Ravenswood’s Anna Casto serves throughout a highschool volleyball match earlier this season. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)
CHARLESTON – For the third time in as many seasons it was Oak Glen and Philip Barbour battling it out for statewide bragging rights in Class AA.
However, James Monroe senior Ava Pitzer, whose Mavericks fell within the semifinals to the eventual champion Golden Bears, was honored as captain of the double-A all-state first group by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.
“Ava being named captain of the AA first team all-state is a dream come true and a testament to her hard work and determination,” admitted JMHS head coach Julie Bradley. “I can keep in mind watching her in center faculty when each feeder packages would play one another. I knew this senior class had ladies that would play and that they might be a robust group on the subsequent stage. They have completed so many firsts for our program right here at James Monroe.
“This is another first. As her coach, I feel immense pride and satisfaction seeing Ava’s dedication pay off. I am so proud of this team, and I know Ava and her teammates are proud of their accomplishments. AA is loaded with talent and to have a player named captain on the first team is an honor. I know she is proud. She wants to inspire and motivate others like the young ladies before her.”
The four-year stalwart for the Mavericks continued to get higher every season in this system.
Her continued consideration on tremendous tuning her throughout sport has afforded her the prospect to proceed taking part in at Charleston Southern.
“When the day came and she committed to Charleston Southern, you could see the weight of the world lift off her shoulders,” added coach Bradley, who watched Pitzer serve at 93% with 74 aces, produce 490 kills with a .242 effectivity and 41% kill price together with posting 23 blocks, 67 assists, 385 digs and 386 serve receptions. “I may additionally see that confidence in her senior season on the courtroom. Her swing was extra highly effective, and I may really feel her power and power as she took her strategy from the sideline. Standing on that sideline within the teaching field is one of the best.
“Watching these girls hit that ball through blocks and cutting those shots is amazing. Ava’s hard work with her attack definitely shows her power, and her cuts are difficult to defend. She loves to hit and get those kills. It’s her mic drop moment. It gets her fired up, and her team gets fired up too. I am looking forward to watching Ava at the next level. I know she is stubborn and determined enough to face the challenges that will come. We have talked about the next level, and she says she is ready. James Monroe High School and I are proud of Ava and wish her nothing but the best.”
Oak Glen with senior Averi Martin and Philip Barbour with junior Finley Carpenter had been the one repeat alternatives on the all-state first group.
Martin, who was a key cog on this 12 months’s and the 2023 state title squad versus the Colts, served at 94% and had 44 aces. The Golden Bear registered 396 kills with a .261 effectivity and had 58 blocks and 121 digs.
Carpenter amassed 80 aces as a 93% server. She hit .246 with a 40% kill price and had 299 downed spikes to go together with 56 blocks, 432 digs and 750 assists.
Fellow Philip Barbour junior teammate Izzy Knotts additionally secured a nod on the highest unit after she hit .392 with a 50% kill price and 644 profitable assaults. The 92% server had 60 aces, 492 digs, 476 serve receives and was a drive defensively on the internet with 163 blocks, which included 87 solo.
Little Kanawha Conference Player of the Year Sophie Bailey of Poca grabbed a spot on the primary group. The senior led the Dots to the large present earlier than falling in 5 units to James Monroe within the quarterfinals.
Bailey was a 90% server who had 66 aces and 552 kills. Her kill price was 48% and he or she hit .335 with 77 blocks, 66 solo, and completed with 332 digs, 537 serve receives and 69 assists.
The lone sophomore on the primary group was Nora Aliff of Charleston Catholic. The Irish had been upset by Wheeling Central within the quarterfinals, however Aliff produced 46 aces at 84% with 501 kills. She hit .434 with a 55% kill price and added 36 solo blocks and 148 digs.
Martin’s senior teammate and fellow Golden Bear Brooklyn Six together with Ravenswood junior Anna Casto, James Monroe senior Aaliyah Clarkson and Buffalo senior Jocie Harris additionally earned first group honors.
