Tigers volleyball coach Bill Knight at 300-plus
Bill Knight
Springfield’s coach is in season No. 21.
NEW MIDDLETOWN — Maybe someone was telling Bill Knight that 300 wins as volleyball coach is enough.
Not many days after Springfield High School beat Boardman to give Knight his 300th win, the lights went out and Knight’s Tigers had to practice by the light of two emergency lights in the school gym.
“There was one over each basket and we opened four doors for a little more light,” Knight said of the only illumination in the days following a wind storm that knocked out power and closed the school for nearly a week.
“I told the girls that if they could see the ball in that darkness, they should really be able to see it when all the lights are on.”
Following the victory for Knight’s 300th, Springfield won another match (vs. Mineral Ridge for 301), then lost to Columbiana.
“They also got us last year,” Knight said in reference to losing to Columbiana late in the 2007 season.
“All we had to do was beat Columbiana and we would have tied Crestview for the league title.”
This season, the loss knocked Springfield from the undefeated ranks.
The Tigers were 11-2 overall and 7-2 in the ITCL through Tuesday.
The 300th win was close, with Springfield winning in five games, including the fifth by a 15-13 score.
“Whenever you play a school like Boardman — bigger than your own — it’s a thrill,” said Knight who was presented with the game ball.
“The girls were aware of it and, after the match, the parents got cake for the team.”
Chief accomplices to Knight’s success for 2008 so far are: senior middle hitter Rachael Kennedy, junior setter Kallie Rogers, junior outside hitter Ashley Davis, senior outside hitter Rebecca Evan, junior libero Andria Lyons, sophomore middle hitter Larissa Santangelo, junior backrow specialist Sylvia Grdina and senior setter Morgan Fagnano.
Knight said that Kennedy was averaging almost 14 kills a match.
He recalls only one sub-.500 season and estimates that the 300 wins average to 15 or 16 a season since 1988.
Longtime East Palestine coach Dan McKinstry (now at Wellsville) got Knight involved in 1985.
“He needed a junior high coach and I agreed,” said Knight, who coached two years at the junior high level before becoming head coach at Springfield in 1988.
“I wanted to concentrate on teaching, so I didn’t coach in 1987. I sat in the stands and watched. That’s when I decided that I wanted to coach the varsity,” he said.
Knight did his student teaching at Springfield during the 1987-88 school year, then was hired full-time for the following year. He is in his 21st season as coach.
Although his teams haven’t made a state appearance, the Tigers finished as district runners-up in 1989, 1991 and 2002.
Three players who were on the ‘89 and ‘91 teams: Carrie Ross, Angela Santangelo and Kari Barger, were also part of Knight’s first freshman class.
Barger is now married to Poland football coach Mark Brungard.
Angela Santangelo’s niece, Larissa, is on Knight’s 2008 team.
“I’ve been there enough to have nieces on my team now.”
This year’s squad has 22 players, which is good considering soccer has cut into prospects.
“We’re fortunate to get that many girls out,” Knight said. “Before girls soccer, we would had to have cuts. If we get more than 24, then it’s hard to play everybody. So, soccer has helped a little that way.”
A disadvantage, he noted, is losing girls who play volleyball in junior high, then switch to soccer for high school.
An undefeated season has eluded Knight, but he doesn’t back down from anyone.
The Tigers were 21-0 in the fall of 2000, but were short a game to complete their regular season because an opponent canceled. The Tigers set up a match and lost. They finished 22-2 overall.
“That was a great year,” Knight said of a team that had seven seniors: Allison Carson, Jen Rogers, Nicole Danish, Lisa Jurich, Katie Barger, Danielle Schwartz and Taryn Dobson.
Knight has seen several changes in the game.
“I remember when a girl on the other side of the net in front was allowed to jump and block a serve. That’s not allowed anymore.”
Knight noted that the libero was introduced a couple years ago to keep pace with the college game.
He also said that, until the last few years, the libero was only permitted to play defense. Now, the libero is allowed to serve.
Knight thinks that’s an advantage for his team.
“Our libero is one of our best servers,” he said of Lyons.
bassetti@vindy.com