Charleston – Philip Barbour and Oak Glen met for the 2023 Class AA state volleyball title won by the Bears. Thursday morning the two titans squared off once again for the 2024 crown.
This time around, it was the Colts hoisting the state championship trophy.
Taking a set from Finley Carpenter, fellow-sophomore Izzy Knotts hammered home the game winner for the seventh title in school history.
The Colts took set one 25-22 after fending off a rally from Oak Glen who trailed 19-13. Set two was all Bears in a 25-13 victory.
Oak Glen carried the momentum over to set three and built an 18-10 lead before the Colts roared back. Three kills down the stretch from all-stater Mackenna Halfin keyed a 25-21 victory.
In set four, the Bears took a quick lead, but this time was able to finish the deal for a 25-19 win, scoring the last five points to secure the win.
The deciding set was even at 4-4Â when Halfin inserted herself with a pair of kills and the Colts never trailed the rest of the way.
The 2024 title for the Colts is also their third in the last four seasons.
Halfin, Carpenter and Knotts from Phillip Barbour, along with Tia Vick, Mckenzi Martin and Brooklyn Six from Oak Glen and Jocie Harris from Buffalo were all named to the All-Tournament Team.
