Magnolia’s Karli Warder goes for a block against Pendleton County during a Class A state quarterfinal match Monday at West Virginia State University. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

INSTITUTE, W.Va. — In the opening quarterfinal of Monday morning’s Class A state volleyball tournament at W.Va. State University, No. 4 Pendleton County advanced to the semifinals after upending No. 5 Magnolia by scores of 25-18, 13-25, 25-22 and 25-23.

The Wildcats were led to victory by Liz Alt’s double-double that featured 14 kills and a match-high 18 digs. Alyssa Bennett served up a match-high eight aces for the victors, who also received nine kills from Avery Townsend, eight by Baylee Beachler along with 11 assists from Brynlynn Waggy and seven assists by Callie Judy.

“It has been a crazy time since the regional, but we just said we’re going to keep pushing forward and we’re going to keep working and that’s going to be our focus until our season is over,” said MHS boss Pam Chapman, whose Blue Eagles finished 17-13.

“Today, I think the nerves got the better of us. I really do. I have some young kids in there and even some old kids. I got three seniors (Sienna McKeever, Kaylee Williams, Mallory McDiffitt) there, but I just think our nerves got the better of us today.”

McKeever went for a match-high 18 downed spikes while Williams had four aces, six kills and seven digs with McDiffitt serving for five aces and collecting eight digs.

Magnolia's Jessa Anderson goes on the on attack duirng Monday's Class A quarterfinal match. (Phot by Jay W. Bennett)

The Blue Eagles never led in the opening set, but only trailed 7-6 after back-to-back downed spies from Karli Warder and Jessa Anderson.

The freshman Warder had 10 kills and two blocks. Anderson finished with three aces, seven downed spikes and 15 digs.

After McDiffitt had back-to-back aces and Warder consecutive kills, the Blue Eagles held a 10-4 edge in set two.

McKeever and Sidney Knight, who had a match-high 34 assists, added an ace apiece to help push Magnolia in front 17-7.

A bump set from Aly Stillwagoner, who had a baker’s dozen digs, resulted in an Anderson kill which made it 23-13. Anderson served for an ace to get to set point and finished things off from the service line when the Wildcats were unable to return it.

Magnolia's Sienna McKeever goes on the attack during Monday's Class A quarterfinal match.

Magnolia broke a 16-all tie in set three following downed spikes by Warder and Anderson, but Pendleton County rallied with four straight points. Although the Blue Eagles had it even at 22-all, PCHS got the final three points thanks to a Beachler kill and consecutive aces from Bennett.

In the must-win fourth set, the Blue Eagles held a 17-15 cushion, but the Wildcats battled back to take a 21-20 lead after a kill by Beachler and had just enough left to finish off the Blue Eagles.

“We lost that first one and came back and played very well,” added coach Chapman. “That third one we were just playing cat and mouse the whole entire time. We’d get a couple points and then they would get three or four points and it was just like that the rest of the match.

“I think they got tight and I think they were just afraid to make a mistake. That comes with getting down in a big arena. We didn’t do a lot of talking and moving, so it was just not our day today.”

Magnolia's Karli Warder celebrates with teammates Sienna McKeever (3), Sidney Knight (4) and Mallory McDiffitt (21) during the Blue Eagles' Class A state quarterfinal match versus Pendleton County. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)