Sydney Magrum, right, celebrates a point with her team in Monday’s straight set win over Clyde Harvest Temple. (Nicholas Huenefeld | Sentinel-Tribune)
By Nicholas Huenefeld
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
The Bowling Green Christian Academy volleyball team has reached an unprecedented level of success this year, claiming a West Division title in the Independent Christian Schools of Ohio (ICSO).
“It was really cool,” BG Christian coach Cassie Boron said. “The girls are really excited. They put in the hard work. When these girls were in junior high, we lost a lot of games, and I told them it will come to fruition, and they will see success.”
The Lions, who are 17-2 overall after concluding their regular season with a straight-set win over Clyde Harvest Temple on Monday, will open postseason play next Saturday, Oct. 26 at the ICSO tournament in Mt. Gilead, Ohio.
One key reason for BG Christian’s success is the play of their offensive leader, Sydney Magrum.
As an eighth-grader, Magrum was an accomplished pianist who had lessons with Dr. Robert Satterlee at BGSU. She had played the piano since she was three, and her mom had majored in it.
But Magrum wanted something different, and she decided to start playing volleyball.
“I had to make a decision between piano and volleyball,” she said. “I chose volleyball because I love the team aspect, and I love being with people. I didn’t want to be cooped up in a practice room all day.”
And BG Christian was the perfect place for Magrum to learn the game. The Lions don’t have tryouts. Anyone can play. They teach you how to play.
“I think that’s a beautiful thing,” Magrum said. “I would have never made it on a varsity or JV team my eighth grade year if I played in public school, but I was able to play here and get enough reps. It’s mainly an opportunity for these people, and I think that’s such a beautiful thing. It’s an amazing advantage.”
The ICSO is an outlet for non-OHSAA institutions, including Christian schools, home school programs and Christian church programs, to compete athletically.
Magrum is one of two seniors on the team along with Andice Gibson, and Boron credits the duo for the team’s success.
“It stems from our seniors and leaders,” Boron said. “They’re on fire for the game. Sydney is always in the gym, so she brings that fire of wanting to win. Andice brings the fire of let’s have fun doing it. Those two just make it fun and (us as coaches) are able to step back and just let them take the team. It’s fun to watch them play the game.”
Gibson spoke after Monday’s win about her growth and how the coaches have helped her.
“We’ve all grown so much, in passing especially,” she said. “I can’t make serves over very well, but I did this game because the coaches have been working with me. Everyone else has grown a lot from the first time we’ve all played together. We’re all working as a team now.
“Our coaches really help us, especially during practice. They don’t let us slack, but if we need to have a break, they let us have a break so we don’t get in our heads.”
Boron also credited the improved play of her junior setters, Julia Hines and Alexa Bruhl, as well as sophomore middle, Kennelley Genson. Junior Maddi Boron has also improved her serve this year.
“Kennelley had no clue what she was doing in the middle last year,” Cassie Boron said. “This year, she’s been able to get some blocks and put some down for us.”
In the division-clinching win over Grand Lake last Friday, BG Christian jumped out to a two-set lead before dropping the next two and falling behind 6-1 in the fifth. They battled back for the win, and Boron said that has been something her team has done all year.
“We had a set in Monclova where we were down by 10 and came back and won,” she said. “This team never gives up. It’s fun to watch them. They’ve had a lot of success because of their mental toughness.”
For the players, the championship means a lot.
“This was the first time our school has ever won the division, so it was really emotional,” Gibson said. “We’ve never really made it past third since I’ve been playing. I just can’t really put it into words how excited I am to actually go into the tournament with us being first in our division.”
Other members of the team include sophomores Molly Doolan and Brooklyn Donnell, along with freshmen Kenzie Kane and Liz O’Neal.
Now it’s just the matter of preventing rust during an 11-day layoff before their tournament opener.
“I think we’re going to do really well as long as we don’t get too rusty,” Gibson said. “We just have to keep our hands on a ball.”
