The Salem High volleyball girls have high hopes as they prepare to open the 2025 season at home next week. Salem will host Roanoke Catholic in the season opener on Tuesday, August 26, at Salem High.
The Spartans are coming off a 14-10 season that ended with a loss to E.C. Glass in the Region 4D tournament. Salem was 7-5 in the River Ridge District, one of the toughest districts in the state with Hidden Valley and Christiansburg both advancing to the Class 3 state tournament.
Salem graduated three strong players in twins Tinsley and Tate Thomas and Myah Crews. However, the cupboard is far from bare as coach Doug Eller returns RRD first team hitter Gabby Crawley as well as fellow seniors Ashlin Hudson, Bailey Redford, Bailey Martin and Emme Custer. Juniors Kate and Macy Gibson, Kourtney Goens and Jenna Wilkes all saw a lot of playing time last season as sophomores.
New varsity players are juniors Markiya Webb, Karis Guy, Emory Coe and Parker Price as well as sophomore Olivia Crosswhite.
“I feel like with five returning seniors and four returning juniors we have to be in the run for our district,” said Eller. “As always, our district will be one of the tougher ones in the state. Christiansburg and Hidden Valley will continue to be strong. I believe Blacksburg may be the most improved team and everyone else will be competitive.”
Salem has a strong stable of assistant coaches, including Basil Conner, David Turk, Russ Danstrum and Chris Thomas. Turk and Danstrum are former head coaches for the Spartans and Conner was head coach at Glenvar. Basil’s daughter Bailey, a standout player as a student at Glenvar, has come on the staff to coach the jayvee team.
