Photo courtesy of Tracy Marsh Knotts Philip Barbour begins Class AA state tournament action at 1 p.m. today against South Harrison at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center. Team members include front row, Kayla Baker; middle row, assistant coach Colby Nestor, Ansley Bolyard, Kinsley McDermott, Leann Moss, Paisley Ryan and assistant coach Gina Wolfe; back row, assistant coach Brittany Freeman, Rachel Norris, Gracie Wolfe, Lainey Miner, Izzy Knotts, Megan Dumire, Finley Carpenter and head coach Heather Halfin.

CHARLESTON — Second-seed Philip Barbour makes its unprecedented 24th consecutive state tourney appearance this afternoon inside the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center.

While the streak is impressive in itself, the success the Lady Colts have accomplished in Charleston is even more noteworthy.

Coach Heather Halfin’s teams have won seven titles in school history, and will be gunning for their fourth championship over the past six seasons, winning the 2024 Class AA banner in a thrilling five-set victory over Oak Glen — the top seed in this year’s tourney.

The names may change but the success does not.

One of the most decorated players in school history — MacKenna Halfin — was lost to graduation but plenty of returning talent will take the court at 1:30 p.m. against seventh-seed South Harrison.

Juniors Finley Carpenter and Izzy Knotts are returning all-staters — Carpenter a first teamer — to go along with a talented group of youngsters who stepped up immediately for Philip Barbour this season.

Carpenter has collected 269 kills and leads the team in ace serves and assists (687), while Knotts is the leader in kills with 575 and blocks with 142.

Sophomores Gracie Wolfe and Leann Moss are among the team leaders in digs and assists, respectively, while the lone senior for the Lady Colts, Kayla Baker, has collected 193 kills.

The Lady Hawks counter with sophomore Kennedy Southern, who has 350 kills on the season, juniors Josie Lowther and Emma Sharpe and senior Abby Louk.

South Harrison is making its second straight trip to states.

The Class AA portion of the state tournament gets underway this morning as No. 4 James Monroe faces No. 5 Poca at 8:30 a.m., followed by Oak Glen vs. No. 8 Independence.

Third-seed Charleston Catholic will take to the court to battle No. 6 Wheeling Central following the South Harrison-Philip Barbour County.

The winners of the first two matches battle at 6:30 p.m. in the semifinals, while the two late victors meet immediately after.

The title game is set for Thursday after the conclusion of the Class A title game.

The Class AAA championship is set for 9 a.m. Thursday, followed by the Class AAAA and single-A title games.

East Hardy is the fourth seed in Class A and faces No. 5 Madonna at 8:30 a.m.

Pendleton County is the eighth seed and meets top-seed Wirt County following the East Hardy-Madonna matchup.