West Virginia Sports Writers Tap Two Lady Warriors For All State Volleyball Honors

Dunmore, WV – The West Virginia Sports Writers Association selected two Pocahontas County High School volleyball players for all-state honors. Seniors Chloe Bland and Miranda McNabb led the Lady Warriors to a remarkable 17-4 regular season and two playoff victories. The sports writers named Bland to the all-state second team. The star athlete said it was more than her individual effort.

“It’s quite an honor,” she said. “I didn’t see myself, as it, but it’s great. I love representing my school, but I couldn’t have done it without my teammates.”

Bland said the team’s will to win helped get them to the state tournament.

“We worked really great as a team,” she said. “There’s no drama. There’s two or three years we’ve worked together. So long, that we know where everyone’s at. We just communicate really well and we really wanted to make this year great. I think the drive to win and make it to states is what really helped us out.”

The athlete said she’s confident the team will rebound from the loss of its two stars and return to the state final-eight.

“I think they will,” she said. “I think watching us play in the state game really excited them and it’s something they want to achieve again.”

Bland expressed gratitude for the leadership of coach Kay Wiley – who stepped in when coach Melvin Lindsey was transferred to another school.

“I’d like to thank Miss Wiley for stepping up when Mr. Lindsey left,” she said. “We really couldn’t have made it without her. We were coach-less and we didn’t know what to do and Miss Wiley stepped in there and we really appreciated it.”

The Sports Writers Association selected McNabb for special honorable mention. The senior said good teamwork led to the great season.

“We just had pretty good teamwork going all season and we just have good players, to help out everybody” she said. “Pretty much everybody that we had out there could set, hit, dig, and we all worked together real well.”

McNabb said the highlight of her PCHS volleyball career was making it to the state tournament.

“It meant a lot,” she said. “Finally getting to go to states my senior year in volleyball. I’ve been down there for basketball and it’s fun going down there. It is awesome to get to go for volleyball.”

The volleyball stars are also standout basketball players. Bland was first team all-state and McNabb got honorable mention last year.

Bland, McNabb and the rest of the Lady Warriors open basketball season on November 30, with an away game at James Monroe High School in Lindside. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.