{"id":41232,"date":"2026-10-16T09:30:19","date_gmt":"2026-10-16T13:30:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/?p=41232"},"modified":"2026-10-16T09:30:20","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T13:30:20","slug":"starfires-fall-to-1-sectional-semis-set-at-bellmont-wabash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/16\/starfires-fall-to-1-sectional-semis-set-at-bellmont-wabash\/","title":{"rendered":"Starfires fall to #1; Sectional semis set at Bellmont, Wabash"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

DANE FUELLING<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WZBD.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday’s slate of volleyball sectional semifinals is set for Z-Land teams after Heritage and Adams Central advanced Thursday in 3A and 2A sectionals, respectively, while South Adams’ season came to an early end at the hands of the overwhelming state title favorites, Southwood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We had all the action for you on WZBD, both on air and on our YouTube channel and we recap things for you here (we also include the other sectional that is paired with our local sectionals for regional competition):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3A Sectional at Bellmont<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Woodlan 3 New Haven 0 (25-14, 25-12, 25-22)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heritage 3 Norwell 0 (25-17, 29-27, 26-24)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Patriots received quite a challenge from Norwell throughout the night, with Isabella Swineford causing all kinds of problems to the Heritage attack. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Norwell went toe to toe with their highly-ranked opponents in the opening set, but Heritage pulled ahead midway through the set, winning 25-17. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rex Brewer wraps up the broadcast for Heritage and Norwell Thursday night.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The second set was where Norwell really made some noise. The two teams were tied at eight and thirteen at one point, but Norwell began pulling away from there, building a lead at one point to 20-14. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A side out and an ace got Heritage rolling, though, and they finally caught up with the Knights at 24-24. Coach Shelly Schwartz’s team was unable to take the lead until 28-27 and they took the set at the first set point. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We were down most of that second set,” said Schwartz. “They really battled back for nine points with Maya Ehrman not missing any serves.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heritage took the third set after trailing 20-17, winning in straight sets, 26-24. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Proud to sponsor Heritage Athletics on WZBD.com!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

“I thought Norwell played us hard and we responded, point for point, to make for two great sets of volleyball.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schwartz said that freshman Mallory Ehrman was especially effective with her top spin serve. She finished with an impressive kill total of 20 and 14 digs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kinley Galentine had 12 kills and 19 digs and also had a good service night, finishing with four aces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kierstyn Hess had eleven digs for the Patriots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Overall, I was happy with them not giving up in the second set,” said Schwartz. “Showing the will to win brought the momentum back our way and we will need that for Saturday.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday Schedule<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11:00 a.m. – Bluffton (6-17) vs. Bellmont (12-19)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1:00 p.m. – Woodlan (16-13) vs. Heritage (29-2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6 p.m. – Final<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2A Sectional at Wabash<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Southwood 3 South Adams 0 (25-13, 25-10, 25-14)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dane Fuelling and Mike Macke wrap up the broadcast from Wabash.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Starfires were simply no match for the #1-rated Southwood Knights. Frustrating the Stars from start to finish, Shania Rhamy and Hali Pershing combined for 24 kills on the night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ana Lehman picks up two blocks as South Adams takes the point.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Southwood dominated the service game, picking up 14 aces, while the Knights’ serve receive game was impeccable, keeping the Stars from a single ace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only lead for the Starfires was at 1-0 to start the third set. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Z Team runs through the stats and provides analysis for the broadcast.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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GenaMarie Summersett played her final game for the Stars and had two kills. Summersett was the only senior on this year’s team for coach Buckingham. The Stars will be serious contenders next year with a strong team returning again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adams Central 3 Wabash 0 (25-19, 25-10, 29-27)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adams Central dominated the host Wabash Apaches for 2.5 sets and then somehow withstood three set points to come back and sweep Wabash for an exciting conclusion to Thursday night’s action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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An impeccable service advantage and strong play by Daisy Hindenlang handed the Jets an early lead in the first set, but coach Tami Henry was forced to call timeout with her team ahead 20-16. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adams Central responded with a kill from Claira Foreman and two more by senior Lauryn Tester to put Wabash away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The second set was an absolute clinic as the Jets demoralized their opponents and seized full control of the match. The Jets went from a 3-2 lead to 12-2 with a run of aces by Kelsey Beaver and strong play from Hindenlang. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jersey Montgomery stopped the bleeding to make it 12-3, but Adams Central got another kill cross-court from Hindenland and pushed it all the way to 22-3 as Slone Schortgen took over the serve and rattled off three aces over four points. The Jets coasted from there, finishing off Wabash with a kill by Emma Hirschy for 25-10. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The third set was completely different and the two teams were tied at nearly every point in the match through 11-11. Adams Central found a lead and stretched it to 17-13, but at 21-18, Henry called timeout again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pause did nothing but allow the Apaches to catch their breath and they won the next five points after the timeout and after two attacking errors by the Jets, they trailed 23-21. Hindenlang finally stopped the run with a kill, but the Jets handed Wabash set point with an immediate service error. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jentrie Schaefer and Claira Foreman came right back with kills to tie it at 24-24, but the match continued in its tense manner with further ties at 25, 26, and 27. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Controversy surrounded the 27-27 tie as Adams Central thought they were celebrating a long hit on their first match point, but the chair umpire signaled a tip that killed the Jets’ celebrations and instead tied the set. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schaefer responded, though, with another kill and Schortgen finished off Wabash at 29-27.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday Schedule<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11:00 a.m. – Whitko (20-10) vs. Southwood (28-2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1:00 p.m. – Manchester (19-11) vs. Adams Central (22-10)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3A Sectional at New Castle (Winner will play winner of Bellmont Sectional)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hamilton Heights 3 New Castle 1 (25-20, 18-25, 25-23, 25-17)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday Schedule<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11:00 a.m. – Guerin Catholic (19-9) vs. Delta (9-13)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12:30 p.m. – Jay County (14-14) vs. Hamilton Heights (18-8)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6:00 p.m. – Final<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2A Sectional at Bremen (Winner will play winner of Wabash Sectional)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knox 3 Winamac 0 (25-13, 29-27, 25-16)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Central 3 Career Academy 0 (25-5, 25-6, 25-11)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday Schedule<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11:00 a.m. – Jimtown (20-9) vs. Bremen (12-18)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1:00 p.m. – Knox (16-13) vs. South Central (16-14)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6:00 p.m. – Final<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DANE FUELLING WZBD.com Saturday’s slate of volleyball sectional semifinals is set for Z-Land teams after Heritage and Adams<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":41253,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Whew! What a night last night of volleyball! We hope you're ready for Saturday, because we know we are. Catch up on all the action and see who is still standing as the quarterfinals concluded across the state last night. ","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4],"tags":[29,13,15,51,46,28,26,55],"class_list":["post-41232","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-adamscentral","tag-bellmont","tag-featured","tag-heritage","tag-norwell","tag-southadams","tag-sports","tag-volleyball"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/DSC_0245.jpg?fit=2464%2C1632&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41232","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41232"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41232\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41263,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41232\/revisions\/41263"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41253"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41232"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41232"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}