Back to Back: Belmont sweeps Sacred Heart 3-0 to win second-straight MHSAA 2A Volleyball Championship

It was the Cardinals' second sweep in the state championship in as many years

STARKVILLE — Friday’s MHSAA Class 2A Championship match seemed like a foregone conclusion, but the Belmont Cardinals still had to earn it on the court.

And that’s exactly what they did.

Belmont swept South State champion Sacred Heart 3-0 for the second year in a row and hoisted the Golden Ball for the second time in school history.

“We told the girls to keep the intensity you saw today all season, and they did,” Belmont coach Stephanie Cleveland said. “It does feel different from last season. It’s surreal.”

The Cardinals (34-5) dominated all three sets, winning 25-12, 25-17 and 25-13.

It’s been a common refrain for Belmont this year, which swept its way through the 2A Playoffs and stayed perfect Friday.

“Our whole theme this year has been ‘attack’ and that’s what we tried to do,” Cleveland said. “We came out aggressive and played fast, and that’s something we’ve strived for since we lost to St. Andrew’s (in 2020).”

Junior outside hitter Kerstin Moody took home MVP honors, tallying 19 kills, but the honor could have gone to any number of Cardinals. Junior Meredith Eaton played especially well, particularly in a six-kill second set.

“We knew they were going to come with it after that first set because they had that feeling from losing last season,” Moody said. “That’s the same feeling that pushed us to a state championship last year. We just tried to stick to the plan and be the first team to five, first team to 10, first to 15, first to 20. We played for each other.”

The loss was just the fourth of the season for Sacred Heart (27-4).

“This was a tall task for us today,” Sacred Heart coach Kerry Geroux said. “(Belmont) played very well, as we expected. Our challenge was to get back here, and we accomplished that. Obviously, we would have liked to have played a little better today.”

Photos by Austin Frayser

2022 MHSAA 2A Volleyball Championship: Belmont versus Sacred Heart