BHS Volleyball Team Ready for Home Tournament; Indians Advance to Semifinals at PB Invitational
By Chris Johnson on September 09, 2024
Several of the state’s premier volleyball teams took part in the Philip Barbour Invitational on Saturday including Bridgeport, which advanced to semifinals in bracket play before falling in straight sets to University.
Despite some disappointment in not being the last team standing at the event it was still an impressive outing for the Indians, who are 12-3-1 heading into a week that will culminate with their own invitational that will also feature a deep, competitive field.
“We went undefeated in pool play and we were tested,” BHS coach Ali Burton said. “Overall it was a good day. We know there are some things to work on but we have things to build off.”
In pool play on Saturday, Bridgeport defeated Hampshire 25-19, 25-10; Winfield 25-15, 25-14 and George Washington 25-13, 25-16.
The Indians earned the top seed in the gold bracket and faced Martinsburg in the quarterfinals.
Game 1 against Martinsburg was all Indians. Back-to-back kills from Myleigh Smell and Caleigh Morgan gave BHS a 13-3 lead.
Up 18-8, Salam Rajjoub went to the service line for the Indians who closed things out with seven straight points.
Smell and Taylor Randolph each had huge blocks during 7-0 run and Rajjoub had three aces, including two in a row for the final two points.
The second game against the Bulldogs was a little more dramatic. Martinsburg led 22-17 when Rajjoub again went to the service line and remained there until the Indians had rallied for a 25-22 victory.
She again had three aces during the 8-0 run and Smell had two kills during the stretch.
“That was impressive, the fight we showed in coming back against Martinsburg like that,” Burton said. “Salam was big for us.”
The only downside to the comeback was perhaps the Indians used so much energy and then had to stop and await the outcome of Spring Mills and University. The Hawks won in straight sets and carried that momentum into the Bridgeport matchup. They built early leads in both games, both creating too big of holes for the Indians to crawl out of despite how scrappy they got later in the matches.
University ended up winning 25-10 and 25-17 to advance to the championship round where the Hawks fell to the host Colts.
“University is a really good team and that is an emotional matchup,” Burton said. “That’s a team we beat for the sectional title the past couple of years so they were ready for us.”
One huge positive to take from the University matches was the continued emergence of Taylor Randolph. The Indians have a lot of experience back from last year’s team that made the state tournament with the likes of Smell, Morgan, Rajjoub, Kloey Martinez and libero Kaylee Enfield. But Randolph is stepping up to give BHS another piece of the puzzle in the front row.
“Taylor had a fantastic day,” Burton said. “She played really well in pool play and she had a lot of nice hits and plays at the net all day long.”
That group along with setters Addison Veigel and Kennedy Wolfe as well as Samantha Martin all had ample opportunities to shine last week in Bridgeport’s home opener last week when it took care of business against Elkins and Lincoln in a tri-match.
The Indians defeated the Tigers 25-10 and 25-11 before closing the opener with 25-4 and 25-3 victories against Lincoln.
In Bridgeport’s home invitational which will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 14., teams competing include Greenbrier East, Williamstown, Oak Glen, Woodrow Wilson, Robert C. Byrd, Wayne, Martinsburg, Shady Spring, Independence and Washington.
The Indians will get a tune-up before their tournament as they travel to East Fairmont on Thursday for a tri-match that also includes Robert C. Byrd.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Rajjoub serving and bottom photo feature Randolph making a play at the net. Photos by Joe LaRocca.
