If Thursday night’s volleyball showdown between Cave Spring and Northside is any indication of what’s to come down the road, both the Knights and Vikings look poised to make some serious runs in 2015.
Using pushes midway through all three sets, Cave Spring outlasted the Vikings 25-20; 25-22; 25-22 in their season opener at the Cave Spring gym. Northside had entered the match 2-0.
“This was our first game and our blocking and serving were good tonight,” Cave Spring head coach Tamalyn Tanis said. “We have eight seniors and the girls stepped it up. Northside is very dangerous.”
Viking head coach Amy Crawford was equally complimentary of the Knights.
“Cave Spring is always strong and it makes us better to play them,” Crawford noted. “We were second in the Blue Ridge last year and I feel comfortable with all our players. Unforced errors got both teams and it made the difference for us.”
The Vikings were tied or held leads midway through all three sets before Cave Spring went on the patented runs that has defined their program for years.
Northside led 15-14 in the opening set before Cave Spring went on a 10-1 run that essentially put it away for the Knights.
In the second set, the Vikings led 12-8 when the Knights surged to tie things at 16. Cave Spring then pushed their advantage to 22-18 and Northside got no closer than 2 points down the stretch.
Set three was knotted at 18 before the Knights went on a 7-4 run to clinch the match.
“Northside is a very good team and they were keeping things close,” Cave Spring senior libero Alayna Foutz said afterward. “We have experienced players with great chemistry. We came together and said ‘enough was enough.’ “
Cave Spring also rode its strength at the net.
Seniors Piper Roe, Shannon Holsinger and Cait Flippen split the Viking defense with 13, 9 and 7 kills, respectfully. Roe added 6 blocks with Holsinger getting 3. Meagan Harrison set the table for the Cave Spring offense with 32 assists.
Northside outside hitter Aleah Keaton led the Vikings with 11 kills, while Katelyn Dilcher added 8. Keaton and Courtney Altizer each brought up 11 digs, with Altizer offering 28 assists as the Northside setter.
Bill Turner
