Williamstown’s Shelby Smith, Becca Shamblin and Addi Kerby celebrate after Smith’s block during Tuesday’s Class AA state quarterfinal match against Charleston Catholic. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Leading two sets to one here Tuesday evening inside the Charleston Coliseum in the Class AA state quarterfinals, No. 3 Williamstown couldn’t find a way to finish off No. 6 Charleston Catholic as the Irish of first-year head coach Jake Nelson eliminated the Yellowjackets 19-25, 26-24, 16-25, 25-16 and 15-12.

Williamstown head coach Rachelle Cole’s ‘Jackets finished 28-10-3 overall in their debut season in double-A as seniors Kiersten Kerby, Kyndra Johnson, Annabelle Haught, Shelby Smith, Becca Shamblin and Gabi Holl played together for the final time.

“It is just hard,” admitted coach Cole, who watched her team storm to a 9-0 advantage in the opening set with the help of four aces from the setter Johnson.

“I feel like Becca and Kyndra have been with me forever, and Kiersten. It’s going to be real different next year, but like I told them, as cliche as it sounds, you can’t win them all.”

Downed spikes by Smith and Shamblin along with a Smith stuff of Clay County transfer Ilyauna Evans helped the ‘Jackets to a quick 4-0 start in set three.

Williamstown’s Becca Shamblin makes a pass. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Addi Kerby toed the service line as the lead increased to 7-1 thanks to a Kiersten Kerby kill and a Smith block of Callie Goetz.

Following an ace by Grace Boone, coach Nelson called timeout facing a 12-5 deficit. However, Irish freshman Nora Aliff, who had a match-high 23 kills, eventually cut it to 18-16 when she put one to the floor.

Kiersten Kerby’s down the line kill ignited a set-ending 7-0 spurt, which featured an ace and a key dig by Shamblin before Haught’s kill gave WHS a 2-1 edge in the best-of-five match.

The Yellowjackets only had leads of 2-1 and 4-3 in set four. Irish setter Madalyn Morris, who had a match-high 44 assists, had two aces sandwiched between an Evans kill to help forge a 16-9 advantage as Goetz’ kill sent it to the fifth set.

Evans, who finished with 21 kills, had a pair early in the decisive fifth set as Goetz added one and WHS called a timeout facing a 4-0 hole following Morris’ fourth ace.

Williamstown’s Kiersten Kerby sets the ball. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

A Smith block of Hope Linton squared the set at five and it was tied for the last time at six apiece when the Irish were whistled for being in the net.

Still down 8-7 after Johnson recorded one of her 40 assists to Haught, the ‘Jackets had a chance to tie it with libero Keatyn Haynes at the service line. However, Aliff had a tip that dropped as the Irish eventually stormed ahead 14-8.

Williamstown continued to fight and staved off four match points before finally having its season come to a close.

“We haven’t been here since 2021,” said coach Nelson. “Two of the seniors were here, but we’re pretty young. It’s definitely a new experience for us. I’m proud of the girls. They hustled.

“They give me everything they got every day and that’s what I tell them keep fighting, keep fighting and that’s what they were told. The crowd, you got to give hats off to the crowd. They really brought the energy. It was just a fun experience.”

Williamtown’s Kyndra Johnson serves an ace. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Haught (19) and Shamblin (18) led the kill parade for the ‘Jackets, who also got eight downed spikes from Smith and a half dozen by Kiersten Kerby.

Smith finished with a match-high 16 blocks, while Haught was a stuff shy of posting a double-double.

“It sucks because those seniors were on like the county championship teams so this is literally the first championship they’ve lost so that’s a hard pill to swallow,” added coach Cole.

“Moving to double-A, they’ve had a great season. We’ve had a lot of adjustments that we made and we can’t hang our head at that. They got to end the year on the state floor and you can’t ask for a better ending to your career than that. I’m proud of them.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com

Williamstown’s Keatyn Haynes serves. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Williamstown’s Annabelle Haught (1), Kyndra Johnson (16), Grace Boone (3), Addi Kerby (7) and Becca Shamblin (15) celebrate after a point. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Williamstown’s Annabelle Haught (1) and Kyndra Johnson (16) celebrate after a point. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Williamstown’s Grace Boone (3) serves as head coach Rachelle Cole looks on. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Williamstown’s Grace Boone makes a pass. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)