A former high school volleyball coach and Limestone Capital Volleyball Club founder, Scott Saunders, took his last breath on December 11, 2025.
Reportedly, Scott had undergone surgery on Monday, December 1, 2025, to remove a tumor from his liver.
The doctors worked diligently to remove the tumor; however, it resulted in a hepatectomy, which took his right lobe.
Scott was moved to the ICU floor after the surgery. He was released from the ICU and taken to a regular room; however, he started experiencing complications.
He was then moved back to the ICU on Friday, December 5, and was sedated, intubated, and on kidney dialysis. Nonetheless, he succumbed to the complications.
Scott Saunders is survived by his wife, Sharon, daughter, Jeri Spires, and two grandchildren.
It was his daughter, Jeri, who shared the heartbreaking news in a heartfelt post, expressing the deep sadness her family feels as they begin to adjust to a world without him.
It is with deep sadness that I share the passing of my dad, Scott Saunders. Our hearts are heavy as we begin to navigate life without him. He was deeply loved and will be missed by many.
Jeri
Thank you to everyone who has reached out with support, prayers, donations, and kindness during this difficult time. It truly means more than you know.
Scott Saunders left a significant mark on local volleyball that spanned many years.
Back in 2006, he founded the Limestone Capital Volleyball Club and served as its club director for a full decade.
Even after stepping away from that main role, he remained actively involved in different ways.
One of his most cherished contributions came through the sand volleyball tournaments he organized in his own backyard.
It all began with a simple idea after he watched a professional sand volleyball event in 1989. Soon, he and his friends constructed a court near the old Springville gymnasium where they played regularly for about ten years.
When Scott moved into coaching, he saw the value in giving players something to do during the offseason. Hence, he built a proper court at his home in Bedford.
He filled a hole with gravel for the base, added felt paper for drainage, and topped it with 200 tons of sand to create a true playing surface.
For six summers, Scott hosted tournaments on weekends, including both four-on-four and doubles formats, drawing players from seventh grade up through adults in their 30s and 40s.
Above all, these events were open to everyone and not tied to any school. He wanted kids from schools across the area, like Bedford, Mitchell, Orleans, Paoli, Bloomington, and Loogootee, to come together and enjoy the game.
Coaches and players often spoke about how valuable these tournaments were.
Gabrielle Arthur, who played under Scott earlier and later became the BNL volleyball coach, teamed up with him to bring in more participants, including her own players.
Former players like Alyssa Spears credited Scott with helping them get the extra repetitions needed to improve and reach higher levels of competition.
Scott’s influence extended deeply into high school volleyball as well, particularly at Mitchell High School, where he served as head coach starting in 2018.
Under his guidance, the Bluejackets enjoyed strong seasons, posting records like 26-9 in 2023-24, 24-4 in 2022-23, 25-7 in 2021-22, 22-7 in 2020-21, 15-11 in 2019-20, and 18-10 in 2018-19.
His teams consistently performed well in the Patoka Lake Conference.
Even during challenging times, like the delayed offseason due to the pandemic, Scott kept his players motivated through the sand events and open gyms.
His absence will be felt profoundly by former players, fellow coaches, families, and everyone who knew him.
Thus far, the details about his funeral and memorial services have yet to be published by his family.
During this challenging time, we pray for the strength of Scott’s wife, d
Rest In Heavenly Peace, Coach Scott Saunders!
