Early turning point changed season for Benton Central volleyball

OXFORD - Benton Central needed that moment it could point to that said the Bison can compete with the best teams in Indiana high school volleyball.

They found it, thankfully, early in the season.

It came on Aug. 20 against one of the better Class 4A programs in Floyd Central at Brownsburg's Bulldog Challenge tournament.

Just four days earlier, Benton Central had been swept at Harrison in the second match of the season, one that saw a new head coach come in just a week before practices began and with a roster that would rely on freshmen to contribute immediately.

Chalk the Harrison match up to a learning experience in the first real raucous environment several had played in. But taking the final two sets of a five-set thriller to stun Floyd Central when their backs were against the wall?

That defined what this team would become.

"That one match gave us something to look at and say, hey, this is how we need to play," first-year BC coach Scott Mattson said. "That was a turning point. Harrison set that up in some ways and Floyd Central gave us the energy and turning point we needed to go on the run we did."

The run has the Bison entering Saturday's Class 3A Norwell Regional against unbeaten Angola with a 30-3 record.

"We've definitely worked very hard in practice," senior libero Hannah Musser said. "All of the games, we've learned from them and done what we need to get it done. We put it all on the court every time we play."

Certainly the Bison have come a long way since that Harrison match.

Currently, Benton Central has won eight straight matches, including the Hoosier Conference and sectional championships.

But it began, simply, with walking through fundamentals.

"Coming into the gym, it was going to be a matter of they were switching coaches a week before the season and would the seniors buy in to a new coach and would all the talent buy in to a new coach after the prior coach (Jon Vernon) had been here (seven) years and developed a very good system and a successful program," Mattson said. "Now you're switching right before the season begins. There was a big hurdle for all of us for me to come in so late in the summer and then ask the girls to do things that were different."

Vernon resigned just before the season to take the head coaching job at Greenfield-Central and in a pinch, Benton Central reached out to Mattson, whose only head coaching experience came many years ago and not in Indiana.

Naturally, Mattson turned to his seniors, of which there are only two: Musser and Sophie Cobb.

"We lead and set the tone for every practice, every game," Cobb said. "That is what starts us off. That confidence. The freshmen look up to us and know whatever we're doing is right."

Mattson, who has been involved in area volleyball but never as a head coach, knew he had a talented team.

The Bison just two seasons ago were in the regional championship match.

Benton Central already had a go-to offensive player in junior outside hitter Sienna Foster. A talented freshman class was coming in.

And the future is bright, with the eighth and seventh grade programs seeing success this season.

"With being so successful, I think that is going to help us next year," Foster said. "We just have to fill a couple holes, the libero and a right side, but the eighth grade class coming in is very talented. We should be pretty successful."

That's next year.

The Bison are currently about the right now, especially Cobb and Musser, who won't be around next season.

That means taking on a tall, talented Angola squad.

Benton Central prepared itself for this moment. Players will tell you seeing area standouts like McCutcheon outside hitter Chloe Chicoine, Central Catholic middle Grace Roach or West Lafayette outside hitter Rachel Williams has prepared them for defending an array of power, finesse and volleyball IQ.

"We're going to have to play exceptionally well," Mattson said. "We're going to have to be very focused and at some level enjoy what is probably going to be a roller coaster of a pair of matches if we get that far."

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.

Volleyball regionals

Saturday

CLASS 4A

At Noblesville

Fort Wayne Carroll (31-2) vs. Hamilton Southeastern (30-1), 10 a.m.

McCutcheon (32-1) vs. Homestead (27-6), noon

Championship, 6 p.m.

CLASS 3A

At Norwell

Benton Central (30-3) vs. Angola (31-0), 10 a.m.

Bellmont (27-6) vs. Delta (16-9), noon

Championship, 6 p.m.

CLASS 2A

At Cascade

Park Tudor (23-5) vs. Scecina (28-5), 10 a.m.

Southmont (15-14) vs. Northeastern (20-11), noon

Championship, 6 p.m.

At Elwood

South Adams (28-6) vs. Central Catholic (21-11), 10 a.m.

Madison-Grant (27-5) vs. Wapahani (28-5), noon

Championship, 6 p.m.

CLASS A

At Culver

Kouts (29-4) vs. Michigan City Marquette (23-9), 10:30 a.m.

South Newton (31-2) vs. Fort Wayne Blackhawk (30-4), 12:30 p.m.

Championship, 6 p.m.

At Clinton Central

Daleville (23-8) vs. Cambridge City (25-6), 10 a.m.

Faith Christian (26-6) vs. Southwood (29-3), noon

Championship, 6 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Early turning point changed season for Benton Central volleyball