miller/Kennedy Burkhardt (L) d. Faith Cook/Veronica Franz, 6-0
Jillian Scherschel/Amanda Fernandes (L) d. Sammy Knipstein/Elle Laurent, 6-0
Lindsay Bender/Katelyn Doehrmann (L) d. Faith Cook/Veronica Franz, 6-2
Grace Roth/Addyson Edgar (L) d. Sammy Knipstein/Elle Laurent, 6-2
