By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

INDIAN SPRINGS — The Indian Springs School volleyball team didn’t have much trouble against Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 3A, Area 8 foe Leeds during the regular season.

Indian Springs defeated Leeds 25-19, 18-25, 20-25, 25-22, 15-4 in the first meeting between the two teams Aug. 30 before clinching a sweep in the series Sept. 20 with a 20-25, 25-10, 25-23, 25-19 win over the Green Wave.

However, Indian Springs saw a different Leeds squad in the Class 3A, Area 8 tournament. The Green Wave swept Indian Springs 25-17, 25-21, 25-13 to capture the Class 3A, Area 8 tournament title Oct. 10.

Junior Ambria Hardy led Indian Springs with six kills in the defeat. Hardy also recorded five digs and one block.

Senior Lauren Plouff finished with three kills, three digs, two service aces and eight assists.

Sophomore Alex Smith, who was named to the all-tournament team, finished with one kill and one service ace. Junior Yuka Sanui recorded two kills. Junior Jessie Hook finished with three kills.

Senior Haley Payton was also named to the all-tournament team.

Indian Springs struggled early in each set, falling behind by a sizable margin in each game.

Leeds opened the match with a quick 12-3 lead in the first game. Hardy capped a 4-0 run by Indian Springs with a kill to cut the margin to 23-17, but Leeds closed out the game with back-to-back points to clinch a 25-17 win in the opener.

Leeds started the second game with a 9-2 run. Indian Springs rallied to take its first lead in the match, 15-14, following a kill by Hardy off an assist by Plouff. Plouff again gave Indian Springs a 19-18 lead with a service ace, but the Green Wave responded with a 5-0 run and coasted to a 25-21 win in the second game.

Leeds jumped out to a 6-1 lead early in the third game. Indian Springs struggled to keep pace and a kill by Jessie Hook turned out to be the final point for her squad after Leeds slammed the door shut with a 6-0 run to clinch a sweep with a 25-13 win in the third game.

Indian Springs struggled with Leeds senior Danyelle Everson, who was named the tournament’s most valuable player. Everson finished with a match-high 12 kills to go along with six service aces.