PARKERSBURG - Nine volleyball programs from the Mid-Ohio Valley are competing in regional action today with hopes of advancing to next week's state tournament in Charleston.
Beginning at 2 p.m. today inside Parkersburg's Memorial Fieldhouse, both the host Big Reds and Parkersburg South will be in action. Each team that wins a regional semifinal automatically advances to the state tournament. PHS brings a 40-13-1 record into its battle versus University. Also, the Patriots will put their 19-15 record on the line against Morgantown.
The only other area program playing host to a regional is Little Kanawha Conference champion Tyler Consolidated. The Silver Knights (41-4) are set to take on Madonna while the other semifinal pits Magnolia (19-11-1) against Paden City. Action will get under way at 6 p.m.
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Photo by Kerry Patrick
The Williamstown volleyball team celebrates after winning a Class A sectional championship by sweeping Parkersburg Catholic on its home floor Thursday night. The Yellowjackets and Crusaderettes begin regional play this afternoon at Charleston Catholic High School.
Although Paden City head coach Fred King's Wildcats (29-12) never have been to the state tournament, he knows his team has a shot against the Blue Eagles if they can figure out a way to contain Mallory Chapman.
"We'll have a chance if we can do that," King stated. "Our best hitter is 5-foot-3 Lynnsie Parsons. If we can be on the offensive we are just as good as they are.
"Magnolia is a good volleyball team and when Chapman gets it down it's as good as anybody I've seen. We've got to design a way to keep her out of play."
Magnolia head coach Pam Chapman is trying to guide the Blue Eagles to their first state tournament bid since 2000. Of course, both Magnolia and Tyler Consolidated were playing in Class AA last year.
"We talked about this at the beginning of the year," coach Chapman stated. "We looked at the teams in our region and it did give us an easier road when they revamped the sections."
Both Williamstown and Ritchie County are trying to get back to the big dance after finishing as state runners-up last year. The Rebels, who lost the Class AA title match to Oak Glen, will bring a 23-12 mark into its 10 a.m. battle versus Weir. In the other semifinal, which also will get under way at 10 a.m. today at East Fairmont, Roane County will get the chance to oust the defending state champion Golden Bears.
A new state champion will be crowned in Class A this year after Wirt County was eliminated by Parkersburg Catholic in sectional action. Beginning at 2 p.m. at Charleston Catholic, the Crusaderettes (26-20-1) tangle against the host Irish while the sectional champion Yellowjackets (34-8-1) need to knock off Buffalo to punch their ticket back to Charleston.
