10:06am: Talkline with Hoppy Kercheval

Musselman knocks off Hedgesville to repeat as Class AAA champion

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Ahead of Saturday’s Class AAA title match, Musselman had beaten Hedgesville in all four previous meetings this season, though the Eagles won at least one set each time.

The trend continued on both fronts at the Charleston Coliseum, with the Applemen starting fast, then overcoming a lull in the second set to register a 25-10, 21-25, 25-20, 25-18 victory.

Musselman’s win over a nearby rival gives it a second straight Class AAA championship, a sixth since 2013 and its eighth overall.

“Super happy for the kids. It’s not about us. It’s about them,” MHS coach Shawn Martz said. “All the work they’ve put in gets realized down here, so it’s just great to see it for them. It never gets old.”

MHS dominated the opening set, building an early 11-6 lead and cruising from there to win by 15 points.

While the Applemen were hardly challenged in the opening set, the Eagles offered a strong response and got things turned around in the second set. Hedgesville built momentum midway through the set and held a 23-18 lead before holding on to win by four points.

“We’ve done that a few times against them,” Martz said. “We came out and beat them pretty good and then kind of had a little letup. But they played well in that second set and give them credit. I knew our kids weren’t going to panic. They stay composed and they got it back together. They answered it.”

From there, Musselman looked more the part of a defending champion and was rarely threatened.

“We served and passed pretty well and we have a nice system here,” Martz said. “They’re even-keeled kids and a great group of kids.”

The Applemen used a total team effort to claim their second consecutive title.

Hannah Howard finished with 17 kills and 16 digs, while Madigan Faircloth contributed five aces, 11 points and 12 digs in the win.

Caroline Shipley’s 28 assists led MHS in that department and she added 10 points with a pair of aces.

Isabella Hutzler added 19 assists. Emma Kurnos had three aces among her eight points, while Keleigh Chrisman sent down seven kills.

Sadie Wright had eight points and 11 kills and Addison Walker recorded five kills in the win.

“This is one of our best seasons ever,” Martz said, “if not the best season ever.”





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