The Belton Middle School volleyball program competed hard against Bonham, with the 8th grade teams earning victories while the 7th grade teams battled through three close sets. Across the program, strong serving, communication, and defensive effort were on display as the Tigers continue to grow and compete together throughout the season. 8A: The Belton Middle School 8A volleyball team put together a strong performance against Bonham, earning a convincing two-set sweep, 25-8, 25-8. From the opening serve, the Tigers played with energy, communication, and confidence. The team continued to build momentum throughout both sets, executing offensively while making strong plays defensively. Sophie Hughes showed tremendous leadership on the court, contributing 13 points off serves, 3 aces, 1 block, 3 kills, and several assists. Her communication and ability to lead her teammates stood out throughout the match. Gracelyn Garelick helped anchor the back row with 4 serves, 1 diving play, and 1 kill. Her defensive effort and consistency helped keep the Tigers in control. Avery Mills had an outstanding offensive performance, recording 19 points off serves, 1 ace, 1 block, 5 kills, and 4 assists. Her ability to contribute in multiple areas made a major impact on the match. Aubrey Crayton added 4 serves, 1 ace, 1 diving play, 1 kill, and 1 assist, making key contributions on both sides of the net. Brooklyn Beierman was also a force at the net, finishing with 2 serves, 1 ace, 2 blocks, 5 kills, and 3 assists. The Tigers’ balanced attack, strong serving, communication, and defensive effort allowed them to control the match from start to finish. The 8A team will look to continue building on this performance as the season progresses. Final Scores: Set 1: Belton 25, Bonham 8 Set 2: Belton 25, Bonham 8 Go Tigers! 8B: BIG WIN FOR OUR VOLLEYBALL TEAM! What an incredible performance by our volleyball team! The girls showed heart, energy, teamwork, and determination from start to finish. After dropping a close first set, they battled back and took the next two sets to earn a well-deserved 2–1 victory! The first set was a nail-biter, with Bonham taking it 27–25. But our girls didn't let that slow them down! They came back strong in Set 2, winning 25–21, and finished the match with an impressive 25–17 victory in Set 3! Game Highlights: Rayne Meyer had an outstanding serving performance with more than 6 serves, including 4 aces and 2 kills! Jah’Mani Johnson came through with 6 strong serves and helped keep the momentum going. Addison Webb had about 8 serves, 5 aces, and 4 tips, making a big impact on the court! Emily Munoz was on fire with 9 serves, 6 aces, 2 kills, and 1 assist! Rooklyn Whitmire contributed with about 2 serves. Allison McCoy added 6 serves and 2 aces to help the team. And, of course, everyone else contributed in a BIG way by encouraging teammates, making plays, hustling for every ball, and being great team players! While the stats highlight some amazing individual performances, this victory was truly a TEAM effort. Every player contributed, supported one another, and continued to fight after losing that first set. That kind of teamwork and determination is what makes this team special! Congratulations, ladies, on a fantastic 2–1 BIG WIN! Keep working. Keep believing. Keep fighting. And most importantly, keep playing for each other! 7A: The Belton Middle School 7A volleyball team played in an action-packed three-set battle against Bonham Middle School. After dropping a tough first set, the Lady Tigers refused to let the momentum stay with their opponent. Belton stormed back onto the court for the second set with higher energy, battling through every volley to claim a successful second set victory and force a deciding third set. Defensively, front-row powerhouses Selby Collins, Calahan Torres, and Ember Briggs stepped up big, turning the tide with some blocks that repeatedly stifled Bonham’s offense. Adding to the momentum, Harper Gryseels delivered an impressive performance filled with instinctive plays. Though the Lady Tigers ultimately fell short in a competitive 25-16 final set, their performance proved they can go toe-to-toe with anyone when they play together. Building on the grit and growth shown in this hard-fought match, the Lady Tigers are keeping their heads high and will continue working hard in practice as they gear up for their upcoming game. 7B: The home crowd was electric as the Belton Tigers stepped onto the court against Bonham, opening the night with an explosive first set. Belton controlled the pace early, finding their rhythm on offense and having outstanding serves to build a steady lead. The team executed cleanly on both sides of the ball, keeping Bonham off-balance and comfortably securing a 25–18 victory to take the initial set. Bonham answered back in the second set, adjusting their strategy and pushing hard to flip the script. As the battle intensified and points became harder to come by, Lillette Jones delivered a crucial highlight with a massive solo block at the net. Bonham pulled away late to take the second set 19–25. Entering the decisive third set, Belton looked to regain control, anchored by standout offensive plays from Destiny Kelley, who racked up two big kills to keep the Tigers within striking distance. Despite those hard-fought sparks, Bonham's late-game surge proved too difficult to halt, and Belton ultimately fell 12–25. Though the final outcome was disappointing, the Tigers showcased immense grit.