By Jim Workman
Summers County and Liberty went into Wednesday’s Class AA Region 3, Section 1 volleyball championship at Independence High School looking to get to the next round.
Each accomplished its goal, advancing to Saturday’s regional tournament.
Still, Summers County coach Kelly Brogan expressed that her Bobcats could have played a lot better.
“We were playing a little sluggish,” she said. “I think we were a little tired. I don’t know if it was a lack of focus or what, but I know we’re going to have to step it up.”
“We’re still alive and kicking,” a relieved Liberty coach Tracey Barker said. “This is the second time that a Liberty (volleyball) team has advanced to the regionals since the school opened (in 1977-78). We finally made it back.”
Liberty eliminated Shady Spring 25-9, 25-18, 21-25 and 25-16 in the losers’ bracket final.
But Summers County took care of the Raiders in the championship match in three straight games, 25-20, 25-20, 25-16.
The top two teams in each section make it to regionals.
In the second game of the championship match, No. 2 seed Liberty took an early 8-0 lead over No. 1 seed Summers County.
Brogan called timeout to attempt to defuse the Raiders’ rally.
“We had to get on them,” the coach admitted. “They came around finally.”
The pep talk worked, with the Bobcats rallying to win 50 of the next 78 points to claim the sectional title.
The Region 3 championships will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Summers County High School.
“It’s a big advantage playing it at home,” Brogan said. “We’re used to the court. We’re confident, but we’ve had good matches with all of the teams left. It’s going to be tough.”
Summers made it to the state tournament semifinals last season. The Bobcats are a victory away from repeating that trip to Charleston.
“That’s what we’re shooting for,” Brogan added.
Liberty will take on Section 2 champ James Monroe while Summers will play Section 2 runner-up Wyoming East.
The two winners will play to determine seeding in the state tournament, with each team advancing to states.
The state volleyball tournament will be held Nov. 13-14 at the Charleston Civic Center.
“I’m really proud of the way our team has come together,” Barker said. “We struggled earlier in the season with teamwork. But they realized that it was going to take a team effort. They’ve really progressed, especially in the sectional tournament.”
Summers County junior Hallie Gunnoe was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. Other members of the all-tournament team included Albany Reed, Kelsie Lively and Leslie Mack of Summers County; Anna Cangemi, Katherine Jarrell and Alyssa Daniels of Liberty; Morgan Durham, Rachael Smith and Tamra Stump of Shady Spring; Emily Osborne and Kaysha Burkholder of Greenbrier West; Brandy Thompson, Cailin Yost and Alyssa Hunt of Independence; and Alaina Navicki and Madison Smith of Oak Hill.
— E-mail:
jworkman@register-herald.com
Class AA, Region 3, Section 1
Tournament
at Independence High School
Losers’ bracket final
Liberty d. Shady Spring 25-9, 25-18, 21-25, 25-16
Championship
Summers County d. Liberty 25-20, 25-20, 25-16
