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Lady Colts capture fifth state title

Philip Barbour bests Shady Spring in five-set thriller

Submitted photo The Philip Barbour High School volleyball team poses after defeating Shady Spring to win the Class AA title Saturday at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center. Team members include front row, from left to right, Madison Weese, Emily Denison, Alyssa Hill, Lilley Criss and Averi Carpenter; back row, assistant coach Brittany Freeman, Katie Kennedy, Natelie Dumire, Audrey Poling, MacKenna Halfin, Avery McDaniel, Jorjalynn Ward and head coach Heather Halfin.

CHARLESTON — It was no surprise Saturday’s Class AA championship match between second-seed Philip Barbour and top-seed Shady Spring came down to the wire.

The state powerhouses, who split their two contests during the regular season, battled in a dramatic five-set encounter, with the Lady Colts prevailing 15-13 in the deciding set.

It’s the fifth state title for Philip Barbour under head coach Heather Halfin and first since 2017.

Shady Spring eliminated the Lady Colts in the last two state tournaments — the semifinals in 2019 and the title game a year ago.

Saturday afternoon’s victory wasn’t decided until junior Emily Denison took a pass from Katie Kennedy and delivered the game-winning kill to set off a well-deserved celebration on the Charleston Coliseum & Convention floor.

The match was a back-and-forth affair, with Philip Barbour claiming wins in the opening set (25-23) and third set (25-21) and the Lady Tigers answering with set victories of 25-22 in the second and 25-19 in the fourth.

Reigning all-state first-team captain Alyssa Hill led the way in her prep finale for the Lady Colts, recording 23 kills and four blocks.Fellow returning all-state first teamer Denison contributed 16 kills and six blocks, freshman MacKenna Halfin 13 kills and three blocks, junior Averi Carpenter 22 digs, junior Madison Weese 24 assists and sophomore Katie Kennedy 21 assists and 13 digs.

Junior Chloe Thompson had 27 kills, classmate Meg Williams 24 kills and senior Kelsie Dangerfield 55 assists.

Both squads will return nearly their entire rosters next season, with Philip Barbour losing Hill and Lilley Criss to graduation.

Hill, Denison and Kennedy earned all-tournament honors for the state champions, who finished the season with a 49-7-2 mark.

Shady Spring ended with a 42-4-1 record.

In Saturday’s Class AAA championship, Musselman defeated Hedgesville 3-1 (25-10, 21-25, 25-20, 25-18).

Williamstown bested Ritchie County 3-1 (19-25, 27-25, 25-13, 26-24) to claim Class A honors.

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