Buffalo, W. Va. — For only the second time in school history Tolsia Volleyball will be playing in the state tournament Wednesday morning in Charleston.
2022 Tolsia Rebel Volleyball
Freshmen
#14 Jenna Foley
#17 Johnna Foley
#7 Chloe Walker
#56 Emily Hatfield
Sophomores
#1 Brelyn Robinett
#25 Lydi Adkins
#22 Bryanna Jude
#31 Kyleigh Justice #31
#55 Amber Stevens
#10 Isabella Ferguson
Juniors
#20 Jessica Hofmeister
Seniors
#8 Alyssa Ransbottom
#5 Jada Salmons
#11 Natalie Sexton
#18 Ella Hatfield
#23 Autumn Block
The Rebels upset #5 Wirt Co. who has won 13 state championships on Saturday in the Class A region tournament to advance to the State Tournament.
Tolsia is 22-20-1 and will face #1 seeded Williamstown Wednesday morning at 9:30 at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center. The state tournament is single elimination this season.
Tolsia Volleyball Seniors
L to R Jada Salmons, Natalie Sexton, Ella Hatfield, Allyssa Ransbottom, Autumn Block
Class A State Tournament Bracket
Wayne Co. will have all three high schools playing in the state tournament this year as the Spring Valley Timberwolves made it in Class 3A and the Wayne Pioneers made it in Class 2A.
Tolsia Head Coach Andrea Prince
COACH’S COMMENTS
“… Our post season began on Nov. 1st. We went into our sectional in the 3rd seed. We ended the first day of tournament play with wins against Van 3-0 and Sherman 3-1. Sherman had bested us in the regular season in a 2 out of 3 match hosted by Tug Valley. The team went in nervous, but well prepared for their opponent, and after losing a close first set 21-25, the team went on to win the next three sets, 25-23, 25-19 and 25-20. This moved us up in the winner’s bracket to face the top seed in our section and the #2 seed in the state for Single A, Buffalo. We took a loss against Buffalo and then played Sherman again, each facing elimination at the conclusion of the match. The team rallied and swept Sherman in three, 27-25, 25-16 and 25-19.”
“… Last years team had a lot of experience, we were lucky to have three hardworking, dedicated seniors in key positions: middle, setter and libero. Last years seniors also had a wonderful group of five juniors that were willing to work wherever we needed them to develop skills for the good of the team. Current senior, Natalie Sexton #11, was moved from setter to middle hitter position for last season, it was a new role for her and she did it beautifully, to prepare for our opening at middle for this season. Current senior, Ella Hatfield, was moved from outside hitter to right side hitter and setter. And our outside hitters Kyleigh Justice and Autumn Block have both developed into extraordinary defensive players, freeing up Jada Salmons to dedicate her defensive skills fully to the libero position. The team overall has shown incredible willingness to learn and adapt.”
“… Our ongoing mantra for this post season play has been to “hope for the best, but expect the worst”, because you can never predict with 100% accuracy what the team you meet will be doing when you are set to play them. You can study video and plan, but any good team will be developing new skills and pushing harder to advance to the next level. You can’t play the team on the video, you have to play the team that you meet in that competition, you have to adjust your game, analyze the situation and make the adjustments you need.”
Little late with your coverage. I believe the team was eliminated yesterday, but the girls have a season to be proud of.