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SPORTS
Spring Valley celebrates its volleyball champions
A school assembly was held Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009, saluting the Spring Valley state champion volleyball team.
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SPRING VALLEY -- A few minutes before 3 p.m. Tuesday, Spring Valley High School students left classes to attend a celebration.
The occasion was an assembly in the gym where the 2009 West Virginia High School Class AAA championship volleyball team would be honored.
Loud cheers and music from the school band welcomed the Timberwolves.
In her address to the crowd, coach Joy Bailey shared with everyone exactly how she feels about her team.
"This team gave 100 percent and I'm very proud of them," Bailey said. "They really deserved this state title. They never gave up, worked real hard and set their goals really high."
Spring Valley's run was impressive and included a list of first-time achievements.
Their final record was 60-2-1.
The Timberwolves won regular-season tournaments at Parkersburg, Beckley and Cabell Midland.
For the first time in school history, Spring Valley defeated Parkersburg, and claimed sectional and regional titles in addition to the state crown.
Senior Cadara Cole was excited to celebrate an incredible achievement.
"It's just awesome because we never really thought we could do it," Cole said. " I mean we thought we were good, but we never thought we could pull it off. It's awesome to be able to celebrate with everyone."
Throughout her career, Cole learned valuable lessons and will cherish many memories.
"I learned you have to work hard at whatever you do. Our coaches taught us that we worked hard every day," she said. "Overcoming struggles with games when we were down, and then came back. Most of all, my teammates it was awesome being with them all four years."
Junior Hannah Bailey never dreamed winning it all could feel so good.
"It was unbelievable," Bailey said. "I knew we could make it that far, but didn't know what it would be like. It feels 10 times better winning than I thought it would feel. It's special being able to celebrate it with the seniors. They're some of my closest friends. It's unbelievable."
Spring Valley has a golden opportunity to be celebrating another state title this time next year.
Returning starters include Bailey, Kyla McClendon, Kylie Perdue and Autumn Ross. The Timberwolves' junior varsity team finished 27-3. Two of the losses were to varsity teams.
Bailey is looking forward to playing with new varsity members next year.
"The jayvee works hard just like the varsity," she said. "I'm excited to be able to play volleyball with them next year with a new set of girls."
It certainly seems like a major volleyball program has been built in Spring Valley.
