by Jamie Harris
The Berkeley Springs Lady Indians volleyball team closed out a historic 2025 season on Monday, November 3, falling to the second-ranked Philip Barbour Lady Colts in the Class AA Region II Championship. Though the season ended short of a state tournament berth, the Lady Indians left their mark with a thrilling regional tournament performance and several firsts in program history. 
The Lady Indians began the day with a do-or-die elimination match against Moore-field a familiar foe they had faced three times earlier in the season, winning two of those contests. Head Coach Ryan Fincham acknowledged the challenge, noting, “Any coach will tell you that beating a team three times in one season is extremely difficult.”
The opening set saw the Indians fall behind 12-4 early, but a timely timeout helped reset their mindset. “Being down in sets is nothing new for us,” Fincham reminded his team. The Lady Indians clawed back point by point, eventually taking the set 25-23 through sheer determination and teamwork.
Moorefield responded in the second set, capitalizing on Berkeley Springs’ errors to win 25-19. The third set was a nail-biter, with both teams trading points in a back-and-forth affair. Moore-field edged out the Lady Indians 26-24, putting Berkeley Springs on the brink of elimination.
During the break before the fourth set, Coach Fincham asked his players what they were fighting for. The answers “to win,” “to advance,” “to get another shot at Philip Barbour” soon evolved into a unified rallying cry: “For the Seniors!”
Led by senior setter Maddie Close, junior Libero Ryleigh Poist and sophomore attacker Abigail Close, the Lady Indians stormed back in the fourth set. With precision passing, powerful kills and relentless defense, the Lady Indians dominated 25-16 to force a decisive fifth set.
In the final frame, the teams traded points to a 7-7 tie before Berkeley Springs surged ahead, outscoring Moorefield 8-2 to win the set 15-9 — and the match. The victory marked the second regional tournament win for the Lady Indians, both against Moorefield, and likely the first time in school history the team has won multiple regional matches.
After a brief break, the Lady Indians returned to the court to face the formidable Lady Colts of Philip Barbour. With a new game plan and renewed energy, Berkeley Springs stunned the home crowd by battling to a 14-14 tie in the first set. Though they ultimately fell in straight sets (14-25, 15-25, 13-25), the Lady Indians 42 total points were nearly double their output from a previous matchup with the Colts just days earlier.
Berkeley Springs finishes the season with a 13-10 overall record, including a 3-3 mark in regional play and a
2-2 record in the regional tournament. Coach Fincham praised his team’s heart and resilience, saying, “The term most often used by those who watched this year’s team was ‘Exciting.’”
The Lady Indians will graduate five seniors: Captain Setter Maddie Close (#3), Captain Middle Hitter Macey Fincham (#9), Defensive Specialist/Opposite Alyssa Patton (#4), Outside Hitter Ava Slovinsky (#5) and Defensive Specialist Avi Ambrose (#20). Fincham reflected on their journey, noting, “During my last stint as head coach in 2022, these were my fab freshmen on a stellar JV squad. I’ll miss coaching them tremendously.”
Looking ahead, Fincham is optimistic about the future. With five juniors and five sophomores returning many with varsity experience the Lady Indians is poised to build on this season’s success. “The 2026 season starts now,” Fincham said. “Off-season work will be the key to another successful year.”
