BELMONT — The Belmont volleyball team were a busy bunch during the past week.
A back log of matches — due to a week-long shutdown of the season due to COVID contract tracing concerns — forced the Braves to play seven matches in eight days, including an pair of unorthodox double headers.
Throw in the fact, Belmont had midseason coaching change and it has been a wild ending to the Braves’ already strange 2020 COVID season.
Belmont returned from a week-long quarantine period, Monday Oct. 6 with a 3–1 loss to Highland.
One night later, the Braves hosted Benton in a pair of three-set Six Rivers West matches.
Yep, that’s right, a conference volleyball doubleheader.
Belmont swept the Zephrys (2–8 SRW) 25–22, 25–20 in the opener, then fell 2–1 (19–25, 25–16, 15–9) in the makeup night cap despite winning the first set.
Ashley Freeman slammed five kills and had 10 digs, and Mia Hodgson passed out 10 assists and served up two aces in the opening victory, which was the first of Elain Hartmann’s varsity coaching career.
Hartmann replaced Genevieve Sprung, who stepped down two weeks ago due to personal reasons.
“Taking over midseason has definitely been an interesting experience,” said Hartmann. “I appreciate all the hard work that the girls have put in this past week considering the circumstances. They are a great group of girls and really have adapted to what has been put in front of them.”
Belmont (2–9 SRW) suffered a 25–13, 25–16, 25–16 loss at Potosi Thursday night.
Two days later, the Braves completed an untraditional day–night doubleheader at two different schools.
First, Belmont traveled to Cassville Saturday aftenoon and fell to the host Comets (2–8) 25–20, 25–9, 25–15.
Then the Belmont varsity and JV teams both traveled to Patch Grove for an night match against the host Timberwolves. Second-place River Ridge (8–2) swept the Braves 25–10, 25–15, 25–19.
Belmont then hosted the Timberwolves Tuesday night and played much better, taking a set, before falling 25–13, 25–12, 22–25, 25–15.
Freeman floored nine kills and had two blocks. Mootz added seve kills, Hodgson (15 assists) and Taytem Benton (10 assists) combined for 25 assists and Rylee Rogers made a season-high 29 digs to lead the Braves.
“The girls have adapted really well,” said Hartmann, who is a high school science teacher. “I have all of the players in my classroom, so it was easy to build a sound relationship with them. They played very well this past week considering the seven matches in seven days. I want them to know how proud I am of the hard work they have put in this past week, and I appreciate their patience with me as I adjusted to being a head coach.”
No rest for the weary, as Belmont is scheduled to close out the regular season Thursday night at Shullsburg.
The WIAA Division 4 playoffs are scheduled to start Tuesday night. First-round pairings will be announced later this week.
Belmont 2, Benton 0
(from Tuesday, Oct. 6 @ Belmont)
Benton 25 25
Belmont 22 20
Belmont stat leaders
Kills: Ashley Freeman 5, Rilyn Mootz 3, Reese Runde 2. Blocks: Mootz 1, Runde 1. Assists: Mia Hodgson 10, Taytem Benson 6. Aces: Hodgson 2, Benson 1. Digs: Freeman 7, Lauren Helms 7.
Benton 2, Belmont 1
(from Tuesday, Oct. 6 @ Belmont)
Benton 19 25 15
Belmont 25 16 9
Belmont stat leaders
Kills: Reese Runde 4, Rilyn Mootz 2. Blocks: Mootz 1, Freeman 1. Assists: Mia Hodgson 10, Taytem Benson 9. Aces: Freeman 2, Hodgson 1. Digs: Lauren Helms 10, Runde 10.
Potosi 3, Belmont 0
(from Thursday, Oct. 8 @ Potosi)
Belmont 13 16 16
Potosi 25 25 25
Belmont stat leaders
Kills: Rilyn Mootz 4, Ashley Freeman 4, Chloe Crapp 4. Blocks: Tori Nodolf 3, Chloe Crapp 1. Assists: Taytem Benson 9, Mia Hodgson 8. Aces: Freeman 1, Mootz 1. Digs: Lauren Helms 15, Reese Runde 8.
Cassville 3, Belmont 0
(from Saturday, Oct. 10 @ Cassville)
Belmont 20 9 15
Cassville 25 25 25
Belmont stat leaders
Kills: Tori Nodolf 7, Chloe Crapp 5, Rilyn Mootz 4. Blocks: Nodolf 3, Mootz 2. Assists: Mia Hodgson 10, Taytem Benson 5. Aces: Rylee Rogers 2, Crapp 2. Digs: Rylee Rogers 8, Lauren Helms 7.
River Ridge 3, Belmont 0
(from Saturday, Oct. 10 @ Patch Grove)
Belmont 10 15 19
River Ridge 25 25 25
Belmont stat leaders
Kills: Ashley Freeman 7, Chloe Crapp 4, Rilyn Mootz 4. Blocks: Nodolf 2, Mootz 2. Assists: Mia Hodgson 11, Taytem Benson 10. Aces: Crapp 1, Mootz 1. Digs: Lauren Helms 7, Rogers 4, Runde 3.
River Ridge 3, Belmont 1
(from Monday, Oct. 12 @ Belmont)
River Ridge 25 25 22 25
Belmont 13 12 25 15
Belmont stat leaders
Kills: Ashley Freeman 9, Rilyn Moorz 7, Tori Nodolf 6. Blocks: Freeman 2, Nodolf 1, Mootz 1. Assists: Mia Hodgson 15, Taytem Benson 10. Aces: Freeman 3, Hodgson 3, Crapp 2. Digs: Rylee Rogers 29, Lauren Helms 10.
