MIDDLETOWN — Mettle and determination are as important for success in volleyball as they are in any other sport. Talent and skill can take a team so far, but how it responds under duress can help it rise to new levels.

Such was the case Saturday, Aug. 19, for the Lapel Bulldogs.

After overcoming early deficits throughout the day, Lapel had to bounce back from a set down to knock off the host Raiders in three sets to claim the Shenandoah Invitational, the first tournament win for Lapel volleyball and head coach Hilary Eppert.

The championship comes after consecutive years in which the Bulldogs seemed poised to win at Shenandoah but came up short.

“It feels good,” coach Eppert said. “We’ve been close, kind of the bridesmaid but not the bride, getting close every year. But I was just really impressed with that last match and last set we played, specifically the grit we showed in the second and third sets.”

Lapel swept through pool play with three wins against Seton Catholic, Lincoln and Whiteland to set up the finals match with Shenandoah.

Eppert said she felt her team was flat to open the title match, dropping the first set 19-25; but keyed by spirited defensive play, the Bulldogs stormed back to break open a close second set and even the match with a 25-18 win.

Six players combined to block 10 Raider kill attempts in the title match. Led by sophomores Zoe Freer, Delany Peoples and Makynlee Taylor and senior Taylor Murdock with two apiece, the athletic Bulldog front row made the difference late.

“It was huge,” Eppert said. “We talk about that in practice; it’s hard to work on that in practice. So, for them to recognize who the hitters are on the other side, see their tendencies, and get there early on the block, they just made plays.”

Peoples in particular had a key moment in the third set. With the Bulldogs clinging to a 4-2 lead, the sophomore blocked Raider Hallie Holbrook and followed that with an athletic kill, reaching with her right arm and finding a hole in the Shenandoah defense.

Holbrook was named the tournament’s outstanding player and had 13 kills against Lapel.

“Delany really showed up on defense today,” Eppert said. “It was just so impressive; she had some digs and played the overall game. I’ve talked with her and Makynlee about being the total volleyball player.”

Peoples also tied for the team lead in the final match with six digs.

“Delany Peoples stepped it up like no other today,” junior Isabel Anderson said. “She probably played the best match I’ve ever seen her play today.”

With so many outstanding performances teamwide and leading 11-6, the Bulldogs went with their bread and butter to close things out, as Anderson and junior Emily Eppert combined for Lapel’s final five points.

“We have a connection, definitely,” Anderson said. “We’ve been playing together since the fourth grade, so we know we’re ready to win. We were finally ready to win this tournament.”

Anderson, who had 68 assists in the four matches, and Taylor, who had 20 kills and seven blocks on the day, were Lapel representatives on the all-tournament team, voted on by the coaches in the tournament.

“I am so honored,” Anderson said. “It makes me so happy that other coaches see how hard other teams’ players work. Shenandoah is a really good team, so it’s really gratifying to have the chance to beat them.”

In pool play, Lapel beat Seton Catholic 25-22, 25-22; Lincoln 24-26, 25-11, 15-10; and Whiteland 25-21, 25-13.

Other leaders for the day included Emily Eppert with 22 kills; Peoples, 17; and Murdock, 13. Junior Macie Schmitt had 7 aces and 25 digs, and junior Addie Bailey added six digs in the title match.