by Jamie Harris
The Berkeley Springs Lady Indians volleyball team etched their names into program history this week, going 1-1 in a pair of road matches, but it’s the win that will be remembered for years to come.
On Tuesday, September 9, the Lady Indians stormed into Short Gap and shocked Frankfort in a thrilling 3-1 victory, marking what appears to be the program’s first-ever win over the Falcons. According to MaxPreps, Berkeley Springs had never beaten Frankfort in recorded history, dating back to at least 2007. Before Tuesday night, the Lady Indians had only managed to steal a single set in nearly two decades of meetings. That all changed in front of a stunned Falcon crowd.
Berkeley Springs came out swinging in the opening set, dominating 25-11, before Frankfort evened things up with a 25-15 win in the second. But the Lady Indians refused to fold. Behind gritty defense, relentless serving, and fearless attacks, Berkeley Springs clawed their way to a nail-biting 27-25 win in set three, then sealed the upset with a heart-stopping 26-24 finish in set four.
The stats backed up the grit. Ryleigh Poist torched the Falcons with 7 aces, while Makayla Bowers (5) and Abigail Close (3) added pressure from the line. Close also led the attack with 10 kills, while Bailee Diehl chipped in 9 and Macey Fincham added 5.
Defensively, setter Maddie Close was unstoppable, digging 20 rockets from Frankfort’s hitters while simultaneously running the 5-1 offense as the team’s lone setter. Andrews (18 digs), Close (14), Poist (13) and Patton (11) were relentless in the backcourt, keeping rallies alive and fueling the Lady Indians’ upset.
“It speaks volumes about what this year’s team is doing,” said Coach Fincham. “They play smart, hard, and together.”
Two nights later, on Thursday, September 11, the Lady Indians faced another tough road challenge at Class AAA Hampshire. Playing shorthanded without key hitter Abigail Close (soccer), Berkeley Springs shuffled its lineup, even moving players into positions they hadn’t practiced. Despite the adversity, the Indians battled the Trojans point-for-point before falling 3-0 (14-25, 18-25, 19-25).
Poist led with 3 aces, Maddie Close added 2, while Fincham and Diehl posted 3 kills each. Poist (13 digs) and Close (12) anchored the defense, with key contributions from Courtney (7), Andrews (5) and Patton (5).
Coach Fincham praised the resilience of her squad: “We brought up JV players, had girls in new spots, and still they never gave up until the very last ball. That’s the heart of this team.”
Through six games, Berkeley Springs sits at 4-2, impressive considering they’ve only had their full roster available for half of those matches. With regional rival Petersburg on deck this week, the Lady Indians are brimming with belief.
After Tuesday’s historic milestone, one thing is certain: this year’s Lady Indians aren’t just competing, they’re rewriting history.
