Ceci Bulmahn leaves Mt. Vernon as its all-time, single-season and single-game leader in kills and is the 2021 Daily Reporter Volleyball Player of the Year. ( Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)
FORTVILLE — All-Conference.
All-District.
All-State.
All-Region.
All-American.
Mt. Vernon’s Cecilia Bulmahn was All-Everything, including the school’s all-time leader.
Bulmahn leaves the Marauder program as the all-time leader for career, single-season and single-game kills and is the 2021 Daily Reporter All-County Volleyball Player of the Year.
Bulmahn finished her career with 1,720 kills, besting the previous mark of 1,601 held by her oldest sister Jaclyn Bulmahn, who is now starring at Ball State University. Ceci’s 568 kills in a season and 42 kills in a match — during her junior season — were also records previously held by big sister.
“Beating my sister’s record makes it better, because I got to FaceTime her on the phone on the way home from the match. She passed the legacy to me,” Ceci said. “Every point when I was getting closer to her record, everyone on my team would look at me and say, ‘Two left. One left.’ When I beat her record they all cheered and gathered around me. It was really nice.”
Ceci was selected third-team All-America by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, as well as all-region by the national group. She was chosen first-team All-State and All-District by the Indiana High School Volleyball Coaches Association to go with being named by conference head coaches to the All-Hoosier Heritage Conference team.
She helped get the Marauders to the Yorktown Sectional championship match, where the team lost to the No. 1-ranked Tigers in four sets.
A four-year veteran of the program, during her time the Marauders had an overall record of 97-26. Mt. Vernon finished 24-7 this season.
“It’s really nostalgic,” Ceci said. “We had a great four years. It’s a great group of girls. I loved playing with them. We’re all close and good friends.”
Her 568 kills ranked second in the state. Oddly, that mark was also second in the HHC. Pendleton Heights’ Avery Ross led all Indiana attackers with 597.
Bulmahn plans on majoring in Journalism and playing volleyball next year at Southern Illinois University. In the Missouri Valley Conference, SIU will face Valparaiso, where middle sister, Victoria Bulmahn is the team’s setter, who is Mt. Vernon’s all-time leader in assists. Many of those going to big sister Jaclyn and little sister Ceci.
It’s the third straight year a Bulmahn sister has been the county’s player of the year. It’s the second straight year for Ceci, Victoria was the player of the year in 2019. Jaclyn was also a two-time selection.
“I’ve grown up around volleyball all my life, watching my sisters and cousins play,” Ceci said. “I don’t really know anything else, but I love it. It’s something we all get to share, talk about and help each other.”
The youngest Bulmahn said that’s been the key to her success. She’s grabbed that knowledge watching from the sidelines and later putting it to her game.
Along with the benefit from watching the sisters play. She was watching her parents coach. All three girls played for dad and mom at MV. Eric Bulmahn is the head coach and Monica Bulmahn is the assistant.
“Being around the game,” Cecilia said as one of top reason for her accomplishments. “My volleyball IQ is probably what sets me apart. That’s what I’ve been told by my coaches. I watch and I see the other side of the court. I’ve been observing it my whole life.
“It definitely helps being the youngest. We’re all smart with our volleyball IQ, but it’s been a benefit watching my sisters and them giving me advice on what to do.”
Dad and head coach has seen growth in his youngest daughter’s game, too.
“She’s developed a lot more shots, her defense has gotten a lot better and she’s made fewer errors,” Eric Bulmahn said. “As far as leadership on the floor, she spoke up to her teammates more (this year).”
He added that when it came to hitting Ceci was a little more aggressive than her oldest sister.
“Jaclyn would only get up for the big matches,” Eric said. “A lot of school’s use the matches against the teams that aren’t as good as stat-stackers. She wouldn’t get up for those matches and wouldn’t do that, but she would really step up in the big matches. Ceci was consistent all the time. She wanted to beat whoever was on the other side. It didn’t matter who they were.”
Ceci was more than just a big hitter for the Marauders. She was second on the team in digs with 426, just 10 behind team leader Abby Herman, Mt. Vernon’s libero. Her 94.6 serving percentage was also second on the team.
She also totaled 34 service aces and 34 total blocks.
2021 Daily Reporter All-County Volleyball Team
Cecilia Bulmahn, Mt. Vernon
Rylee Ugen, Mt. Vernon
Abby Herman, Mt. Vernon
Reagan Kleiman, New Palestine
Grace Myers, New Palestine
Lauren Wilson, New Palestine
Lili Hunt, Eastern Hancock
Mya Grigsby, Greenfield-Central
Coach of the Year: Eric Bulmahn, Mt. Vernon
Honorable Mentions: New Palestine — Isabella Gizzi, Jada Hausz, McKaylah Flagle. Mt. Vernon — Meredith Hohnbaum, Tatum Fitzgerald, Delaney Bowser, Macy Lyons. Greenfield-Central — Morgan Hornaday, Emma Berty. Eastern Hancock — Sydni Bednarski, Megan Retherford, Sydney Hayes.
