August 24, 2026
The Nest, Inside Orchard View Athletics
By: Justin Troyer
Presented by: West Michigan Ironmen
Muskegon, MI — The Orchard View Cardinals showed plenty of grit, patience and confidence Friday night, battling through three tightly contested sets before taking control in the fourth to defeat Grand Rapids Wellspring Prep 3-1 at home.
Orchard View won the match 26-24, 25-23, 25-27, 25-8, leaning on veteran leadership, the energy of its younger players and a team-wide commitment to staying together when things got tight.
Doty Sets the Tone in Set One
Senior Haylee Doty helped set the tone early, serving nine points in the opening set as the Cardinals jumped out to an 11-7 advantage.
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| #8 SR. Haylee Doty |
Instead of allowing the momentum to slip away, the Cardinals stayed composed.
Sophomore Breylin Bruesch stepped to the service line late in the set and helped Orchard View finish the comeback, securing a 26-24 victory.
Head coach Alecia Miller said the message to her team was to remain focused on the moment.
“I reminded the girls they can't get comfortable. As we got into the middle of the set, the message was don't think too far ahead. Take this one point at a time.”
That mindset was also something Doty emphasized with her teammates.
The senior reminded the Cardinals that one point doesn't determine a game, encouraging her teammates to be patient, maintain a good attitude and continue lifting each other up.
The Cardinals did exactly that when the opening set tightened.
Bell Takes Charge in Set Two
If Doty provided the veteran leadership in the opening set, sophomore Jasmine Bell took center stage in the second.
Bell rattled off eight straight points from the service line to start the frame, immediately putting
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| #9 SO. Jasmine Bell |
pressure on Wellspring Prep.
The second set became another back-and-forth battle, but Bell continued to deliver. She finished the set with 11 service points, while Doty added seven from the service line.
Senior Breniya Betts helped close out the set as the Cardinals held on for a 25-23 victory and a 2-0 match lead.
Miller said she has placed significant responsibility in Bell's hands despite her young age.
“I put a lot of responsibility in Jasmine’s hands, and she is learning to embrace those responsibilities. I’m proud to see the way she is growing and the leader she is becoming on the court.”
That responsibility continued to pay off from the service line, where Bell repeatedly created momentum for the Cardinals.
Doty also pointed to Bell's impact beyond the stat sheet.
Calling her teammate “Jazzy,” Doty described Bell as a good teammate with a good attitude and said she loves her hustle and effort.
For a young Cardinals team, that type of energy and encouragement became important as the match continued to tighten.
Cardinals Let One Slip Away in Set Three
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| #2 SO. Ava Dood |
The Cardinals had multiple opportunities to finish the set but ultimately fell 27-25, allowing Wellspring Prep to extend the match.
Ava Dood led Orchard View with seven points in the set, while Bell added five.
Junior Alivia DeCheney also provided an important spark late. DeCheney scored five points during a stretch that helped pull the Cardinals back into the set before a side-out returned possession to Wellspring Prep at 21-20.
The Cardinals had been in position to win the set several different times, and Miller didn't shy away from that fact during the conversation with her team between the third and fourth sets.
The coach felt Orchard View had let one get away.
The challenge now was simple: forget the missed opportunities and respond.
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| #14 JR. Alivia DeCheney |
The response was immediate.
Orchard View settled in during the fourth set and quickly turned the match back in its favor. Bell once again caught fire from the service line, scoring 11 more points as the Cardinals pulled away.
The Cardinals played with the confidence Miller and her staff had been asking for all night.
And this time, there would be no late drama.
Orchard View dominated the fourth set 25-8, closing out the match 3-1.
The fourth-set performance was exactly the kind of response the Cardinals needed after allowing the third set to slip away.
Confidence, Grit and Teamwork
For Doty, the biggest takeaway wasn't just the final score. It was the way the Cardinals responded to adversity.
The senior said the coaching staff challenged the team to play with confidence, and that confidence was on full display in the fourth set.
The Cardinals also relied heavily on their ability to maintain a positive attitude and lift one another up throughout the match.
That mentality helped Orchard View navigate two extremely close opening sets, recover from the third-set loss and then finish the night with its most dominant performance.
Cardinals Statistical Leaders
Bell had a monster night from the service line, finishing with 31 serving points, including 13 aces. She also contributed 15 assists.
Doty led the Cardinals with seven kills, while Bruesch anchored the defensive effort with a team-high 14 digs.
But perhaps the most important statistic was the Cardinals' ability to respond.
They won two close sets, watched a third slip away and then answered with a 25-8 fourth-set statement.
For Orchard View, the formula was simple: one point at a time, a good attitude, confidence and plenty of Cardinal grit.
And when the Cardinals needed their best volleyball, they delivered it.
Cardinals Back in Action Next Week
The Cardinals won't have to wait long to get back on the court. Orchard View will return to action next week when they take on Calvary Christian before traveling to Western Michigan Christian on Saturday for a multi-team tournament.
After showing the ability to battle through close sets and respond with confidence against Wellspring Prep, the Cardinals will look to carry that momentum into next week's matchups.
Cardinal Supporters: Poo Patrol Muskegon
Photos by: Jay Doty
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