For the first time since 2005 the Lady Wildcats of Paden City High School will hang an OVAC volleyball championship banner in Bob Burton Gymnasium, after securing the title on Saturday in Stuebenville. The Ladies in Green achieved the champion status after defeating two teams in the class A OVAC tournament, Morgantown Trinity and Weirton Madonna.

“What a team effort!” said Paden City’s head coach, Fred King. “The team effort of our kids is what got us here and what sustained us throughout the tournament. Our two seniors, Dominique Craft and Amanda Heasley deserve a lot of credit for where we are right now. They have led the way in their own way, and the younger kids on the team are buying into it and it’s working for us.”

The Lady Wildcats were on their game as they took the championship title in two games, 25-14 and 25-18, over the Lady Dons of Madonna at Steubenville.

Leading the way for the Green were junior Lynnsie Parsons with 14 points, one ace; and freshmen, Haley Hizer and Graeson Baker with 10 points apiece. Parsons also had five kills and four digs in the contest. Hizer was credited with four digs; Baker had four aces, and four digs; Dominique Craft scored seven points, had 11 kills, two blocks and seven digs; Amanda Heasley scored seven points, had nine kills, two blocks and 10 digs; Logan Cosper scored two points, and four digs. Cosper also had 59 good sets in the game and 20 assists. Josie Fox was credited with two digs; and Kelsey Loy had two kills, and one dig.

“The girls have worked really hard,” King said. “They are here because they haven’t stopped working. Coach Jeff Bowers and I are so proud of them, I can’t even tell you. All I can say is teamwork, teamwork, teamwork.”

Against Morgantown Trinity at Steubenville in the class A OVAC Semi-Final game, Paden City took the win in two, 25-11 and 26-24, to earn their place in the championship game.

Haley Hizer scored 14 points, one ace, one kill and six digs to lead the Green and White in the win. Graeson Baker scored 11 points and had eight digs; Dominique Craft scored nine, had nine kills, four blocks and 12 digs; Lynnsie Parsons, scored six points, had two kills, six digs; Amanda Heasley added six points, had six kills, two blocks and six digs; Logan Cosper scored four points, had five digs, set the ball 52 times and was credited with 16 assists; Josie Fox, two digs; Kelsey Loy had two kills, and one dig.

Earlier in the week, the ‘Cats played at Clay Battelle on Oct. 12, taking two games in quick succession with scores of 25-14 and 25-15. Heasley and Baker led the way for the Green and White with 13 points apiece. Heasley had four kills and four digs; while Baker was credited with five digs. Craft helped out the cause with seven points and 11 kills in the game, six digs; Hizer scored seven, and had seven digs; Parsons added six points, had three kills, seven digs; Cosper scored three, had 54 sets and 18 assists and seven digs; Megan Pierce scored a point and had one dig; Fox, three digs; Hannah Stanley, one dig; and Kelsey Loy, two kills, one dig.

While at Clay Battelle, the Lady ‘Cats took on Preston County, taking the win in three, 9-25, 25-18 and 25-10.

Baker was the leading point getter for Paden City with 15 served points. She also was credited with nine digs in the contest. Heasley scored 12 points, one ace, had three kills and eight digs; Parsons added 10 points, had seven kills, three digs; Hizer scored nine and had nine digs; Craft, five points, one ace, 15 kills, seven digs; Cosper, five points, three digs, 64 sets, and 22 assists; Pierce, one point; Tori Anderson, one point, one kill, two digs; Mallory Estel, one dig; Fox, two digs; Loy, one kill, one dig.

With the OVAC tournament now behind them, the Lady ‘Cats will have little time to revel in their glory as a busy week looms ahead of them. The team hosted John Marshall and Tyler Consolidated on Tuesday, will host Clay Battelle on Thursday. On March 25 Paden City will host Williamstown and Magnolia and will host the Mason Dixon Conference tournament at Bob Burton Gymnasium on Oct. 29.