BHS celebrates their win. UHS VS BHS 11-4-20 GH 
UHS #20 Sierra Lanham and #6 Payton Foulks eye up the ball. UHS VS BHS 11-4-20 GH 
UHS #42 Madison Mulhall hits the ball. UHS VS BHS 11-4-20 GH 
UHS #11 Rachel Shockley hits the ball. UHS VS BHS 11-4-20 GH 
UHS #6 Payton Foukls lobs the ball. UHS VS BHS 11-4-20 GH 
UHS #42 Madison Mulhall blocks the ball. UHS VS BHS 11-4-20 GH 
UHS #11 Rachel Shockley spikes the ball. UHS VS BHS 11-4-20 GH 
UHS #6 Payton Foukls lobs the ball. UHS VS BHS 11-4-20 GH 
UHS #8 Olivia Kaddar and #6 Payton Foulks block #15 Shea Hefner’s attempt to score. UHS VS BHS 11-4-20 GH 
BHS #1 Cambria Freeman spikes the ball. UHS VS BHS 11-4-20 GH 
BHS #22 Alexa Martin lines up to hit the ball. UHS VS BHS 11-4-20 GH 
BHS #14 Violet Sickles hits the ball. UHS VS BHS 11-4-20 GH
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The University High volleyball team had things pretty much going just the way it wanted as it hosted the Region I, Section 2 championship Wednesday night. It dispatched Preston in the semifinals in fine fashion, sweeping by scores of 25-9, 25-13 and 25-7, and had steamrolled through the first set of the finals against top-seeded Bridgeport.
But in every sport, and perhaps especially in volleyball, the partner whose name is momentum can be a fickle friend. Midway through a tight second set, the Hawks lost it — and never quite found it again — as the Indians roared back with three straight set wins by scores of 25-18, 25-17, 25-15 to capture the sectional crown.
The Hawks served especially well against the Knights, and they continued to swing well on their jump serves in the opening set against BHS. But there was much more to UHS’s mastery than just free points off aces. The Hawks’ blocking was very active and effective, occasionally stuffing the Indians, but more often allowing the backline to dig balls and extend points.
University’s passing game was efficient, and hitters took care of business as well. A quick start led to a 7-2 early advantage, and Bridgeport never got closer than three points (at 8-5), as the Hawks won going away 25-11.
The Indians flipped the script at the beginning of the second set as they played their way back into the match, forging a 7-1 lead. But University scratched back and trailed by just 13-12 — and that’s when a scoring discrepancy delay paused the action — and momentum left the Hawks’ sideline. Bridgeport started to click on all cylinders, and it sprinted from there with a 12-6 run to close out the set and knot the match.
Despite the fact that the match was played at a highly competitive level, with numerous points hotly contested, the final two sets were very similar to the second set as BHS was able to nose ahead mid-set then keep its foot firmly on the gas down the stretch.
After the final, veteran coach Donnie Godfrey admitted that he couldn’t have wished for a better start.
“I don’t think we could’ve played much better than we did in the first set,” he said, “but then we fell off a bit in the second set, and we just couldn’t get back on track. It’s been our problem all year. We know what we need to do, and we all say the right things, but it doesn’t seem to translate onto the court well enough. I wish I knew the answer, and could bottle it. I’d make a mint.”
With their sectional finals appearance, the Hawks earned a Region 1 date with arch-rival Morgantown at MHS at 10 a.m. on Saturday, with the winner snagging a coveted berth in the state tournament.
Despite a pair of losses to the Mohigans, Godfrey knows his team has what it takes to take the next step.
“They beat us 2-0 in a tri-match, then took us in five later that week,” he said. “Very close match, as usual. I told the girls that if they play like they did in that first set against Bridgeport tonight, they can beat anybody. So, we just need to remember that, and then go out and do it on Saturday.”
Morgantown wins sectional title
Morgantown defeated John Marshall in three sets in the sectional semifinals and then beat Wheeling Park in three sets to win the Region I, Section 1 championship Wednesday. The Mohigans defeated Wheeling Park by set scores of 25-18, 25-18 and 25-9.
Alayna Corwin led MHS with 28 kills, 19 digs and four aces. Ella Voorhees had 25 digs. Issy Grushecky had 15 kills, five blocks, six aces and seven digs. Grace Washburn had nine kills, three blocks and three aces. Emily Goldcamp had nine kills.
Preston coach proud of his team
Before the final, Preston first-year coach Zeb Lewis took the opportunity to thank his team for a season that saw major strides taken.
“We came in starting basically from scratch,” he admitted, “but we definitely showed a lot of progress. The volleyball IQ has made a big jump, and the girls know the game and their positions much better now. It’s a great place to build from, and we’re looking forward already to getting started next year.”
