Audio interview with Jonni Parker included below
It was an unusual scene at Bellefontaine High School gymnasium Saturday during the varsity volleyball match between the host Chieftains and visiting Northwestern.
Volleyball matches are quite often noisy affairs, what with spectators from both teams cheering the girls on to victory, but for the first set at BHS Saturday, the crowd remained completely silent until the Warriors scored their ninth point of the match to take a 9-7 lead over the Chieftains, at which time cut crowd let loose and gave its full-throated support for the two teams for the rest of the match.
This is what is known as a Silent Set, which raises awareness for those under the age of 18 who are experiencing hearing loss.
At the match was Jonni Parker, a Miami East grad and Penn State All-American who was first fitted for hearings aids at the age of four, before going on to having standout volleyball careers for the both the Vikings and the Nittany Lions. Jonni and her sister, Dr. Paige Parker, a Doctor of Audiology for the Springfield branch of Family Audiology and Hearing Centers, created Chasing Greatness, a 501(c)3 organization that is designed to funding, resources and support to allow individuals to “Chase Great” in all areas of their life.
The Silent Set was brought to the Bellefontaine/Northwestern match at the behest of Mandy Oppy, who is friends with Dr. Parker and works as the Director of Business for the Bellefontaine Family Audiology and Hearing Center, 250 Kent Dr. The trio took over a section of the BHS cafeteria during the match to disseminate information about the diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss and let those who might be experiencing hearing problems – be they children or adults – to have their hearing checked at one of the 15 branches of Family Audiology across the region.
In order to drive the point home, Allison Lowe, who attended Bellefontaine High School and is a graduate of the Ohio School for the Deaf, stood at midcourt and sing the National Anthem for those in attendance prior to the varsity match. The Silent Set lasted until the ninth point was reached on one of the teams in honor of the uniform number (#9) that Jonni Parker wore throughout her career.
Oppy hopes to expand the Silent Set in the coming seasons.
“It was important to me to bring it to Logan County, “ Oppy said of the Silent Set. “It’s my goal to bring it to all Logan County Schools next year.”
Despite falling behind in the first set, Bellefontaine went on to win the match in straight sets, 25-23, 25-15, and 25-13.
Bellefontaine is now 11-3 and the Warriors fall to 6-9.
Ava Reeves led the BHS defense with 18 digs and went 12-12 serving with two aces. Ava Layman tallied five kills, nine digs and a solo block and Kelsie Snapp chipped in with 12 kills, 12 digs and was 11/11 serving with one ace and four blocks.
Also for the Chiefs, Taylor Banta was 23-24 serving with eight aces and had 14 kills and five digs, Ava Campbell had five blocks and two kills, Presley Vigansky had two kills, two digs and a solo block.
Reagan Standley went 11-11 serving with an ace and Madi Zedeker recorded 32 assists, eight digs and was 8-8 serving and had a solo block.
The JV Red Chiefs won 20-25, 25-6, 31-29. Jillian Ullom led the defense with 23 digs. Kaeleigh Flora and Ava Oppy added 16 digs each. Alayna Boyd had 11 digs while Zoey Conner rounded out the defense with six digs. Flora also tallied 16 kills. Conner
chipped in with eight kills and went 12-12 serving with an ace, Boyd had 28 assists, Rylee Yelton had a solo block and Ari Rangel went 14-15 serving with five aces.
The JV Black Chiefs came up short 25-15, 25-16. Celine Blinn had 10 digs, Lyla Conner had six digs,Kinley Dunn had five digs, Ari Rangel had four digs, Maddie Delong had a solo block and Conner also tallied two aces.
Listen to an Examiner interview with Jonni Parker.