By Kenny Varner

BELLEFONTE – Saving the best for last!

The Bellefonte girls volleyball team  found their backs to the wall in their match against Huntingdon Thursday night.

Huntingdon took two out of the first three games before Bellefonte started to sizzle, coming back to win game three and five to make it a comeback to remember, winning 23-25, 26-24, 19-25, 25-19, 15-10.

Trailing 2-1 and the Bearcats leading 14-9, the Red Raiders took their game to the next level as they recalled off eight consecutive points to put themselves in the drivers seat. Serving in the clutch was Carley Clarkson who reeled off seven of eight distancing themselves to a 17-14 advantage.

Huntingdon would battle back, cutting the contest to an 18-17 with big blocks from Raeleigh Goodman. Goodman was strong at the net throughout the contest.

But the Red Raiders would not be denied on this night as they forced numerous long volleys that with clutch frontline play by Madison Melius.

The home squad will get one more run to secure the victory.

Kiera Clarkson collected three consecutive service points, highlight by a long return and an ace, extending things to a 22-17 Bellefonte.

The Red Raiders never relinquished the lead winning 25-19.

“We’ve been stressing our energy and keeping our energy consistent,” said Bellefonte Monica Smith. “We did a really good job not getting down on ourselves when we got down two sets. I liked how we pushed back and fought. I’m very proud of them.

With the match tied at two, the Red Raiders carried over the momentum from fourth game.

After giving the ball and first point to the Bearcats on a side out, Bellefonte forced Huntingdon to a side out of their own, tying things at one.

From there, Carlee Pepperman pushed across two consecutive service points, giving her team a little room to breathe.

The two exchanged nine consecutive side outs as Bellefonte continued it lead, 7-5. Pepperman scattered numerous blasts to the Bearcats defense, keeping them back on their heels.

Leading 7-5, the Red Raiders added a service point from Aubrey Shreppel, upping the lead back to four.

Bellefonte added service points from Carley Clarkson and Keira Clarkson en route to the 15-10 victory, giving the Red Raiders the comeback victory

In the first game, both teams came out ready to go, it would be a back-and-forth contest as the Huntingdon lead never got more than three as with the Red Raiders as well.

The two would go down to the wire neck-in-neck before the Bearcats would claw their way to the 25-23 victory.

Bellefonte returned the favor in the second game.

Again like the first contest, the two battled back-and-forth with the Red Raiders hearing up when they needed to, taking the second game 26-24 evening up the contest.

The Bearcats roared back in game three as they would take another close battle and get hit down the stretch, winning 25-19 and putting Bellefonte at the disadvantage.

However, the Red Raiders were cool under pressure and refused to go down without a fight adding a “W” in the win column.

In JV action, Bellefonte sept Huntingdon in two sets.