SPIRITED EFFORT: Salem volleyball team earns 4-set win over rival
Salem’s Delaney Fillman launches the ball over the net Tuesday night against Canton.
It’s Spirit Week at Salem High School and the Rocks’ volleyball team did everything in its power to pump some energy into the five days of festivities.
Led by the front-row dynamic duo of Elise Hudak and Ashriya Sunkara — and the back row brilliance of Presley Escote and Delaney Fillman (among others), Salem defeated visiting Canton 25-13, 19-25, 25-18 and 25-19.
It was the Rocks’ first triumph over the Chiefs in the past four seasons.
“Our matches with Canton have been close the past three years, but we haven’t been able to come out with a win until tonight,” said Salem Head Coach Nancy Blaylock. “Canton is a great program and we have a lot of respect for them, so getting this win means a lot.
Daily improvement is key
“Our goal is to better ourselves each and every day and to play our game. Tonight, we did that.”
It appeared midway through the fourth set that a fifth set may be needed to determine a winner. A kill by Canton’s Devyn Plozai evened the score at 11-all; however, Salem reeled off six straight points — thanks in part to pin-point serving by Escote — to build a lead it never relinquished.
Sunkara ended the match with a blazing kill that glanced off the hand of a Canton blocker before hitting the floor.
Shifting gears up front
Blaylock said a mid-match adjustment played a role in the victory.
“We moved Elise to the middle to improve our block,” Blaylock said. “Elise would prefer to play outside, but she is an excellent blocker and she’s all for the team — whatever it takes to win. Whenever somebody is hot at a certain position, we’ll keep them there so we make sure we finish.”
Blaylock emphasized her deep bench was instrumental in outlasting the Chiefs.
“We received strong performances from everybody who played,” she said. “Our freshman Elizabeth Nordstrom was excellent, Delaney brought incredible energy and excitement tonight — and she’s just a sophomore. And Presley was outstanding, like she is every match. You can tell she’s a gymnast, too, because she has such spring to her. I’m very proud of my team.”
Among the standouts for Canton were libero Alyssa Jasman, who made several sensational digs, junior outside hitter Ava Churnesky and sophomore Devyn Plozai.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
