Local Sports

Oak Glen’s gold standard

NEW MANCHESTER, W.Va. -- Oak Glen’s volleyball program sets a high standard every season where getting to the state tournament is a must.

The defending Class AA state champs did just that on Thursday with a 25-19, 25-23, 25-16 win over Ravenswood in the West Virginia Class AA, Region 1 final at Oak Glen High School.

But it wasn’t easy.

The Red Devils led 17-16 in the first game and trailed 24-23 late in the second game. Oak Glen last met Ravenswood in the tournament in 2024 with the Bears winning 25-19, 25-15, 25-16. This Red Devil team had much more firepower, though.

“Ravenswood came here to play tonight,” Oak Glen coach Morgan Saddler said. “Volleyball is growing sport in our state which is awesome to see. Every year it gets more competitive and that’s how it should be.”

The Golden Bears (26-12) will try for their 10th state title starting on Tuesday at at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center. Seeding for the tournament will be determined by coaches, but the Golden Bears’ reputation speaks volumes around the state of West Virginia.

“Oak Glen volleyball is a program built on legacy,” Saddler said. “It’s the selflessness of the girls. They buy into what we do every single day. They play for each other and that’s what makes our program so special.”

The Golden Bears are ranked sixth in Class AA by MaxPreps. Wheeling Central, which beat Oak Glen in a two-set match very early in the season, is first, followed by 2025 finalist Philip Barbour.

“Wheeling Central is having a fantastic season,” Saddler said. “Philip Barbour and us go way back. James Monroe is also having a great season. It’s going to have four or five of the top volleyball teams in the state and it’s going to be immense.”

Senior Mattie Carney will be playing in her fourth state volleyball tournament and sixth overall when combined with her softball trips.

“We’re just one big family and we just show up every day and work,” Carney said. “Hard work pays off.”

Carney had 12 kills and three blocks in the win. She admitted she was a bit caught off guard at how the Red Devils played early.

“I was a little bit,” Carney said. “But I knew they weren’t just going to come in (and let us win).”

Senior Mikalyn Balch will also be going to her fourth state tournament. The setter had 27 assists, six kills and 12 digs against the Red Devils. She said Oak Glen’s high standards have made the team much better.

“It definitely puts (pressure) on us,” Balch said. “It makes us better as well. It keeps us accountable for ourselves.”

This edition of the Golden Bears played a meat-grinder of a schedule and has some scars on their record because of it, but that may start paying off on Tuesday.

“The better teams we play, the better we get,” Balch said. “It works every year.”

Against the Red Devils, Caetlyn Six led in kills with 17. Naomi Ayers, the season-leader in kills for the Bears, had nine kills. Libero Keira Vick had 19 digs. Kendall Six aided the defense with 14 digs and added three aces. Bryson Adams had five digs and 18 assists. Kylie Robinson led in the service department with four aces.

Oak Glen will take six seniors -- Balch, Carney, Robinson, Kendall Six, Vick and Ellie Smith -- to state who have been together since they were freshman.

“Their class has been in the state championship the last three years,” Saddler said. “It means a lot to get back to Charleston. Their dedication to our program is unmatched.”

The Bears know full well how much work it will take to repeat but they are up for the challenge.

“It’s going to take everyone being all in,” Carney said. “It takes a team.”

MATCH NOTES

• State action starts at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday. There will be four quarterfinals played and two semifinals in the late session which starts at 6:30 p.m. The two finalists will then get a day off before returning on Thursday for the championship which should start around 11 a.m. following the Class A title which is slated for a 9 a.m. start.

• Ravenswood finished 39-8 but the majority of the Red Devils’ matches were best-of-three sets.