By DEAN JACKSON
WZBD.com
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Bellmont did not win Thursday’s match by overpowering East Noble. Instead, the Braves won by staying strong through the tough moments.
They lost the first set but won the next three. The final scores were 20–25, 26–24, 25–19, and 25–21.
The shift began late in the second set, and Bellmont coach Craig Krull said the key was simply settling down.
“We just had to settle in,” Krull said. “Once we started passing a little better, we could actually run what we wanted to run.”
That adjustment flipped the match as Bellmont erased small deficits to close the second set. Luke Summers led Bellmont with 21 kills, taking over the match once the Braves stabilized, while Bryce Witte added eight kills, and Cam Summers finished with six.
Setter Jack Johnson ran the offense with 22 assists and tied Cayden Rauch for the team lead in aces with four.
“Jack understands the game,” Krull said. “He knows where the ball needs to go.”
In the back row, Caleb Coats kept rallies alive with 14 digs, and Summers added nine more as Bellmont (2–8) found rhythm.
Krull pointed to Coats’ consistency as a major factor: “Caleb did a really good job passing and playing defense,” he said. “That kept us in rallies long enough to get swings.”
East Noble (2–8) showed up with just eight players and an emergency setter. They used their early energy to win the first set. Young setter Ian Leffers, who was told to play only minutes before warmups, stayed calm and led the team.
Knights Co‑coach Morgan Schrock explained the situation: “We switched our lineup tonight. Last minute, we had an injury; we put in a new setter,” Schrock said. “I was proud of them for battling some adversity.” Schrock also pointed to fatigue as the match stretched, noting that the short bench left them exhausted and without subs.
Bellmont’s win in the second set changed the match. The Braves took control in the third set, winning 25–19. They finished strong in the fourth set with a 12–5 run, overcoming East Noble’s 17–13 lead.
The change came when fresh players from the sideline brought energy. They helped the team finish strong against a tired opponent. Coach Krull credited the depth of his roster for providing the emotional lift needed during the final moments of the game. “Hudson and Colin brought some crazy energy,” he said. “That helped us get going in that last set.”
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