Ritchie, Williamstown are LKC contingent at state

PARKERSBURG -- The state volleyball tournament was broken into three classes starting in 2002.

During the past 20 years a program from the Little Kanawha Conference has hoisted the small school single-A trophy all but four times.

Charleston Catholic was the first to break through in 2009. The Irish repeated after beating Greater Beckley Christian. It marked the first and only time the LKC didn't have a representative in the finals.

East Hardy (2016) and Magnolia (2018) also finished the job.

Only two LKC programs qualified for today's state quarterfinals inside the Charleston Coliseum -- No. 1 Williamstown and No. 3 Ritchie County, which outlasted the 'Jackets to win the regional.

It was Rebel boss Matt Carpenter's first victory in five tries against the defending state champions.

Things are looking up for last year's state runner-up and then top-seeded Rebels, who are 35-8 and playing well at the right time.

That's largely due to a senior class featuring libero Marissa Jeffrey, setter Abby Nichols, two-time reigning LKC Player of the Year Rebekah Rupert as well as fellow spikers Emily Griffin and Maci Ireland. RCHS also has junior Sydney Kopshina on the outside and do-it-all classmate Jayci Gray.

"The team and I are very excited to be back at the state tournament, although we have been blessed to be down there six of the last eight years," admitted coach Carpenter. "It's not something we take for granted.

"The team is very focused and I feel like we are peaking at the right time. Each player has accepted their role and is ready to do whatever it takes to help the team win. We are excited to play James Monroe."

Head coach Rachelle Cole's 35-7 Yellowjackets take on No. 8 Tolsia following the 8:30 a.m. opener with No. 4 Greebrier West and No. 5 Moorefield.

The senior quartet of libero Kamryn Haynes, Peyton Woodard, Georgie Inman and Riah Sprouse help lead the way.

Juniors Claire Strobl and Riley Landis along with the sophomore trio of setter Kyndra Johnson, Becca Shamblin and Kiersten Kerby will need to step up since Woodard is operating at less than 100%.

Tolsia is one of three new faces in the field.

The No. 2 seed this year went to Buffalo, which not only has wins against Moorefield and Greenbrier West, but also has beaten the THS Rebels four times.

The 43-6 Bison also own wins versus three Class AA state qualifiers -- No. 4 Herbert Hoover, No. 5 Wayne and No. 7 Winfield.

Senior Chloe Hale has dominated for Buffalo all season. She's hitting .485 with 724 kills and has 66 aces, 63 solo blocks and 333 digs. Buffalo takes on newcomer and seventh-seeded Pendleton County to open the 1:30 p.m. session.

James Monroe, which won the 2014 Class AA state title, is back in the field with a No. 6 seed and will eye an upset of the Rebels.

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com