CHARLESTON, W.Va. — After No. 1 Wirt County and No. 2 Gilmer County split the first two sets of Thursday’s Class A final, the Tigers had a leg up on the Titans by accounting for 10 of the first 15 points in the third game.
The next point proved to be as important as any in the contest. Wirt and Gilmer battled back-and-forth for nearly 2 minutes, with each side continuously digging to keep hope alive for the point on multiple instances, before the Tigers scored it to gain a six-point advantage. The lengthy volley that went Wirt’s way seemed to demoralize Gilmer and the Tigers went on to win the third and fourth sets in convincing fashion to earn their 14th state championship with a 25-19, 23-25, 25-12, 25-10 victory at the Charleston Coliseum.
“We talk about not giving up silly points and push every point you have,” Tigers’ coach Katie Frazier said. “Don’t give up momentum. Just push and push and push for every point.”
Wirt, which rallied from a 16-8 second-set deficit before falling just short, asserted itself from the outset of the third game, which it finished off courtesy of three consecutive aces from senior Addison Stephens.
“We were down pretty significant and came within two. Just tried to carry that momentum into the next set and into the rest of the match,” Frazier said.
The Tigers (33-4-2) were strategic in how they went about trying to minimize the impact of 6-foot-4 sisters Ava Dobbins and Blair Dobbins and a strong service game helped do exactly that.
“We stress serving a lot and the first game we came in yesterday, we were a little bit shaky,” Frazier said. “It’s a new atmosphere and a much bigger arena than we’re used to playing in since we don’t get to have the showcase here anymore. Other than that, they settled in and got used to the surroundings as well.”
WCHS dominated the fourth and final game, building a lead of 10-2 and increasing it to 23-8, before Stephens sent down a kill for the final point.
Class A final: Wirt County 3, Gilmer County 1
Tigers win third set 25-12 and fourth set 25-10 for 14th state championship. pic.twitter.com/qANjCBDDBB
— Greg Carey (@gcarey938) November 13, 2025
With the win, Frazier notched her second state championship as head coach. That leaves her 12 back of her mother, Janet Frazier.
“It takes a full village. She’s still pretty involved and very helpful, definitely with the big picture stuff,” coach Frazier said. “I have the best assistant coaches. I have anything and everything I need. It makes it a successful program having so many people to help out.”
Gilmer finishes 37-11-1.