The kids these days have a high-level compliment that they share with each other, “O.G.” It technically means “original” or “old gangster,” but is usually applied to someone who is calm and cool, collected and effective in tight and tough situations, especially someone a bit older.
On opening night, an “O.G.” showed up big time for the Pendleton County volleyball teams against the visiting Highland Rams.
New head coach Haley Terry had her team prepared to battle last week, but admitted that it felt “a little awkward.” Until last year, it was Terry roaming the Highland sideline, directing that squad.
Chesnee Colaw launched the opening salvo of the 2026 season. It led to a Kinsley Price spike and a 1-0 lead. Price then tapped the ball lightly to the middle for the second score. Shortly after, during a volley started by a Colbie Wimer serve, Price blocked a Ram attempt at the net.
In the first set, the Wildcats played precision volleyball, receiving and setting up their front line players well. Phoebe Pownell helped to break the game open during her serve with four aces as she helped the Wildcats build a 14-3 lead. A Ram miscue gave the serve back, this time to Alyssa Bennett, who rattled off three more aces.
Highland made up some ground by the end of the set, which concluded in a Tia Heavner spike and a score of 25-12.
The visiting squad appeared much improved, once they got settled in. Highland has demonstrated improvement in recent years and it showed in the second set.
Underdog squads often bring their best when down one set to nothing, and the Rams were no exception. They caught the Wildcats a bit flat footed in the opening of the second set and showed their own prowess.
Highland took the first three scores of the second set on their way to an 8-3 advantage over the Wildcats. Then came a long pause while officials examined the scoring. Pendleton County’s girls huddled up with each other and their coach as they prepared to rally. Highland’s squad took a much more loose approach to the delay as their coach spoke with officials.
Shortly after play resumed, the score was Highland 10 and Pendleton County six. Enter the Wildcat “O.G.”
Olivia Gonshor, who has contributed to Wildcat basketball success in recent years, “came into practice and tryouts and showed enough to put her on varsity,” said Terry. “She showed me that ‘I deserve to be here.’”
She then showed everyone that she deserves to be here. With Gonshor’s team on its heels a bit with mistakes and playing hesitant, she opened her serve with eight aces in 12 serves. As the senior righted the ship for her squad, her teammates settled back in. By the time the Rams got the serve back, they stared up at an 18-11 disadvantage.
The last score in that series came from a Wimer cross court spike.
Pendleton County cruised in the rest of the set, with Katie Heavner scoring a cross court shot for the 24th point. Pownell served up an ace to close it out at 25-14.
In the third set, the Wildcats worked to close out the opposition. Wimer served strong early with a number of aces as they pulled out to a 7-2 lead. In one exchange, freshman Ava Bowers dove to the floor to keep the ball alive for another successful home team volley and score. She executed a similar hustle play later in the set.
Spikes from Wimer and Price down the set kept momentum on the side of the home team. Wimer’s serves helped to close the set out with three aces. A Price spike sealed the 25-11 victory for Pendleton County.
Today, the Wildcats travel to Petersburg for a tri-match with Martinsburg and Petersburg. The Vikings as of this writing have raced out to a 3-1 record early in the 2026 season, with wins over Keyser, Paw Paw and Tygarts Valley and a loss to Washington.
