CHARLESTON, W.Va. — When Grace White took over as head coach of Wheeling Central Catholic volleyball in advance of the 2025 season, her mission was to help guide the Maroon Knights to a state championship.
Little did White realize a goal that had always eluded Central in the past would be accomplished so quickly.
In a back-and-forth Class AA final against Philip Barbour on Thursday at Vandalia Heath Center, the Maroon Knights overcame a 2-1 deficit by scoring the final three points of the fourth set to force a decisive fifth and final set, which the Maroon Knights prevailed in to claim a 25-22, 21-25, 20-25, 25-23, 15-13 victory.
“To do it in two years is a huge testament to the girls, how much they trust us and how much they trust each other,” White said.
FINAL: Wheeling Central 3, Philip Barbour 2
Maroon Knights win fifth set 15-13 to finish Class AA state champion.
It’s the first state championship in volleyball for Central. https://t.co/R5MRCjTUiH
— Greg Carey (@gcarey938) November 12, 2026
Facing No. 2 Philip Barbour, a program with seven state championships plenty accustomed to concluding seasons in Charleston, the No. 1 seed Maroon Knights (29-4) got off to the start they desired and never trailed in the first game. A key stretch in the opening set came after Central led 8-7 and scored seven of the next nine points to build a relatively comfortable advantage.
The Colts (47-10-1) were still well within striking distance after cutting their deficit to 18-15, and they trailed 22-18 before a costly service error. Central ultimately gained the 1-0 lead when Remy Peters sent down one of her 16 kills for the final point of the opening game
PBHS responded well and utilized consecutive kills from Megan Dumire to gain a 10-7 lead in Game 2.
Peters’ kill later in the second set allowed Central to trail 16-15, but the Maroon Knights were unable to get over the hump at any point in that game and the Colts ran off three straight points late to up their advantage to 22-18. Izzy Knotts’ kill finished off the four-point victory for PB and tied the contest at 1 set apiece.
Having garnered momentum, the Colts made the most of it during the third set, and opened up a 7-1 lead in it on the strength of four consecutive kills — three from Lynnlea Moss and the other from Finley Carpenter.
That forced the Maroon Knights to play catchup, and though Central got to within three on four separate occasions, the Colts maintained their separation and went in front 2-1 on a WC service error.
“For us, it was reassuring that we weren’t playing at our level,” White said. “We weren’t in control of our game in those sets. When we got back and we got in the driver’s seat, not by score, but just by how we felt, it was good and they held it.”
Central looked to be in control of Game 4 and led 15-8 after an ace from Chloe Groome that led to a PB timeout.
But the Colts stayed the course and ran off six unanswered points to cut the Central lead to 18-17. PB ultimately got even at 20 before taking its first lead of that game since the first point on Dumire’s kill.
Central scored the next two on a couple of critical Colts’ errors, but PB went back on top at 23-22 on a Leann Moss ace.
With the title in its grasp, however, Philip Barbour couldn’t close it out, as the Maroon Knights got even at 23 and then tied the contest at 2-2 on the strength of a Teagan Peters kill and a Morgan Miehle kill, the latter of which accounted for set point.
“We made a few careless errors, but I don’t think we stopped playing,” Colts’ head coach Heather Halfin said. “We continued to play up until the end. Some balls hit the floor toward the end that closer to the beginning of the match, we didn’t let drop. They should know better at that point. You’re in the state championship and have to be laying out for every ball. We played hard, but had a few more errors at inopportune times.”
While the Colts never led or got even after the first point during the fifth set, their deficit wasn’t more than two until an attacking error left Central with a 14-11 advantage.
PB countered with Knotts’ kill, which combined with a Maroon Knights’ error, had Central’s lead at 14-13.
Teagan Peters then sent down a kill for the final point of the tightly contested title game, one that left PBHS with its second straight runner-up finish after winning a state championship in 2024.
“We practice games of five all the time,” White said. “Every huddle we had during that fifth set, we said, ‘You have done this and you have been here.’ Volleyball doesn’t change and don’t make the moment bigger than it is. These girls trust each other and they love each other. They know that everyone gives 100 percent and it propels them forward.”
Teagan Peters had 21 kills, Remy Peters added 16 and Jackie Maxwell delivered with 11 kills.
“She’s incredible and she comes alive in these moments,” White said of Maxwell. “She’s like that dark horse. There’s not a lot of emotion on her face, but she’s clutch and she can crush it in those moments.”
Groome had 51 assists and four aces, while Miehle led all players with five aces.
Knotts had a game-best 24 kills in defeat, while teammate Gabi Taylor added 16 and Lynlea Moss contributed 12.
Carpenter recorded 49 assists.
CLASS AA ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Kennedy Southern, South Harrison
Nora Aliff, Charleston Catholic
Mya Dunlap, James Monroe
Finley Carpenter, Philip Barbour
Izzy Knotts, Philip Barbour
Chloe Groome, Wheeling Central
Olivia Stevens, Wheeling Central
Teagan Peters, Wheeling Central