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VOLLEYBALL HONORS

Locals recognized on top W.Va. Class A?All-State squad

JAY W. BENNETT, The Parkersburg News and Sentinel Parkersburg Catholic libero Gracie Lowers serves up the ball during a match at the Little Kanawha Conference Night of Champions. Each young lady helped their teams advance to the state tournament and were named to the W.Va. Class A All-State first team as voted on by the West Virginia Sports Writers Associaton.

PARKERSBURG — Magnolia won its first Class A state volleyball championship and finished with a 46-7-1 record for head coach Pam Chapman.

One of the key cogs during the Blue Eagles’ title run was junior Kyndra Pilant, who was honored as captain of the all-state first team by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.

While Pilant would be the first person to tell anyone volleyball is a team effort, her play and leadership stood out.

“She’s vocal in practice and vocal in games. She’s always talking to her teammates and always talking strategy,” Chapman said of Pilant, who mashed 677 kills and had 373 digs to go along with 128 blocks, 59 aces and 15 assists.

“She’s always looking at the other team’s defense and figuring out what we need to do as a team and what she needs to do as a hitter and a blocker. This year Kyndra has become a leader on the floor and she has really made a big turnaround.”

JAY W. BENNETT, The Parkersburg News and Sentinel Williamstown’s Bethany Arnold tracks the ball during a 2018 state tournament first-round match against Doddridge County at the Charleston Civic Center.

Pilant’s sophomore teammate Mady Winters, who also plays a full rotation, combined for a formidable one-two punch. Winters made the first team as well, finishing with 604 kills, 343 digs, 164 blocks, 105 aces and 10 assists.

Little Kanawha Conference Player of the Year Josey Jones, who led her team to a state runner-up finish, was one of three repeat selections on the first unit. Jones produced 443 downed spikes, had 81 blocks and 546 digs.

The other two repeat honorees were Ritchie County senior Abi Haught (323 kills, 54 aces, 227 digs, 10 blocks) and Wirt County junior Kylie Stephens (557 kills, 79 aces, 74 blocks).

Williamstown, which was ousted in the state semifinals by Tyler Consolidated, placed Bethany Arnold on the first team. The senior Yellowjacket had more than 500 kills and 100-plus blocks.

A youthful Parkersburg Catholic squad reached the semifinals as well before bowing out to Magnolia. Junior libero Gracie Lowers received a first team nod. A dangerous server, the Crusaderette produced 128 aces and made 549 digs.

Aside from Magnolia, the only other program to have a second player on the first team was Tyler Consolidated with senior JoLee Walton.

The Silver Knight setter was eight assists shy of 1,200 for the season and added 51 aces and 228 digs.

Also earning first-team status in single-A were a pair of seniors in Julie Ignatiadis of Huntington St. Joe and Tolsia’s Sarah Jude, who had a .328 hitting efficiency with 256 kills, 47 aces and 31 total blocks.

Helping her team reach the final weekend of the season for the first time since 2009, Doddridge County senior setter Courtney Sanford was selected as captain of the second team.

The other members of the second unit included Amanda Church of Greenbrier West, Trinity’s Rachel Rosen, Ravenswood’s Kendall Bowen, Jenna Boice of Parkersburg Catholic, Williamstown’s Kayla Bauman, Courtney Green of Greater Beckley Christian, Wirt County’s Emma Wyer, Gilmer County’s Lindsay Chapman and Paden City’s Hope Weber.

2018 W.Va. Class A

All-State Volleyball

FIRST TEAM

Kyndra Pilant, Magnolia, JR (CAPTAIN)

Josey Jones, Tyler Consolidated, SR

Mady Winters, Magnolia, SO

JoLee Walton, Tyler Consolidated, SR

Bethany Arnold, Williamstown, SR

Kylie Stephens, Wirt County, JR

Sarah Jude, Tolsia, SR

Abi Haught, Ritchie County, SR

Gracie Lowers, Parkersburg Catholic, JR

Julie Ignatiadis, Huntington St. Joe, SR

SECOND TEAM

Courtney Sanford, Doddridge County, SR (CAPTAIN)

Amanda Church, Greenbrier West, SR

Rachel Rosen, Trinity, SR

Kendall Bowen, Ravenswood, SR

Jenna Boice, Parkersburg Catholic, SO

Kayla Bauman, Williamstown, SR

Courtney Green, Greater Beckley Christian, SO

Emma Wyer, Wirt County, SO

Lindsay Chapman, Gilmer County, SR

Hope Weber, Paden City, SO

SPECIAL HONORABLE MENTION

Kayna Anderson, Magnolia; Lindsey Rinker, Moorefield; Aaliyah Brunny, Parkersburg Catholic; Nevaeh Dickens, Greater Beckley Christian; Kenley Posten, Greenbrier West; Dejah Busby, Sherman; Hannah Heatherington, Ravenswood; Elizabeth Kay, Charleston Catholic; Brooklyn Hinzman, Doddridge County; Elizabeth Conley, Valley (Wetzel); Janessa Harris, Buffalo; Lakyn Joy, Williamstown; MaKenzie Judy, Meadow Bridge; Hannah Billups, Wahama; Morgan Mullens, Trinity; Hailey Carreon, Clay-Battelle; Andrea Alimario, Madonna; Jessica Smith, East Hardy; Mallory Yeater, Paden City; Emma Gibbs, Wahama; Brooke Slaubaugh, Buffalo

HONORABLE MENTION

Rebekah Markwood, Moorefield; Cassidy Roles, Fayetteville; Alexa Johnson, Tyler Consolidated; Jenna Fisher, Greater Beckley Christian; Gracie Graham, Williamstown; Kenzie O’Dell, Greenbrier West; Brianna Jones, Ritchie County; Bailee Yokum, Notre Dame; Kasey Hoff, Ravenswood; Gavin Pivont, Summers County; Lainie Ross, Parkersburg Catholic; Erika Turner, Huntington St. Joe; Erika Newell, Calhoun County; Ashlynn Coffman, Greater Beckley Christian; Lacie Bills, St. Marys; MaKenzie Arbaugh, Pendleton County; Jasmine Ball, Doddridge County; Aden Watts, Tolsia; Katherine Henderson, Hundred; Kylie Saltis, South Harrison; Amy Frosch, Notre Dame; Leneica Grimm, Magnolia; Sierra Marie Miller, East Hardy

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