The Salem High volleyball team is 9-5 after losing a “Senior Night” match to Christiansburg Tuesday in Salem. The visiting Blue Demons beat Salem in three, 25-18, 27-25 and 25-17.
“They’re a very good team,” said Salem coach Russ Danstrom. “We had to play very well to beat them the first time. They took a set off Blacksburg.”
Four Salem seniors were honored prior to the match, Alex Abbott, Maddie Bowman, Tori Clinevell and Grace Hedge. Bowman, a captain, is out for the season with an injury.
Clinevell is also a captain, and she led Salem in digs with 19. Janae Blakeney had seven kills and seven assists, Telia Harris had six kills and three blocks and two seniors had a good night as Abbott and Hedge both had two kills.
Last Thurday at home the Spartans swept the season series with a strong Patrick Henry team. Salem lost the first set, 25-21, but bounced back to win the next three in a row.
“It was a good win for us heading into a three game week,” said Danstrum. “Though we lost the first set to PH the team stayed confident and won the second. We were focused in three and four and really executed our game plan and took both of their strong hitters out of the game. Our passing also beat their strongest weapons.”
Maddie Hall had 17 assists to go with 13 digs. Blakeney had 11 assists, 13 kills, 15 digs and three blocks and Clinevell had 18 digs and four kills.
Harris had eight blocks, eight kills, seven digs and six aces. Hedge and Abbott each had a block and two kills. Tanner Rowe had eight digs, Azyah Burnette had four, Lindsay Frank had two and Kinsey Ebel had one dig.
“Our blocking and digging were solid and that was the difference in the match,” said Danstrom.
On Monday in Salem the Spartans opened a big week with a three set win over Pulaski County. Salem won 25-20, 25-14 and 25-18 against the visiting Cougars.
Harris had 11 kills and five blocks while Blakeney had eight kills and 15 assists for the Spartans. Clinevell had 10 digs and four aces.
The Spartans are back on the road tonight to play at Hidden Valley. Next week they’re at Blacksburg Tuesday and Cave Spring Thursday.
