Above, Oak Glen’s volleyball team won the Class AA, Region 1 title on Saturday to qualify for the state volleyball tournament set to begin on Wednesday in Charleston. Members of the team are (front, from left) Kaylee Wright, Kendra Lacey, Addison Smith, Averi Martin, Laynie Bailey; (second row) assistant coach Ray Six, team manager Kam Rosak, Reecelyn Craig, Ashlyn Six, McKenzi Martin, Jersey Smith, Brooklyn Six and coach Morgan Saddler.
NEW MANCHESTER, W.Va. — Oak Glen High School’s talented volleyball team repeated as Class AA, Region 1 champion and punched its ticket to this week’s state tournament in Charleston after a 25-19, 25-5, 25-12 win on Saturday over rival Weir before a large crowd in the Golden Bears’ gym Saturday night.
Weir, which finished as the Class AA Region 1 runner-up, also qualified to state earlier in the evening with a 3-1 triumph over Frankfort.
“It’s exciting,” said Oak Glen head coach Morgan Saddler, who has led the Golden Bears to state in all five of her years as their coach. “It starts with a group of girls back in June and we battle all summer long and into the season and I can’t say enough about this group.”
Oak Glen carries a 31-3-3 record into the state tournament and earned the top seed as voted on by coaches in the regional tournaments. The Golden Bears will meet the No. 8 seed Red Riders in the second match of the morning session on Wednesday on Court 1 at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.
The Golden Bears, who are one of the top contenders for a state championship, were impressive in their two Region 1 matches Saturday, rolling to a 25-12, 25-8, 25-18 win over Keyser in its opening match.
Ashlyn Six, the lone senior on the Golden Bears’ squad, feels her team is ready to make some noise in Charleston.
“It (winning a state title) is the goal,” said the Oak Glen standout who will continue her academic and volleyball career at Fairmont State next year. “We’ll trust the process and just do what we do best.”
Six explained the Golden Bears have a bond on and off the court which has paved the way for their success.
“I think definitely our family connection and our energy that we bring to the court (are strengths),” she stated. “We have a really good team going and we’re just looking forward to the experience at state.”
Saddler loves having a leader like Ashlyn Six.
“Ashlyn has done great things for our program,” praised Saddler. “She’s a great person on and off the floor and she’s a true leader.”
In its opening Region 1 match Saturday night against Keyser, Golden Bear sophomore Jersey Smith recorded her 2,000th career assist.
The Golden Bears stat leaders in the Keyser match included McKenzi Martin (17 kills), Ashlyn Six (15 kills), Brooklyn Six (five kills), Reecelyn Craig (four kills), Jersey Smith (37 assists), Addison Smith (three digs) and Averi Martin (four aces).
In its title win over Weir, the Golden Bears’ leaders included McKenzi Martin (17 kills), Ashlyn Six (13 kills), Averi Martin (nine kills), Brooklyn Six (four kills), Jersey Smith (41 assists, five aces) and 2,000 assists) and Addison Smith (six digs).
Saddler loves the work ethic of her Oak Glen team.
“They show up every day to work hard,” said the Oak Glen coach. “They’re best friends on and off the court and they’re selfless — they play for each other and it sure makes a difference.”
The Oak Glen coach feels her team is in a good place as it heads to state.
“We’ve battled all season long and we’re ready to go,” said Saddler. “We’re ready to play and we’re anxious to get to Charleston.”
Weir also state bound
Weir battled Frankfort in its opening match Saturday with a trip to state on the line.
The Red Riders won the exciting, back-and-forth match by scores of 25-18, 24-26, 25-21 and 25-14.
“We’re super excited to be back (at state),” said Weir head coach Francesca Capaldi. “My first year of coaching we went and a lot of people say it was kind of a fluke because team’s dropped out because of COVID, so we’re really excited to get back and prove that we belong there.”
In the win over Frankfort, the Red Riders’ statistical leaders included Mea Kaufman (seven kills, 25 assists, 33 digs), Janai Turner (two kills, 25 digs), Maleea Faulks (two aces, 16 kills, one dig), Brayley Lash (19 kills, five blocks), Marissa Mascio (five kills, four digs), Amalia Kirlangitis (two kills, 17 assists, three digs) and Elle Maley (one kill, two blocks).
“In our Frankfort game, Maleea Faulks was really good and Brayley Lash did a great job and our bench players did a great job of pumping up our team for that game,” said Capaldi. “We had a big following.”
In the match against Oak Glen, the Red Riders’ leaders included Mea Kaufman (two kills, six digs, three blocks), Janai Turner (two kills, six digs), Maleea Faulks (one kill, one dig), Brayley Lash (three kills, one dig), Marissa Mascio (two kills) and Amelia Kirlangitis (two aces, three assists).
Weir carries a 17-17-1 record into the state tourney and Capaldi feels her team is ready.
“I think we’re in a better place this year, it took us a while to get here,” said the Weir head coach. “It’s been a lot of rebuilding and encouraging girls that we can win and we hit a lot of milestones this year. This is about the first time in 10 or 12 years we’ve been close to a winning record. It’s taken a lot to get to this point and I’m really proud of them.
“We’re hoping to win that first match (at state) and go further in the tournament instead of just going down, playing one match and coming home,” added the Weir head coach.
West Virginia Class AA State Pairings
Wednesday on Court 1
First session
No. 4 Herbert Hoover vs. No. 5 Wayne, 8:30 a.m.
No. 1 Oak Glen vs. No. 8 Weir, after the first match
No. 2 Shady Spring vs. No. 7 Liberty, 1:30 p.m.
No. 3 Philip Barbour vs. No. 6 Winfield, after third match
Second Session
Herbert Hoover-Wayne winner vs. Oak Glen-Weir winner, 6:30 p.m.
Shady Spring-Liberty winner vs. Philip Barbour-Winfield winner, after first semifinal
Thursday
on Center Court
State championship, 11 a.m.
