Bellefonte Volleyball outlasts Central Mountain

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: September 24, 2019

Bellefonte 3, Central Mountain 2

CM 25 12 25 23 8

BE 21 25 18 25 15

By Kenny Varner

BELLEFONTE – There was quite a battle Monday night in the Bellefonte gym.

The Red Raiders volleyball played tough and battled Central Mountain tough throughout, extending the contest to a pivotal game five, tied at two each.

Monday night belonged to Bellefonte as it grinned out a 21-25, 25-12, 18-25, 25-23 and 15-8.

“They never gave up. That’s what we keep telling them. You have to play point-to-point.You got to keep going and play your best,” said Bellefonte coach Teri Kerr. “They were very excited.”

Both teams came out in the winner-take-all match to 15 ready to take home the victory.

Like in the previous four games, it would be a close battle. In the first nine scoring opportunities, six of those were side outs.

Early on, the teams were knotted at four.

Bellefonte would take the lead forcing a side out when after a long volley Conner found a hole in the Wildcats defense and placed it in.

From there, the Red Raiders got on a scoring run with Chelsea Robson at the line. She was helped by a front line by Conner and an ace by Robson, upping the lead to 8-4 making Central Mountain call a time out.

The Wildcats got the ball back on a side out and with the strong service points by Hanna, cutting it to 9-7.

But the night belonged to Bellefonte as Mishock and Conners scoring two points and three points, respectively for the win.

“This is as bad as we played all year. Not by a little but by a lot. Again, I don’t want to say it was all us. That was Bellefonte too. They served tough, they played good defense. They did that stuff,” said Central Mountain Coach Scott Garman. “We just didn’t do the things we were used to doing.”

In the opening game, the Red Raiders cane out strong, posting an early 4-1 lead on the serving of Tayla Miller who notched three consecutive service points.

But the Wildcats blazed its way back to take a commanding 11-4 advantage on nine service points by McKenzie Hanna. She was very strong in the run, including picking up an ace.

After a Bellefonte side out, Central Mountain scores the next eight out of nine points, taking a 19-7 lead.

Not only would Bellefonte battle back but they would comeback and take the lead late in the game leading 21-20. Picking up the scoring runs were teammates, Alexia Mishock (7 points) and Sarah Connor (6 points).

However, Central Mountain would battle back to take the first game 25-21. Ending the game from the service line was Evie Rembold with the final four points after the side out.

The Bellefonte run in the first game, gave life to the young team as it dominated the Wildcats in the second game, 25-12.

Central Mountain took another close win in game three as they would extend a 17-16 score and finish out as winners of a 25-18 contest.

Despite being down 2-1, the Red Raiders got behind 20-11 and the chance of an upset looked dim, Bellefonte chipped away little by little, until things were tied at 23.

From there Bellefonte would force a no return, an Ace by McKenna Port and a wide return by the Wildcats, forcing a fifth and deciding game.

Central Mountain is back in action today against St. Joseph while Bellefonte hosts Penns Valley.