Springs Valley Community High School

At the conclusion of the Springs Valley volleyball team’s Patoka Lake Athletic Conference opener against Crawford County on Tuesday, senior Brynne Buchanan made a beeline to the stands opposite the Blackhawks’ bench. As she returned to the court, she held up a sign above her head. Her teammates roared in celebration and as Buchanan turned to display the sign to the crowd on hand cheers arose from the stands as well. In black bubble letters on a white background the sign read, “Coach Carnes 300 Wins!” Erin Carnes, in her 13th season as Springs Valley’s head volleyball coach, had just won the 300th match of her career and her team couldn’t get enough of it. “It’s just special. It’s a really, really cool moment to be a part of,” Carnes said. “It’s going to be there forever and there are going to be many more wins after my time, but to see them all hyped up and knowing that they played just as much a part in that as I did, it’s just really special.” Making the win even more special was that Carnes got to share it with her daughters. Leigh, a junior, was a part of 55 of those wins through Tuesday. Maddie, a freshman, helped her tally the final five. Against Crawford County they combined for 12 kills and 24 assists, operating the Springs Valley attack well on the way to a blowout victory. “It’s really exciting. I feel like it’s a big accomplishment for her,” Maddie Carnes said. “The excitement that everyone brought tonight was fun.” The moment was meaningful for both of them as well. After years of watching their mom’s teams excel on the court, they’d helped her reach a major career milestone. “It means a lot to me,” Leigh Carnes said. “It’s my mom. I work hard for her because she expects a lot out of me.” The family affair continued on the bench, where Erin Carnes’ sisters — Jolynne Cruz and Adrienne Phelps — were seated as assistant coaches. This season provided an opportunity for the three of them to work together, they took it, and because of that they got to share the moment together on Tuesday. “It’s nice being able to come back and share the bench with her, even though she never sits down, come to practice with her. All three of us are very close. It’s nice to be in the gym with her again,” Cruz said. “We laugh a lot, we have the same mindset when it comes to volleyball, and we obviously mesh well together. “It’s a lot of fun. I’ve missed it.” The win was also a big one for the program, as it eclipsed the 900-win milestone in its 51st season. Nearly all of those wins are split between Erin Carnes and her mentor, Leslie Akers, who won 594 matches in her hall-of-fame career. For her part, the current Springs Valley coach credited all those who have come through the program during her decade-plus of leading the Blackhawks. “I have the best staff, past staff, everybody who’s coached for me even down to the younger grade levels,” Erin Carnes said. “The staff that I have now, managers past and present, players past and present, they all have a part in this and I’ve just been along for the ride this whole time.”