Six, who had 347 kills and hit .212 with 14 blocks and 201 digs, had 77 aces and was a 94% server whereas taking in 352 serve receives.
Casto’s closing numbers noticed her end with 617 kills and a 46% kill price whereas hitting .429. The Red Devil, whose season got here to an in depth in regional play on the hand of Wheeling Central, added 82 aces as a 96% server. She additionally had 34 blocks and 911 passes heading in the right direction.
Clarkson additionally did all of it for the Mavericks evidenced by her 80 aces at 84% and 361 downed spikes. She hit .236, had a 39% kill price and completed with 32 blocks, 255 digs and 368 serve receives.
The Bison Harris was a 93% server and had 46 aces to associate with 272 kills, 40 blocks, 267 digs, 39 assists and 394 serve receives.
Wheeling Central senior Lainey Peters, whose profession got here to an in depth after falling to the Colts within the semifinals, was named captain of the all-state second group.
The Maroon Knight was a 91% server who had 32 aces and 144 kills. She had a .328 effectivity and a 49% kill price to associate with 31 blocks, 141 digs and 362 assists.
Joining Peters on the second group had been Ravenswood senior Annie Starcher, Charleston Catholic sophomore Ali Wilcox in addition to Irish senior teammate Ilyauana Evans, Wyoming East senior Carli Raye, Williamstown senior Keatyn Haynes, South Harrison sophomore Kennedy Southern and three different Twelfth-graders in Oak Glen’s Brayley Lash, Philip Barbour’s Kayla Baker and Liberty’s Emily Williams.
Wooden plaques within the form of West Virginia that embody the highschool title, participant’s title, licensed WVSWA emblem, and 12 months of the honoree, can be found to all-state first group, second group, and honorable mentions and might be bought from the Bear Wood Company by WVSWA.org or Bearwoodcompany.com
CLASS AA, FIRST TEAM
Ava Pitzer, James Monroe, SR (Captain)
Izzy Knotts, Philip Barbour, JR
Averi Martin, Oak Glen, SR
Sophie Bailey, Poca, SR
Nora Aliff, Charleston Catholic, SO
Finley Carpenter, Philip Barbour, JR
Brooklyn Six, Oak Glen, SR
Anna Casto, Ravenswood, JR
Aaliyah Clarkson, James Monroe, SR
Jocie Harris, Buffalo, SR
SECOND TEAM
Lainey Peters, Wheeling Central, SR (Captain)
Annie Starcher, Ravenswood, SR
Ali Wilcox, Charleston Catholic, SO
Carli Raye, Wyoming East, SR
Keatyn Haynes, Williamstown, SR
Ilyauana Evans, Charleston Catholic, SR
Kennedy Southern, South Harrison, SO
Brayley Lash, Oak Glen, SR
Kayla Baker, Philip Barbour, SR
Emily Williams, Liberty, SR
HONORABLE MENTION
Mikalyn Balch, Oak Glen; Remy Peters, Wheeling Central; Abby Barnett, Poca; Paula Ganoe, Frankfort; Katie Grimm, Tyler Consolidated; Amya Bias, Buffalo; Courtney Thompson, Wayne; Jaycee Lipscomb, Doddridge County; Miley Tingler, Petersburg; Raya Justice, Scott; Karlee Lusk, Wyoming East, Kayli West, Tyler Consolidated; Jaycelyn Sammons, Wayne; Anna Boggess, Buffalo; Mya Dunlap, James Monroe; Abby Louk, South Harrison; Amalia Kirlangitis, Weir; Kamryn Wooten, Independence; Gracie Wolfe, Philip Barbour; Bree Gruse, Charleston Catholic; Ashlinn Sullivan, Poca; Emma Simpson, Independence; Sadie Mann, James Monroe; Addi Kerby, Williamstown; Sadie Adams, Lincoln; Madie Estepp, Mingo Central; Saigan Sims, Summers County