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Bridgeport ends PB’s run of titles

CHARLESTON — The 2018 Class AA volleyball championship match came down to a fifth and final set on Saturday morning to separate Big 10 Conference rivals Philip Barbour and Bridgeport at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.

It was the Lady Indians prevailing to earn their first volleyball title in school history and ending the Lady Colts’ run of three straight titles.

Bridgeport had the hot hand in the regular season by going 3-0 against Philip Barbour before outlasting the Colts again Saturday in the final set for the state banner plaque. It was the 17th straight trip to the state dance for PB under the direction of veteran coach Heather Halfin.

“We came out fired up,” Halfin said. “We struggled with serve-receive early on, but we picked it up in games two and three and played well. In game four, we took the lead and kept it until the end. We were four points away from being state champs and could not seal the deal.

“I keep replaying everything in my mind to figure out what we did or did not do, and I can not figure it out. My heart is so heavy thinking about how close we were to not only being state champs, but to being the first double-A school to win four in a row.”

After faltering, 17-25, in the first set, Philip Barbour picked up pace and took a 2-1 advantage with winning set scores of 25-22 and 25-21. Bridgeport’s rally to take the fourth set in overtime (27-25) gave way to the Lady Indians keeping the title match alive and a 15-10 tiebreaker win for Bridgeport in the fifth set to garner the 2018 state crown.

McKenzie Carpenter, Jyra Casto and Riley Domingues were all named to the all-tournament team for the Lady Colts.

“I know that being the runner-up is nothing to hang your heads about,” Halfin added. “But after being so close, it is tough to accept defeat. My seniors have three state titles and a runner- up trophy. That is some very impressive stats.

“I woke up this morning hoping it was all a dream, but unfortunately it was not. I am proud of my girls and know that those returning are going to do whatever it takes to be back there again next year.”

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