By Stephen Smoot
A century ago, the most fashionable young women hopped and stepped to a quick dance in 4/4 time named “the Charleston.”
Over the past three years, Pendleton County volleyball has quickly hopped over, stepped around, and danced through the best competition in the region and the state to earn berths in the West Virginia State High School Volleyball Tournament – always held in Charleston.
This year, they overcame a coaching change, injuries to key players, and an occasional question of team identity to compete once again for a state title.
Last week, the Wildcats faced a familiar foe. They had to fight through a pack of Tucker County Mountain Lions to win the region and compete for a state title.
In the first set, the Wildcats stormed out to a 6-0 lead. Tucker County hit their first serve out of bounds, then suffered spikes from Lizzie Alt and Baylee Beachler, an ace served up by Alyssa Bennett, and other big plays.
The Mountain Lions, however, clawed their way back into the set. In the initial set, they played their six-foot star Raven Matthews at the front. She moved well and dominated the net, sending spikes back over and complementing well the line drive serves they sent from the back line.
For a time, Tucker County played nearly mistake free volleyball and pulled to within 6-5, then hit the ball into the net. For the next several serves, the teams punched and counter punched. Pendleton County ground out some breathing room when Alt fired a spike to the middle, then Breena Bowers set for a soft Alt tap to the same spot, setting the lead at 10-6 for the home squad.
Two spikes and other big plays pulled Tucker County within one at 1110, however.
The Wildcats could not open up a large advantage without seeing a furious comeback from the Mountain Lions. Emma Hartman’s ace set the score at 16-11 for her team, but an error by the Wildcats and three aces helped Tucker to close the lead to one at 16-15.
Late in the first set, Tucker County tied it at 22. They then served the ball into the net to give up the lead. Two big Avery Townsend blocks at the net sealed the set win at 25-22.
Losing the first set seemed to affect the emotion and focus of the Mountain Lions. Also, Matthews played the back line much more of the time, giving the Pendleton County players more room to make plays at the net.
Bennett opened the set with an exclamation point, firing an ace to the other side. Brynlynn Waggy then set up a spike by Alt. Pendleton County kept their grip on the serve tight early on as they drove out to a 9-0 lead.
Shortly after, Callie Judy stood in to serve with the score 13-3. On her third serve, she moved up to set up Townsend for a shot to the middle, then set up Alt for a spike to make the score 16-3.
Tucker County struggled to get back into the set, outscoring the home team five to three to close to within 19-8. A block and a tap to the middle by Beachler down the stretch helped to bring it to a conclusion. A Hartman ace ended the set at 20-8.
Wildcat dominance continued into the third set. Tucker County scored first on a spike, but Pendleton County seized the serve back when Waggy set up a spike from Bennett. Shortly after, Waggy elevated as if to set, but sent the ball to the defense, pushing the score to 3-2. She then set up three straight Alt scoring plays.
Tucker County never threatened again and the Wildcats took the set 25-8 to win the game and also earn a berth in the state tournament.
Madison Day, head coach, praised the tenacity of her team in the game and throughout the season. She also described how the team struggled to find an identity during the season, even as it dominated much of the region.
Pendleton County was scheduled to open tournament play against Magnolia at 8:30 Tuesday morning in Charleston. However, legal challenges to the WVSSAC postponed the single A volleyball state tournament.