Welch embracing leadership role in final year with Lady Eagles
Holliday senior Belle Welch is making the most of her final season with the Lady Eagles. The three-year starter is coming off a 652 assist season where she earned the district’s Most Valuable Setter award.
Despite losing five seniors from last year’s team that made its second-straight trip to the regional finals, Welch believes this year’s squad has what it takes to get over the hump and return to the state tournament for the first time since 2012.
“We lost five seniors from last year,” Welch said. “Coming into the season, we talked about what it was going to be like without those girls. Everyone has stepped up into the role they need to take on with us having 10 seniors this year. We’re all coming together. It makes it easier since we enjoy each other. We’re all there for each other and willing to help each other and take each others criticism.”
If the early season has been any indication, the Lady Eagles show no signs of letting up. They own a 15-2 mark and are coming off back-to-back tournament wins at the Bev Ball Classic in Abilene and Lu Allen Memorial Tournament in Graham.
“I’m really excited for this season,” she said. “I think we can make it to state this year because we all have the same goal and our chemistry is all there. ’m really excited to see what all our team can put out there this year. We’re going to be able to work really well together. We’re all pretty close friends so I think that will help us come together as a team. We have really good chemistry and we all have the same goal and are doing whatever it will take to get there.”
Welch began playing volleyball at an early age, often playing with her sister. At age nine, she began to play more competitively at the club level.
“I’ve always been very competitive but when I was 11 or 12, I started to realize this might be something I want to do in college,” she said.
After dominating the club circuit, Welch began her high school career at Rider before moving into the district at Holliday to play for the Lady Eagles.
“It was a big change coming from Rider but it was a really good one,” she explained. “One of the reasons I stayed at Rider was it was my sister’s senior year and I had a bunch of friends that I didn’t want to leave. I played club with Addison Lindemann, Sydney Linn, Katie Piper and Morgan Bodde for several years. We had talked jokingly about it for a while but eventually I started thinking it was something I would do. Rider had very large classes and I think I just wanted something smaller. I came here and it’s been one of the best decisions I could’ve made.”
Volleyball isn’t the only sport in which the Lady Eagles senior excels. The reigning back-to-back district champion in girls singles also is a top performer on the tennis courts.
“Tennis is my fun sport,” she said. “I don’t take lessons for it. I love the team sports and everything but I love singles because if I mess up, it’s all on me. There’s no one else to put the blame on.”
When her playing career is over, Welch wants to become an elementary school teacher and shape the lives of the future.
“I want to be a first grade teacher after college. I just love little kids.”
If the senior can continue to educate and grow her volleyball game, the Lady Eagles and Welch are in for something special once again.
