Bellefontaine’s slow start proved costly Tuesday as they lost to visiting London in four sets in Central Buckeye Conference volleyball play.
The Red Raiders won the opener 25-14. Bellefontaine rebounded to take the second set 25-18. London answered with a 25-11 win, then held on for a 25-21 victory to close it out.
Bellefontaine coach Tara Phelps said, “We’ve got to settle in a little quicker. … This is a game of momentum and we do play best of five. Some nights, that’s okay. Tonight, that was not okay.”
London had lost four of five matches coming into Tuesday, but Phelps said that “we knew they were going to come in and put up a fight.”
Having reached about the midpoint of the season, Phelps said “what we got to do right now, is to decide are we going to be a good team or a great team? And make sure that this loss doesn’t impact any future games.”
In the opening set, the teams exchanged points through the first few rallies, then London won six out of seven and build a 9-4 lead.
Bellefontaine closed the gap a little, to 11-8 before three straight went London’s way. After a timeout, London kept the momentum with a 5-1 run to go ahead 19-9.
The Chieftains were able to get a few more points, but wound up short at the end, 25-14.
Bellefontaine charged out in the second set, winning six out of eight to start. After giving up three, a scoring run by Ullom put them ahead 11-5.
London stayed in it, keeping the margin in the five- to six-point range. Bellefontaine then pushed ahead, going up 19-13 before another timeout.
Two points for each side were followed by three for the Raiders.
The Chiefs called time, then got the final four, with Flora serving for three of those to win by seven, 25-18.
The third set saw London’s Sam Webb take charge from the front row outside hitter spot, recording a number of kills. The Raiders jumped ahead and stayed there, winning 25-11.
The visitors got ahead 8-3 to begin the fourth set. Bellefontaine rebounded by winning four out of five rallies. The back and forth continued with London nursing the lead.
Neither side was able to hold on to the serve for any length of time. London stayed ahead by a couple of points, until two by Bellefontaine, the second on a kill by Layman, made it 19-18.
London then won three of four points to go up 22-19. BHS scored twice, then the Raiders did. The second one was the subject of a lengthy debate whether London had touched the ball before it went out of bounds.
London then got the final point to seal the match.
Kelsie Snapp had 12 kills and 13 digs for Bellefontaine, with Kaeleigh Flora getting seven kills and eight digs, Ava Layman seven kills and 10 digs and Jillian Ullom 13 digs.
Presley Vigansky had two kills and five aces.
Madi Zedeker led the offense with 26 assists, and was 10-of-10 serving.
In the junior varsity match, London won in three sets, 14-25, 25-13, 25-14.
The freshman team lost 25-13, 25-10.
Bellefontaine (2-3 CBC, 9-3 overall) hosts Shawnee this evening.
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In other action on Tuesday;
Indian Lake 3, Graham 0
Read the full story in the Thursday, Sept. 18, Examiner.
