Home court helps Braves advance

BROWNSTOWN

Nothing compares to having the home crowd behind you.

On Tuesday night, the Class 3A No. 4 Brownstown Central volleyball team played host to Batesville in a rematch from this past year’s regional. It took four sets for the Braves to pull off a victory this past fall, but this season, they pulled out a 25-14, 25-15, 25-19 victory.

“It’s awesome to play regional on your home court with your crowd, with your music,” said Braves senior Abbi Shade, who also had the motivation of it being her birthday Tuesday. “You’re going to play your best volleyball when you’ve got the crowd behind you.”

Shade had the first of her team-high 14 kills to give the Braves a 2-1 lead in the first set, and they never trailed the rest of the way.

The second set was tied three times early on before the Braves’ Courtney Conrad had a kill in between a pair of Batesville errors, and Brownstown was in control.

Shade said starting the first two sets strong was important. “It just sets the momentum for the whole game. Defense was unbelievable and we were everywhere, and we came out firing. It’s going to put the other team down, and it puts us on top and gives us momentum.”

Braves coach Jennifer Shade liked seeing her team come out swinging.

“I think adrenaline was a part of the first 10 points of every game,” she said. “I saw our girls breathing heavy about point 15, and it wasn’t because we’re out of shape. It was because their adrenaline was flowing so high today.

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