The Salem High volleyball team will host defending Class 3 state champion Hidden Valley tonight in the biggest match of the season to date. Salem has opened the season 10-0 after defeating Blacksburg on Tuesday night in Salem.
The Spartans are having a great season thus far. Last Thursday they defeated Cave Spring in their River Ridge District opener in four sets at Cave Spring, 25-18, 25-21, 14-25 and 25-18. Gabby Crawley had a double-double with 10 kills and 10 blocks while Emme Custer had eight kills and a dozen blocks. Also contributing to the win was Kourtney Goens with six kills and Bailey Redford with a pair of aces.
On Saturday the Spartans hosted E.C. Glass and Mecklenburg and remained undefeated with two wins. Against Glass in the morning Salem lost the first set, 25-20, but bounced back to win the next three, 25-22, 25-22 and 25-21. Goens had eight kills and four blocks, Parker Price had five and four and Redford served up three aces.
“It was a great match that we were able to pull out,” said Salem coach Doug Eller.
In the afternoon Salem took on Mecklenburg and won in three, 25-17, 25-22 and 25-20. Custer had seven kills, Redford had six kills and four aces and Olivia Crosswhite served seven aces for the Spartans.
On Tuesday the Spartans hosted River Ridge District rival Blacksburg and won in five sets, 25-20, 25-16, 23-25, 23-25 and 15-9 in a marathon match at SHS. Redford and Custer had 10 kills each while Goens and Crawley each had seven. Gabby also had 10 blocks. Bailey Martin served five aces.
Next week Salem is on the road for two RRD matches, at Christiansburg Tuesday and at Patrick Henry on September 25.
