8A: The Belton Middle School 8A volleyball team continued to show growth, resilience, and teamwork in a competitive matchup against River Valley Middle School. BMS battled through two tight sets, earning back-to-back 25–23 victories to secure the match. Aubrey Crayton made a big impact throughout the match with 8 serves and 8 kills. Her ability to spot serve was especially important, as she delivered crucial points when the team needed them most. Gwyneth Taylor made one of the biggest defensive plays of the match with a tremendous diving save well outside the court. Her effort kept the play alive and ultimately helped the team earn the 25th point in the second set. Sophie Hughes contributed 4 serves, including an ace, along with 3 kills. Avery Mills added 6 serves, 2 kills, several assists, and a great defensive dig to help keep the team in rallies. Sutton Wagner contributed a serve and an ace while playing strong defense in the back row. Brooklyn Beierman added 2 serves, a kill, and a well-placed tip. She also came up with a huge play at the end of the final rally, winning the joust at the net to secure the match-winning point for BMS. As a team, the 8A squad continues to work on uplifting one another, maintaining positive energy, and competing together when matches get tight. These close sets provide valuable opportunities for the team to grow in confidence and learn how to stay composed when every point matters. The team will look to build on this performance as they prepare for their tournament next week. 8B: What an incredible performance by our volleyball team! The girls showed heart, energy, teamwork, and determination from the very first serve to the final point. After battling through a competitive first set, they came back strong and finished the match with a well-deserved 2–1 victory! The first set went to River Valley, 25–17, but our girls didn't let that slow them down! They responded with an amazing 25–18 win in Set 2 and then finished strong with an impressive 15–7 victory in Set 3! GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Rayne Meyer had an outstanding serving performance with 11 serves, 3 aces, 1 kill, and 2 assists! What a huge contribution! Addison Webb came through with 2 serves, 1 ace, and 2 tips, making an impact when the team needed it! Emily Munoz was on fire with 8 serves, 2 aces, 1 kill, and 2 tips! Great job making big plays and keeping the momentum going! Rooklyn Whitmire contributed with 3 strong serves and continued to battle for the team! Jah’Mani Johnson came through with 6 serves, helping keep the pressure on and the momentum moving in our favor! Allison McCoy made her presence felt with 1 kill, 1 assist, and 1 tip! And, of course, EVERYONE gave a great effort! From serving and making plays to encouraging teammates, hustling for every ball, and staying focused through every point, this was truly a TEAM effort! The girls showed incredible resilience after dropping the first set. Instead of giving up, they fought back, trusted each other, and finished the match strong. That kind of determination, teamwork, and support for one another is what makes this team so special! Congratulations, ladies, on an amazing 2–1 BIG WIN! Keep working. Keep believing. Keep fighting. And most importantly, keep playing for each other! LET'S GO, LADIES! 7A: The 7A volleyball team put on a show of heart and hustle this week, going toe-to-toe with River Valley in a close two-set battle. While the final score didn't land in our favor, the scoreboard only tells a fraction of the story. The girls showed dramatic improvement across every aspect of the game compared to earlier weeks, proving that their hard work in practice is paying off. The front row took a major step forward, transitioning smoothly off the net after blocking and had some impressive kills. Guiding that court awareness was Vera Davies, who served as the emotional and tactical anchor for the team. Vera’s vocal leadership, sharp communication, and steady presence kept the squad connected and resilient during the match's highest-pressure rallies. When opportunity struck at the net, the offense capitalized in style. Selby Collins, Calahan Torres, and Aaliyah Batchelor each delivered powering home impressive kills. On the defensive end, Zoey Copeland delivered a masterclass in hustle in the back row. Zoey put everything out on the court, sacrificing her body for remarkable digs and hustle. Coming up short in two close sets is tough, but this team has plenty to be proud of. The Lady Tigers are preparing for their next game on Friday, September 18th and Saturday, September 19th! 7B: The Belton Tigers faced off against a tough River Valley team. Their aggressive serves made it super tough to get into a good rhythm, making every single point a battle. Even with the relentless pressure, the girls kept grinding through every rally. Belton ultimately dropped the match, falling 12-25 in the first set and 9-25 in the second. While the scoreboard did not favor the Tigers, the match offered crucial learning opportunities and highlighted areas for growth against top-tier competition. The team remained unified through the tough stretches and never gave up on a single play. The Tigers’ team spirit shined through with Addison Tibbetts and Edith Burns bringing the positive energy and encouragement throughout the game. The Tigers’ are practicing hard and ready for their next match on Friday, September 18th!