MORGANTOWN—The sport of volleyball has gained some highly positive momentum in recent years within the state and the Morgantown area.
That continued over the weekend as Trinity Christian head coach Anna Witt was named 2024 OVAC Volleyball Coach of The Year, and Morgantown High senior Audrey Buck won the 2024 OVAC Volleyball Player of The Year award.
The Warriors finished the 2024 season 33-13-1 as runner-up in Region I of Class A.
“To be named OVAC coach of the year is something I didn’t really think about when I started coaching at Trinity Christian last season,” Witt said. “Receiving votes from the other programs means the world to me. I am so humbled to know fellow coaches saw the hard work our team put in this season.”
Buck’s season ended early due to an injury sustained on October 11, but she still managed to tally 703 assists and set a new MHS program record of 1,210 on September 6.
“I was certainly surprised to receive the award after getting injured,” Buck said. “There are some incredible teams with talented players throughout the OVAC in West Virginia and Ohio. It means the world to me to be named player of the year, especially as a setter and not the one on the team getting all the kills.”
Witt was granted the opportunity to coach Team West Virginia in the 2024 OVAC all-star game, which included six players representing all four Monongalia County Schools.
“Coaching the all-star game was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, having 15 of the best girls in the OVAC region in our state on a team and all as seniors,” she said. “Receiving the award for coach of the year was fantastic, but when I heard I got to coach the All-Star game, I was even more excited. I am so blessed to have been chosen by my fellow coaches and thankful for them.”
Buck grew up playing volleyball in Morgantown and Pittsburgh and says the opportunity to expand her playing experience was vital to her development.
“The growth of volleyball has been tremendous in our area recently,” she said. “Personally, being able to travel and play club volleyball in Pittsburgh really showed me what it took to take my game to the next level. Then, I tried to bring that same mentality to the team at MHS when our season came around. I was able to build that ceiling a little higher for myself in expanding my game and reach with the sport.”
Buck plans to continue playing volleyball collegiately but has not decided where she will head next fall.
Witt has announced that she will not return as head coach for Trinity Christian next season. In two seasons, she finished with a record of 62-23-1.
