Springs Valley Community High School

Coming off of three straight sweeps in the pool play portion of its home tournament, the Springs Valley volleyball team was set to face Class 3A Edgewood in the championship match. After a long break, the Blackhawks took the court and from the beginning the competition was fierce. Springs Valley lost the first set 25-21 — a “punch to the stomach,” is what Springs Valley coach Erin Carnes called it — and the Blackhawks took some time to recover from it. Midway through the second of three sets, they were on the verge of letting the match slip away. Carnes called a timeout, simplified what she wanted her team to accomplish, and turned them loose. The Blackhawks won 21-25, 25-20, 15-13. “Edgewood was an amazing ball team, they had two great hitters and a lot of girls behind them to keep the ball off the ground,” Carnes said. “I think we got down six maybe (in the second set) and I think it was actually my second timeout. I just told them to go do their jobs. We weren’t asking anyone to do any more than they needed to, we just needed them to do their jobs and that’s what they did.” During the match, the Blackhawks got a much-needed spark from Kinsey Saliba. Saturday was the first time she'd dressed for a varsity match and after getting her feet wet, Carnes turned to Saliba when Bella Nottger rolled her ankle against Edgewood. The freshman would ultimately get a chance to serve and she made the most of it. She’d serve four times, winning three points and picking up an ace in the process. By the time her turn to serve was over, she’d reenergized her teammates. “She subbed in on the front row and it wasn’t really my intention to have her get back there to serve, but everything happened so fast and when I looked back, she was back there stone-faced and ready to go,” Carnes said. “I was like, ‘OK we’re gonna leave her,’ and man there just wasn’t anything timid about her serve. She was ripping it. “Every time she got one over and then when she ended up getting an ace our girls were just a little more hyped up, you just see that energy go to her and come back to the team. It was amazing to watch that unfold.” As the match drew toward its final stages, the Blackhawks were also energized by a rabid student section. A group of maybe 20 boys was with them every step of the way during their comeback, screaming, chanting, jumping, and cheering all the while. It gave the match a postseason atmosphere, something the Blackhawks hadn’t really gotten yet this season and something they’ll need more of as the season progresses. “It was awesome and the kids just fed off of it,” Carnes said. “Those boys behind our backs, it’s just important for the kids to know that their peers are standing with them and behind them and they just fed off their energy.” Springs Valley (10-2, 1-0 PLAC) will return to action on Tuesday, hosting conference foe West Washington. As the Blackhawks get back on the court, they’ll do so with a renewed sense of confidence thanks to the way Saturday shook out. “I think it’s huge for this day specifically. We didn’t get pushed much in pool play and there’s good and bad to that. To come over here and sit for two-plus hours I kind of thought we were at a disadvantage,” Carnes said. “It was just huge and if the kids didn’t already, I think they have a ton of confidence now and can see what we’re capable of when we decide we’re going to play ball.” SPRINGS VALLEY 2, NORTH DAVIESS 0 North Daviess 17 10 — 0 Springs Valley 25 25 — 2 Springs Valley: Leigh Carnes 12 kills, 9 assists, 1 dig, 2 blocks, 4 aces; Bella Nottger 6 kills, 1 block, 1 ace; Alayna Denbo 4 kills, 5 blocks; Tynley Kluesner 3 kills, 4 digs, 2 blocks; Kinsey Saliba 2 kills; Maddie Carnes 16 assists, 3 digs, 1 block, 2 aces; Molly Tucker 4 digs; Kenzie Harrell 2 digs, 1 block. SPRINGS VALLEY 2, EASTERN GREENE 0 Eastern Greene 15 14 — 0 Springs Valley 25 25 — 2 Springs Valley: Bella Nottger 7 kills, 1 block, 1 ace; Leigh Carnes 6 kills, 9 assists, 1 dig, 3 aces; Maddie Carnes 4 kills, 13 assists, 2 dig, 1 ace; Alayna Denbo 2 kills, 3 blocks; Tynley Kluesner 2 kills, 1 dig, 2 aces; Kinsey Saliba 2 kills; Kenzie Harrell 1 dig, 2 aces; Molly Tucker 7 digs. SPRINGS VALLEY 2, HANCOCK COUNTY 0 Hancock County 10 7 — 0 Springs Valley 25 25 — 2 Springs Valley: Maddie Carnes 7 kills, 9 assists, 4 digs; Alayna Denbo 5 kills, Brynne Buchanan 4 kills, 1 assist, 2 digs, 1 ace; Bella Nottger 4 kills, 1 dig, 3 aces, 1 block; Leigh Carnes 4 kills, 13 assists, 1 dig, Tynley Kluesner 1 kill, 1 dig, 7 aces; Molly Tucker 5 digs. SPRINGS VALLEY 2, EDGEWOOD 1 Edgewood 25 20 13 — 1 Springs Valley 21 25 15 — 2 Springs Valley: Leigh Carnes 12 kills, 14 assists, 7 digs, 1 ace, 1 block; Maddie Carnes 10 kills, 15 assists, 4 digs, 1 block; Bella Nottger 8 kills, 1 dig, 3 blocks; Alayna Denbo 3 kills; Tynley Kluesner 2 kills, 5 digs, 3 blocks; Brynne Buchanan 1 kill, 2 digs, 3 aces; Molly Tucker 2 assists, 6 digs, 3 aces; Kinsey Saliba 1 ace.