Gallery by Karen Akers
Shady Spring head volleyball coach Kelly Williams knew this year would have its ups and downs after replacing some key pieces from last year’s team.
Thursday, however, the Tigers looked like a well oiled machine when they welcomed Nicholas County on Senior Night.
Celebrating senior all-staters Meg Williams and Chloe Thompson, along with senior managers Eli Lester and Sophie Saddler, Shady Spring rolled past the Grizzlies, 25-6, 25-10 and 25-14.
“We have worked on a lot and we still have some to work on, but our practices have really been dedicated to certain skills and trying to tighten up those certain skills. We have played some really good competition and we got beat a couple of times. That is actually a good thing and lets us know exactly what we have to work on. We have worked really hard on trying to take care of the little things.”
Williams and Thompson have been stalwarts from the time they stepped on the court as freshman. Three times the duo has been key components in runs to the state championship game, winning the state title in 2020.
Thursday night, the dynamic duo was all business, even on Senior Night, and looked poised to lead another charge to Charleston.
“They have been here for four years and have helped get us where we needed to be three years and hopefully a fourth. They have dominated the state of West Virginia because of their hard work and dedication. They come out every time and play as hard as they can. You can’t ask for anymore than that.”
Thompson opened the first set with an explosive kill, kick-starting the Tigers on a 6-0 run. Another 6-0 burst midway through the set pushed the lead to 16-2 before ending in a 25-6 win.
Shady Spring broke set two open with a 13-0 run to build a 19-4 lead. Nicholas answered with a 5-0 run, but the Tigers quickly regrouped and closed on 6-1 run to win 25-10.
Junior Camille Testerman provided the big blasts in the set two win with six kills.
The Grizzlies played well at times and trailed by only one point in set three, 9-8. A kill from Hailey Sweeney, who opened the night singing the National Anthem, set off a 6-0 run and the Tigers never looked back.
After an attacking error, two kills from Thompson was followed by an ace from Rachel Mann and a kill from Testerman to cap the run.
Three straight points from Nicholas County cut the lead to six points later in the match before Testerman stopped the run with a kill and the spread the lead with back-to-back aces en route to a 25-14 win.
“We started really meshing as a team over the summer. We faltered a little bit, but we have gotten right back to it,” coach Williams said. “We have Reagan (Mann) on the outside and (freshman) Alivia (Stover) who is a great block. Rachel (Mann) gives us a great serve and is great defensively. Camille Testerman, I can’t talk about her enough and her passing. Hailey (Sweeney) has really stepped it up as a setter.”
Fittingly, the final blow of the night came on a blast from Thompson, giving her 16 blasts on the night.
“Tonight meant a lot to me, but it is a little sad because a couple of the girls like Hailey I have been playing with since I was in elementary school. And Meg, even though I didn’t go to elementary school with her we have always been pushing each other,” Thompson said. “Now we are actually going to get to go play together at the next level. It also meant a lot to me having my brother Eli (Lester) with me tonight.”
Coach Williams talked about the importance of having Lester and Saddler by her side.
“I really couldn’t do it without them,” Williams explained. “They come to practice just like the girls do. They are really a core part of the team.”
Known for her huge blasts along with Thompson, Meg Williams finished the night with 11 kills, but she also crossed a key career milestone with her 1,000th dig.
Thompson and Williams both crossed over the 1,000 career kills mark earlier in the season.
“When I get on the court I really focus on doing my job. I know what I have to do for things to function and flow,” Meg Williams said. “I try my best every time I go out there. If my job is to pass, I will pass. If it is to hit, I will hit. If it is to block, I will block. I stay opened minded and do my best.”
It was also special for her coach and mother to watch as well.
“It wonderful to watch her play and for her to have that type of success is all on her. She has worked really hard and I can’t say enough about how proud I am of her,” Kelly Williams said.
Shady Spring (43-3-1) really steps into the lion’s den this weekend to close out the regular season when it travels to play Class AAA foes Musselman, Morgantown and Martinsburg.
Even with a tough weekend ahead, the two senior leaders like the progression made by the team as a whole to this point in the season.
“We have been in like a mid-season slump, but we kind of realized this is it. This is our last chance to step out on that state tournament floor. It is all or nothing right now,” Thompson said.
“The past couple of weeks I think we have gone uphill instead of downhill, which is really good. We have a tough weekend coming up, but we just wanting keeping moving uphill,” Meg Williams said. “I think the younger players have gotten comfortable. They have gotten used to everything and are growing each game. It is going really good.”
