SISTERSVILLE - The Oak Glen volleyball team completed a successful regional tournament appearance Saturday at Tyler Consolidated, defeating Ravenswood and Ritchie County to advance to the West Virginia Class AA state tournament.

The Golden Bears are attempting to repeat as state champions. Head coach Ethel Riser is elated with her team's postseason performance thus far.

"This is another step to take," she commented. "We took sectional, of course the regional tournament today and we are looking forward to the state tournament and hopefully repeating as state champions. That's been our goal since the beginning of the season and we're in line to head that way."

In the regional semifinal against Ravenswood, Oak Glen swept the contest 25-9, 25-21 and 25-18. Leading the way for the Golden Bears was Mackenzie Bailey with 15 points, 82 sets and 25 assists. Rainelle Dunlevy chipped in with three points, 23 spikes, 12 kills and 12 blocks, while Emily Fredrick contributed 20 spikes, 10 kills and one block.

The regional final saw a much closer match, as Ritchie County took the first two games, 25-23 and 25-19, before Oak Glen came back to win the final three 26-24, 25-22 and 15-8.

Riser was proud of the way her squad responded to the early deficit.

"We came back after being down two games to Ritchie County and the girls played hard to prove that they could," she explained. "They shouldn't have had to, but when we needed it they fought back."

Abby Tice led the way for the Golden Bears with 13 points. Lacee Porter added 12 points and 12 spikes, while Dunlevy chipped in with seven points, 58 spikes, 26 kills and 10 blocks.

The victories improved Oak Glen's season record to 35-6-2. The Golden Bears will begin state tournament play in the state tournament at the Charleston Civic Center on Friday and Saturday against an opponent to be determined.

Regional semifinal

Oak Glen d. Ravenswood 25-9, 25-21, 25-18.

Payden Eckleberry 5 points; Rainelle Dunlvey 3 points, 23 spikes, 12 kills, 12 blocks; Caitlyn Asbury 6 points, 5 spikes, 2 kill; Mackenzie Bailey 15 points, 82 sets, 25 assists; Emily Fredrick 20 spikes, 10 kills, 1 block; Abby Tice 8 points, Emily McElhaney 2 points, 12 spikes 4 kills, 2 blocks; Lacee Porter 5 points, 6 spikes, 2 kill.

Regional final

Oak Glen d. Ritchie County 23-25, 19-25, 26-24, 25-22, 15-8.

Dunlvey 7 points, 58 spikes, 26 kills, 10 blocks; Asbury 6 points, 14 spikes, 4 kills, 4 blocks; Bailey 4 points, 144 sets, 51 assists; Frerick 27 spikes, 12 kills, 4 blocks; Tice 13 points, McElhaney 7 points, 13 spikes, 9 kills; Porter 12 points, 12 spikes.