Class AAA all-state volleyball led by state champion Bridgeport

Bridgeport High School’s Ali Burton thought her team could be a title contender in 2024, so to help the Indians prepare for state tournament time, she put together as tough a season schedule as possible.

It paid off as Bridgeport won the Class AAA state championship two weeks ago. While securing the program’s second-ever state title (they previously won the Class AA championship in 2018), the Indians finished with a 52-8-2 record. They were undefeated at home, undefeated against other Class AAA competition, including wins prior to the start of the state tournament against every school in the field except Herbert Hoover, whom they defeated in the title game.

They recorded wins against 31 different schools that advanced to the co-regional round in the four grades and within that 52-8-2 record they won 108 sets and lost only 21.

Facing that strong competition all season long also means the Indians saw many of the state’s best players. Of the 20 players who earned Class AAA All-State first-team or second-team honors, BHS was on the other side of the net against 16 of them.

Of course, to get through all that and be the last team standing takes some pretty good players and that was certainly the case for the Indians, who have two first-team selections in seniors Myleigh Smell and Kaylee Enfield. with a second teamer in junior Salam Rajjoub on the Class AAA All-State Volleyball Team, announced today by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.

Smell, a two-time first-team selection, was selected as first-team captain this year.

Smell and Enfield are joined on the first team by Herbert Hoover duo Ashton Henrich and Ziah Smith, Shady Spring duo Reagan Mann and Alivia Stover and Frankfort’s Taylor Mandell, Greenbrier East’s Alexis Stack, Wayne’s Addie Adkins and Winfield’s Brooklyn Cole.

“There are a lot of great teams in Class AAA and a lot of great players,” Burton said. “Every one of those girls on that list can play volleyball and is a good volleyball player. Everyone can do many different things on the field.

“With Myleigh she just does everything right. She has such a great all-around game and has been such a leader for us. Kaylee, is everything a team could want in a libero. She really put in the effort to become the player she is.”

Smell finished this year with 632 kills, 400 digs, 74 aces, 63 blocks and 27 assists. Enfield had 537 digs, 104 assists and 46 aces. Smell and Enfield both surpassed the 1,000 career kill mark this year, and Smell also surpassed 1,000 career kills.

For Hoover, Henrich, a senior, finished with 371 kills, 421 digs and 118 aces this year. Her junior teammate, Smith, posted 440 kills and 102 blocks.

Shady’s Mann and Stover are both juniors. Mann finished 2024 with 565 assists, 74 aces, 266 kills and 399 digs. Stover had 363 kills and 120 blocks.

Mandell, a senior for the Falcons, had numbers prior to the state tournament with 385 kills, 198 digs and 60 aces.

Stack led the Spartans with 523 kills and 358 digs and 84 aces.

Adkins helped Wayne earn a spot in the state tournament, finishing her senior season with 472 kills, 302 digs and 70 aces.

For Winfield, Cole, also a junior, finished with 346 kills, 102 blocks, 106 digs and 34 aces.

Frankfort’s Avery Noel was named captain of the second team.

Joining her and Rajjoub on the second team are Weir’s Janai Turner, Greenbrier East’s Mollie Pack, Keyser’s Miley Portillo, Winfield’s Natalie Cooke, Shady Spring’s Kenidi Creager, Herbert Hoover’s Braelyn Adkins, Ripley’s Brenna Lutz and Wayne’s Courtney Thompson.

Wooden plaques in the shape of West Virginia with the school name, player name, WVSWA logo, award and year are available for honorees from all states. They can be purchased from the Bear Wood Company at WVSWA.org or bearwoodcompany.com

By Chris Johnson (Connect-Bridgeport)

The Class AAA All-State Volleyball Team as selected by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association

FIRST TEAM

Myleigh Smell, Bridgeport, SR (CAPTAIN)

Taylor Mandell, Frankfort, SR

Ashton Henrich, Herbert Hoover, SR

Alexis Stack, Greenbrier East, SR

Addie Adkins, Wayne, SR

Ziah Smith, Herbert Hoover, JR

Kaylee Enfield, Bridgeport, SR

Reagan Mann, Shady Spring, JR

Brooklyn Cole, Winfield, JR

Alivia Stover, Shady Spring, JR

SECOND TEAM

Avery Noel, Frankfort, SR (CAPTAIN)

Janai Turner, Weir, SR

Mollie Pack, Greenbrier East, SR

Miley Portillo, Keyser, SR

Natalie Cook, Winfield, SO

Salam Rajjoub, Bridgeport, JR

Kenidi Creager, Shady Spring, JR

Braelyn Adkins, Herbert Hoover, SO

Brenna Lutz, Ripley, SR

Courtney Thompson, Wayne, JR

Honorable mention

Kyah Stump, East Fairmont; Hailey Ervin, Greenbrier East; Rachel Mann, Shady Spring; Sarina Squires, Robert C. Byrd; Haley Justice, PikeView; Sarah Pownell, Hampshire; Jessi Crook, Herbert Hoover; Eliza Bush, Lewis County; Aubree Cantrell, Independence; Kenna Keener, Grafton; Brystal Winfrey, Princeton; Ana Soblit, Sissonville; Maura O’Neill, Elkins; Maddy McGill, Robert C. Byrd; Chloe Patrick, Point Pleasant; Madison Zirkle, Elkins; Kylie Amick, Nicholas County; Addison Veigel, Bridgeport; Braylin Lutz, Ripley; Calleigh Morgan, Bridgeport; Ava Cole, Winfield; Adison Pritts, Frankfurt