By Stephen Smoot
At the end of a long season where the team earned memorable victories over fierce rivals and stunned state tournament crowds in Charleston, three players earned selection for all-state honors.
Allie Cooper was named second team all-state while Kate Hedrick and Gabby DePue were chosen for honorable mention.
Cooper served as the glue for the team, relentlessly patrolling the back line. Serves fired quickly and directly at the defense usually found her outstretched arms as she dove to the ground to keep the play alive. Pendleton County relies heavily on an aggressive approach at the net, but many of those perfect spikes that sliced the defense started with Cooper getting on the ball first.
Her hustle and drive also freed up other players to get into position for the most precise possible sets and returns.
Cooper also attacked the opposition with powerful serves, often scoring aces. Many times, she would end up serving at the end of a set, her shots helping to seal a well-earned win in the set or the game.
The other two selections, Hedrick and DePue, will not be missed by Wildcat opponents. Pendleton County’s game relies on continually coming after the other team with aggressive play at the net. Both of these players brought height, athleticism, and experience to the front line.
Both players brought different skills to bear against opponents. They created chemistry with Carolyn Varner, Cooper, and others whose job it was to pop the ball in the air in the perfect spot. Regularly, DePue and Hedrick could catch those sets at the perfect time and fire them down into the waiting defense.
Teams trying to return the ball to the Wildcat side also often found these players an insurmountable barrier. By themselves, or in tandem with other front line forces like Baylee Beachler and Lizzie Alt, they blocked countless returns before they got to the Pendleton County side.
The most important contribution, however, came from leadership. As the year progressed, coaches Rod Cooper and Madison Day relied more and more on younger players. Breena Bowers, Emma Hartman, and Varner played from the beginning of the year, but Alyssa Bennett and Brynlynn Waggy also provided important contributions to big wins down the stretch.
The three seniors brought leadership to those younger players. They led through example, through countless bruising dives to the floor and chasing every loose ball. Senior leadership also taught the skills and winning attitude that helped the team reach the state tournament and upset the top seed.
Though the younger players led and made memories, the all state seniors created a legacy and contributed to the advancement of a power program in West Virginia state Class A volleyball.
