Williamstown's Maggie Fry sets the ball during the Yellowjackets' home triangular match on Thursday. WHS split with a win versus Buffalo and a setback to Philip Barbour. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

WILLIAMSTOWN — Defending Class AA state champion Philip Barbour improved to 19-6-1 here Thursday night for head coach Heather Halfin as the Colts swept Williamstown 25-14 and 25-12 before needing three sets to take care of Buffalo – 25-18, 22-25 and 25-13.

The host Yellowjackets of head coach Rachelle Cole responded in the final match of the night by outlasting the Bison 25-20, 14-25 and 15-12.

“We’re still plugging along,” admitted coach Cole, whose squad was led by Maggie Frye’s 25 assists, Addi Kerby’s 10 kills and libero Keatyn Haynes’ 11 digs. “We started out pretty slow tonight. We are still adjusting and changing things. I still don’t think we’ve found our solid group yet.

“After we lost to Philip Barbour I think we came out a little hungrier. They talked and just came out much more ready to play. Buffalo just joined the LKC and it was a big game. We kind of slipped that second set and then we just came out pretty strong. I thought they worked pretty well together against Buffalo.”

The hosts had an early 4-2 lead in the opening set versus the Colts following a Reagan Corbett kill, but coach Cole had to call a timeout following an Izzy Knotts ace and the scoreboard reading 12-7.

Williamstown libero Keatyn Haynes attempts to make a pass following a serve during the Yellowjackets' triangular on Thursday night. WHS earned a split with a victory versus Buffalo and a setback to Philip Barbour. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Finley Carpenter, who flirted with a triple-double after collecting eight assists, as many kills and 11 digs, registered set point via a downed spike thanks to one of Gracie Wolfe’s dozen assists. The setter also chipped in 10 digs.

WHS fell behind 4-0 in set two and after back-to-back kills by Knotts, who had a match-high nine downed spikes, it was 8-3. An ace by Leann Moss pushed it to 14-8 and the ‘Jackets were doubled up at 20-10 following a kill by Megan Dumire and a Carpenter ace.

PBHS, which will join Fairmont Senior at 6 p.m. Wednesday for a tri at Grafton, fell behind Buffalo 3-0 in set three, but Kayla Baker toed the service line for five straight points to help turn the tide.

A block by Olivia Cook on Colt Lainey Miner made it to 10-7, but the Bison of first-year boss Janessa Bailes never got any closer.

Emery Brookes had three aces and 10 assists for Buffalo, which also got two aces and eight kills from Jocie Harris along with five kills by Amya Bias.

Williamstown's Riley Haines goes on the attack during Thursday's home triangular match. WHS split with a win versus Buffalo and a setback to Philip Barbour. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

“We beat them Saturday. We went up to Oak Glen and played,” said coach Halfin, who got 22 kills from Knotts along with a quartet of blocks while Carpenter had nine kills, a trio of aces, 20 assists and 12 digs. “They are very scrappy. We’re just not that scrappy yet. We’re not hitting the ball well enough to not be scrappy. If we were just killing the ball then you can kind of relax in the back row, but we’re not hitting it consistently.

“Our back row kind of went to sleep there for a while. I preach hard that it starts in the back. I want them to know how important the back row is because I think it’s very much an under-appreciated role, but it has to start there. If they can get it started then we have the hitters that can finish it.”

In the final set of the night, the ‘Jackets scored the first point in the first to 15 with Haynes serving as Chloe Mulligan recorded one of her eight kills.

However, an ace and two kills by Harris along with a pair of downed spikes by Bias helped the Bison push ahead 10-7.

Cook’s kill via a Brookes assist made it 11-8 and it was 12-10 Bison after another Harris kill.

Williamstown's Reagan Corbett tips the ball past the attempted block of Philip Barbour's Izzy Knotts during Thursday's home triangular. WHS split with a victory versus Buffalo and a setback to the Colts. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Williamstown, which improved to 11-9-2 and has senior night on Tuesday when South Harrison invades, managed to tally the final five points.

Frye, who had a match-high 25 assists, actually gave WHS the lead for good at 13-12 when she collected a kill thanks to a Kerby assist when her attack was blocked into the antenna.

Haynes then proceeded to serve up an ace and Kerby finished things off with her match-high 10th kill.

“This year I have three varsity returning players,” admitted coach Bailes, who got 10 assists from Brookes, nine kills by Bias, four aces and six kills by Harris as well as two aces and five assists from Claire Sunyog. “Everyone else is like freshmen and sophomores that are stepping in. We’ve definitely been going through this learning curve. We’re lacking maturity and experience. It’s not about the wins and losses. We can go all season and lose every game and then go to regionals and win three games and make it to the state tournament, and that’s our goal.

“I think they are starting to kind of get in the groove of it and we’re kind of starting to see clicks. They are starting to jive together a little bit better. I’m really proud of them tonight even though we’re coming out with two losses. They challenged Philip Barbour so much better. When we played them on Saturday the score was hideous. I am proud of them for pushing them tonight. Tonight we had a great passing game and a great digging game. I’m proud of them. We got a lot to work on, but I’m hoping by the end of the season we kind of get into that rhythm.”

Williamstown's Addi Kerby spikes the ball during the Yellowjackets' home triangular on Thursday night. WHS split with a win versus Buffalo and a setback to Philip Barbour. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Buffalo will carry a 7-13 mark into Tuesday’s road match at Poca.

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com

Philip Barbour's Izzy Knotts goes on the attack during Thursday's triangular at Williamstown. The Colts left town with a sweep after defeating the 'Jackets and Buffalo. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Philip Barbour's Finley Carpenter keeps a ball alive during Thursday's triangular at Williamstown. The Colts left town with a sweep after defeating the 'Jackets and knocking off Buffalo. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Buffalo's Jocie Harris digs the ball during Thursday's triangular at Williamstown. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Buffalo's Anna Boggess serves during Thursday's triangular at Williamstown. The Bison fell to both the 'Jackets and Philip Barbour in three sets. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)