Belgreen sweeps both JH and JV titles
The Belgreen Bulldogs swept the Franklin County Tournament on Saturday capturing championships in both the Junior High (JH) and Junior Varsity (JV) tournaments.
The junior high Bulldogs started their day with a first-round victory over Phil Campbell, winning in two straight sets with scores of 25-17 and 25-14.
This set up a county championship clash against the Tharptown Wildcats. Belgreen overpowered Tharptown in two sets, sealing the county title with final scores of 25-19 and 25-16.
The junior varsity team mirrored the success of their younger counterparts. Their tournament began with a sweep of Vina, winning 25-9 and 25-4.
Advancing to the semifinals, the JV Bulldogs faced Red Bay. While Red Bay offered more resistance, Belgreen’s momentum remained strong, resulting in another two-set victory, 25-14 and 25-15, pushing them into the final.
Phil Campbell’s junior varsity advanced to the finals by beating Tharptown 27-25, 25-27 and 15-5.
In the championship game against Phil Campbell, the Belgreen JV squad played focused, high-energy volleyball. They secured the match and the county championship banner by defeating the Bobcats in straight sets, 25-16 and 25-15.
CONTRIBUTED/BHS
Belgreen JV Volleyball Championship Photo: Back row standing, left to right: Kirby Schucker, Brooklyn McGaughy, Caleigh Lawson, Lily Green, Alexa Gault, Charley Hogan; front row kneeling, left to right: Marlie Terry, Taylor Vandiver, Kendra Williams, Kiera Smith and Ellie Pounders.
Belgreen Varsity
The Class 2A Belgreen varsity team (15-10 overall) demonstrated resilience and depth last week, securing three consecutive victories and, most importantly, pulling out a critical area win against Tharptown on Thursday night.
The Bulldogs began the week at home on Sept. 22, taking on Colbert Heights. Belgreen secured a clean sweep in three sets, showcasing strong offensive execution with scores of 25-11 and 25-23.
Offensively, Carson Hovater led the attack with 9 kills, followed closely by Randi Terry with 7 kills. Lilliana Willingham was effective on both ends of the court, adding 5 kills and 7 digs, while Alayna Tate contributed 2 assists and 5 digs.
The team then traveled to face Waterloo on Sept. 23, winning in four sets (25-14, 25-14, 22-25, 25-11). Waterloo managed to steal the third set, but Belgreen quickly regained control in the decisive fourth set, winning by a commanding 14-point margin.
The stat sheet was loaded for this match: Willingham tallied a double- double with 12 kills and 15 digs, while Tate orchestrated the offense with 28 assists and 18 digs. Terry (8 kills, 8 digs), Hovater (9 kills, 8 digs), and Isabella Tate (6 kills) provided consistent scoring. Bryn Scott anchored the defense with 29 digs.
Belgreen JH Volleyball Championship: Back row, left to right: Sylvie Smith, Evey Fisher, Marlie Terry, Ellie Pounders, Makayla Hammond, Ella Walker, Hazel Hall; front row, kneeling left to right: Nicole Britton, Anna Claire King, Debonhi Barrios, Maddie Braly and Caroline McDonnell.
The week culminated in an intense area contest against Tharptown on Thursday, which pushed the Bulldogs to the limit.
In a grueling five-set battle (26-28, 25-22, 25-20, 21-25, 15-12), Belgreen demonstrated its mental fortitude to clinch the victory. Hovater was an absolute force, leading the team with 15 kills, 6 digs, and 7 aces. Terry was close behind with 14 kills and 7 digs.
Willingham was a defensive stalwart with 20 digs, 11 kills, and 2 blocks. Setter Tate racked up 33 assists and 12 digs, ensuring the Belgreen offense was always in rhythm, while Scott posted another huge defensive effort with 26 digs.
