Libero Natalie Lauer makes a dig versus Morgantown during Tuesday’s Class AAAA state quarterfinal match in Charleston. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

CHARLESTON – Seventh-seeded Parkersburg South jumped all over No. 2 Morgantown here Tuesday in the opening set of the quad-A state quarterfinals, but the Mohigans advanced to the semifinals after outlasting the Patriots 19-25, 25-10, 25-15 and 25-19.

“We’ve been telling them all week that we don’t care if their shirt says Morgantown. It’s whoever plays best on that day and if they are playing their best then we know that they can win,” said Patriot third-year head coach Emily Tracewell. “They obviously went out there and showed that in the first set. I think that we just weren’t able to finish it even though we went out there strong the first set. We were excited and our energy just went from 100% down to low.

“I’m so proud of them for going out there and being able to win that first set. I wish they could’ve won all the way through because of how good and how awesome our season has been with the players we have, but we’ll just be working harder for next year.”

Payten Mackey toed the service line to open the match for the Patriots, who led 2-0 after fellow senior Shyanne Hays put one down for the first of her 11 kills.

Back-to-back kills by Quinn Bolyard and Lexi Smith kept PSHS ahead 8-5 and it was 10-7 after Mackey and Smith executed a double block.

Parkersburg South seniors Shyanne Hays, left, and Payten Mackey high five during a break in Wednesday afternoon's Class AAAA state quarterfinal match versus Morgantown. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Paige Brink’s kill finally got Morgantown even at 11, but consecutive unforced errors by the Mohigans were followed by downed spikes from Hays and Jess Price as the 15-11 lead forced a MHS timeout.

Patriot libero Natalie Lauer made it 17-13 with an ace. The junior continued her hot hand at the service line with two more aces as South inched closer to taking the opening set with a 22-13 advantage.

Although MHS managed to thwart off a pair of set points, coach Tracewell’s club finished things off with a Mackey kill via one of Aubree Harner’s two dozen assists.

An early Harner assist thanks to a Hays kill had the Patriots down just 2-1 early in set two, but Brink had three kills as well as an ace as South called timeout trailing 6-1.

Smith’s kill helped trim the deficit to 8-4, but Morgantown kept firing away and soon went ahead 21-9 after downed spikes from Brink, Kelly Ryan and Leah Greeny.

Parkersburg South's Aubree Harner sets the ball during the Patriots' 3-1 setback to Morgantown during Tuesday's Class AAAA state quarterfinals. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Morgantown didn’t start slow in set three and led 5-0 following an Abby Paulsen kill and jumped ahead 15-5 after libero Audrey Tompkins registered an ace.

A Hays block of Greeny made it 24-14 and even though Harner followed with an ace, the Mohigans moved ahead 2-1 when Derika Nestor got set point on a kill.

PSHS got on the board first in set four when Hays stuffed Brink, but the MHS senior followed a Nestor kill with back-to-back aces to give the No. 2 seed the lead for good.

The Mohigans were still in front at 11-8 following one of Price’s eight kills and another block from Hays, but PSHS couldn’t get any closer.

A Greeny smash thanks to a Riley Brennan kill got the Mohigans to match point, but Harner served for four straight before Paulsen’s kill finally ended it.

“I think it was really exciting for them,” added coach Tracewell, whose squad finished 18-17-1. “A lot of the younger ones said they were nervous, but they think it’s a good thing because it means they are ready to play. They are out there being nervous, but they are also out there ready to go. It was an experience for all of them to be able to come.

“We’ll really miss (the seniors: Hays/Mackey). We’ve been with them for three years now and just being able to see them grow as players and athletes has been one of the best things and the best reward I have ever got. I hope they go and do anything they can because I know if they set their mind to it they will be able to achieve it.”