Williamstown setter Kyndra Johnson sets the ball during Wednesday’s Class AA, Region I, Section 2 championship match against Ravenswood. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

WILLIAMSTOWN — Trailing two sets to one here Wednesday night in the Class AA, Region I, Section 2 title tilt, three-time defending Class A state champion Williamstown rallied to knock off Little Kanawha Conference champ Ravenswood by scores of 22-25, 25-22, 15-25, 25-20 and 15-8 as Kyndra Johnson’s ace sealed match point and set off a frenzied celebration.

The victory for the ‘Jackets of head coach Rachelle Cole, who improved to 27-9-3, allows them to be the host for the 6 p.m. next Wednesday regional co-final affair versus either No. 7 Tyler Consolidated or No. 1 Oak Glen.

No. 3 Ravenswood and head coach Chris Michael will hit the road next Wednesday for the regional co-final.

“They came in ready to play,” coach Cole said of the Red Devils, who received a match-high 29 kills from Macy Casto along with 19 from younger sister Anna Casto and five by Holliday Burrows. “I have to give them props because they were 100% ready. I told the girls we worked hard all week trying to get ourselves ready and I feel we also did a good job of getting ready. It was just a really good game. I have a lot of respect for Chris. We said earlier today we could flip a coin, but that wouldn’t have been near as fun.

“After set three we lost 25-15 and we knew we hadn’t really played our game that set. We were kind of worried about what they were doing and we like to control the tempo. We talked about just staying focused on serve-receive, getting it set up and just swinging away. We need to make them play defense and get out of system, and I think we did a much better job of that after the third set.”

Williamstown’s Becca Shamblin bumps the ball during Wednesday’s Class AA, Region I, Section 2 championship match against Ravenswood. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Johnson, who finished tied with a match-high four aces alongside Macy Casto while adding three blocks, five digs and 35 assists, was more than happy to secure one more home match.

“It was a good relief for it to finally be over,” admitted Johnson, who watched Annabelle Haught (16 kills), Becca Shamblin (14), Shelby Smith (8), Kiersten Kerby (7) and Addi Kerby (5) pace the ‘Jacket hitting attack.

“I’m really sad. I love volleyball and all my friends play. It’s really going to be sad not playing here next year.”

Shamblin, who doubled-doubled with a baker’s dozen digs which only trailed libero Keatyn Haynes’ 16, had consecutive kills in the fifth set to help WHS reach match point.

“It felt really good to come out strong. We got together as a team and said we needed to minimize our mistakes and we went out there and did it,” Shamblin said of knowing what was on the line down 2-1.

Williamstown’s Annabelle Haught bumps the ball during Wednesday’s Class AA, Region I, Section 2 championship match against Ravenswood. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

“I was nervous coming into the game in the first set, but after we got out of the first set I was completely fine. I think we just needed to get through the first set, see what we were going up against and then we saw the rest of the game and we played hard and did good.”

Ravenswood (35-7) never led in the fifth set, but had it even at three following a Macy Casto kill from one of Annie Starcher’s match-high 48 assists with libero Angelena Fowler toeing the service line.

The Yellowjackets took the lead for good on a kill by Smith, who was big at the net with a dozen blocks. Before Haught made it 6-3, Shamblin made a diving dig on an attack, which Smith was barely able to keep alive as it resulted in an unlikely kill when Kiersten Kerby managed to then knock it over the net as she found an empty hole for a crosscourt downed spike.

Ravenswood only trailed 8-6 after a ‘Jacket service error, but then the Red Devils served one into the net and Haynes proceeded to serve up back-to-back aces for an 11-6 advantage.

“That was a great match tonight,” admitted coach Michael, who received two aces from Montana Slater and one by Kinley Butcher. “That was a great match tonight. That was a state tournament caliber match. It should be. That was three versus six, but it’s happening in a sectional championship and the loser gets to go to number one and the winner gets to host number seven. We’re not getting it right in terms of trying to get our best teams to the state tournament.

Ravenswood’s Anna Casto bumps the ball during Wednesday’s Class AA, Region I, Section 2 championship match against Williamstown. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

“I think that’s what it should be about, trying to get your best teams there. That’s frustrating. A lot of credit to Williamstown. They fought. They made more out of system wild hustle plays than we did at the end of the match. I thought that was the difference. Their out of system hustle plays and we missed a few serves at bad times. I think if you combine their hustle with our missed serves, that’s the difference. Credit to them. It is what it is. This team has been resilient all year long so we’ll get ready and go up and give Oak Glen our best shot.”

Haynes and Grace Boone finished with a trio of aces apiece for the victors.

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com

Ravenswood’s Macy Casto serves the ball during Wednesday’s Class AA, Region I, Section 2 championship match against Williamstown. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Ravenswood’s Annie Starcher bumps the ball during Wednesday’s Class AA, Region I, Section 2 championship match against Williamstown. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)