Oak Glen’s volleyball team was set up for success in the Class AA West Virginia state tournament by what it did in the regular season.

The tough schedule, the hard work, the family atmosphere and the team’s belief in each other added up to not losing a set throughout the entire tournament which culminated in a 25-12, 27-25, 25-20 win over two-time defending state champion Philip Barbour in the championship final early Thursday afternoon at the Charleston Coliseum and Civic Center.

“We came down to just be ourselves and just do our thing,” Oak Glen coach Morgan Saddler said.

It was the team’s first state title since 2019 and eighth overall. It was Saddler’s second in five years in charge of the program. The Golden Bears finished the season 35-3-3.

Saddler said the key to the team’s success was the speed at which it plays.

“We had beaten (Philip Barbour) 2-0 in the regular season but we still expected a tough battle at state,” Saddler said. “It was our tempo which made the difference I think. We like to play quick.”

The Golden Bears were on the march right out of the gate with a dominating performance in the first game, but Philip Barbour was not ready to let its title reign go without a fight. The Colts led 25-24 in the second game before Oak Glen rallied for the last three points. Two of those came by the way of Brooklyn Six kills.

The Colts also challenged the Bears in the third set, but were too far behind at that point to be a threat.

Junior McKenzi Martin made the all-tournament team for the second consecutive season with 18 kills in the final. Senior Ashlyn Six also made the all-tournament team for the second consecutive season as she had seven kills. Sophomore middle and outside hitter Brooklyn Six had seven kills, while sophomore middle hitter Averi Martin had seven kills. Junior Reecelyn Craig had four kills. Sophomore setter Jersey Smith had 44 assists and 14 digs. Junior Libero Addison Smith, who also made the all-tournament team, had 15 digs. Junior Tia Vick had three digs.

With so many younger players on the team, this could be the start of a dynasty like the one the Bears had at the start of the 2010s.

“I hope, the girls in middle school we are family with,” McKenzi Martin said. “We have amazing coaches that produce amazing volleyball players.”

“I think we have a lot of potential for the years to come,” Jersey Smith said.

Oak Glen also won the Class 4A title in the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference earlier this season which set the stage for the accolades that came later on. Saddler said the foundation came from scheduling difficult matches.

“That’s one of the first things we set out to do every season,” Saddler said. “It’s tough for a reason.”

This season included such challenging team as Ohio Div. II district finalist East Liverpool, 2022 Ohio Div. II state semifinalist Union Local and larger school West Virginia powers.

The Golden Bears’ three losses came to East Liverpool, Spring Mills (W.Va.) and University (W.Va.). It tied George Washington (W.Va.), Spring Mills (W.Va.) and Williamstown (W.Va.).

Oak Glen closed the season on a 17-match winning streak and only dropped a set each to East Liverpool and Beaver Local during that run. The last set the Bears lost was in the OVAC Class 4A final on Oct. 14.

So, which was tougher?

Winning the OVAC tournament or the state title?

Well, the answers are split.

“I feel definitely the state championship because it takes so much to build up to get yourself there,” Ashlyn Six said. “You have have to go through the sectional tournament and the regional tournament to even get into the state tournament.”

“I’d say OVAC just because it was more personal,” McKenzie Martin said. “Obviously East Liverpool is more of a rival, but states felt better.”

“It was definitely a bigger deal winning state because we haven’t won in so many years,” Addison Smith said. “Going up against a good team like Phillip Barber, who had the crown for two years was definitely a battle.”

Notes

• The team got a police and fire an escort through New Cumberland, Newell and Chester on Thursday evening upon returning from Charleston. The team bus stopped outside of the Chester American Legion where community members joined in a celebration which included singing “Country Roads”.

• Oak Glen’s Class AA titles came in 2019, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2008. The school won Class AA/A titles in 1998 and 1997.

• Other all-tournament team selections included Philip Barbour’s Mackenna Halfin, Finley Carpenter and Katie Kennedy, Shady Spring’s Camille Testerman, Herbert Hoover’s Ashton Henrich and Weir’s Bradley Lash.

QUARTERFINALS

Wednesday’s day session

No. 1 Oak Glen def. No. 8 Weir 25-13, 25-16, 25-13

No. 4 Hoover def. No. 5 Wayne 25-22, 22-25, 25-19, 25-22

No. 2 Shady Spring def. No. 7 Liberty 25-9, 25-13, 25-8

No. 3 Philip Barbour def. Winfield 25-14, 25-11, 25-23

SEMIFINALS

Wednesday’s evening session

No. 1 Oak Glen def. No. 4 Herbert Hoover, 25-20, 25-20, 25-23.

No. 3 Philip Barbour def. No. 2 Shady Spring, 24-26, 25-23, 28-26, 25-19

FINAL

Thursday

No. 1 Oak Glen def. No. 3 Philip Barbour, 25-12, 27-25, 25-20