Philip Barbour's MacKenna Halfin Named First-Team Captain of Class AA All-State Volleyball Team
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on November 27, 2024
Philip Barbour’s MacKenna Halfin has been named captain of the Class AA all-state volleyball first team by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association for the second straight season.
Halfin is now a three-time first-team selection, was named state player of the year in 2023, and was captain of the second-team unit as a freshman.
In her senior season that ended with the Colts capturing their third Class AA state championship in four years, Halfin finished with 614 kills, 115 total blocks and 443 digs.
Colts sophomore Finley Carpenter was named to the first team for the first time after finishing with 123 kills, 70 service aces, 302 digs and 822 assists as the Colts’ primary setter. She was a second-team selection in 2023.
State runner-up Oak Glen received two first-team selections.
Mckenzi Martin was a first-team member in 2023 and has now been selected twice. She finished her senior season with 360 kills, 36 aces, 37 blocks, 316 digs and 414 serve receives.
Averi Martin was the second of three players to record 300 or more kills for the Golden Bears in 2024. Averi, named to the first team for the first time as a junior, finished with 324 kills, 37 aces, 94 blocks and 45 assists.
The rest of the first team comprises players who moved from Class A to Class AA in 2024.
Buffalo secured two first-team selections after the No. 5-seeded Bison reached the state semifinals.
Zoey Hoffman was one of the state’s top setters, finishing with 1,349 assists. She had only seven errors in 2024 and finished her career with 3,751 assists. Hoffman has been a first-team name three times, receiving two in Class A.
Natalie Baisden was often on the receiving end. She joins her teammate on the first team with 634 kills. She also had 115 aces, 70 total blocks and 532 digs. Baisden is a two-time first-team selection, picked in Class A in 2023.
Charleston Catholic junior Ilyauna Evans was chosen for the first team after leading the Irish with 495 kills. She also had 54 aces, 23 blocks and 430 digs.
Williamstown’s Kyndra Johnson is a first-team selection, finishing her season with more than 1,000 assists. She had 94 aces entering the state tournament along with 116 digs and 31 blocks.
Ravenswood’s Macy Casto is a first-team selection after posting 585 kills, 100 aces and 36 blocks.
James Monroe’s Maggie Boroski rounds out the first team as she finished her senior season with 345 kills, 75 aces, 28 blocks, 278 digs and 342 serve receives.
Poca’s Sophia Bailey is the captain of the second team. She finished with 545 kills, hitting .359. Bailey also had 390 digs, 355 serve receives, 57 blocks and 72 aces. The Dots finished at 32-13-2, falling just short of the state tournament in a region with two state semifinalists.
The rest of the second team consists of Buffalo junior Jocie Harris, Oak Glen senior Jersey Smith, James Monroe juniors Ava Pitzer and Aliyah Clarkson, Wyoming East junior Carli Raye, Ravenswood sophomore Anna Casto, Philip Barbour sophomore Izzy Knotts, Williamstown senior Becca Shamblin and South Harrison freshman Kennedy Southern.
Wooden plaques shaped as West Virginia that include the school name, player name, the WVSWA logo, award and year are available for all-state honorees. They can be purchased from the Bear Wood Company through WVSWA.org or bearwoodcompany.com.
Editor's Note: Photo of Halfin by Teran Malone WV MetroNews/WVSSAC
The Class AA All-State Volleyball Team as selected by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association
FIRST TEAM
MacKenna Halfin, Philip Barbour, SR (CAPTAIN)
Maggie Boroski, James Monroe, SR
Mckenzi Martin, Oak Glen, SR
Macy Casto, Ravenswood, SR
Zoey Hoffman, Buffalo, SR
Averi Martin, Oak Glen, JR
Ilyauna Evans, Charleston Catholic, JR
Natalie Baisden, Buffalo, SR
Finley Carpenter, Philip Barbour, SO
Kyndra Johnson, Williamstown, SR
SECOND TEAM
Sophia Bailey, Poca, SR (CAPTAIN)
Jocie Harris, Buffalo, JR
Addison Smith, Oak Glen, SR
Ava Pitzer, James Monroe, JR
Carli Raye, Wyoming East, JR
Anna Casto, Ravenswood, SO
Izzy Knotts, Philip Barbour, SO
Becca Shamblin, Williamstown, SR
Aliyah Clarkson, James Monroe, JR
Kennedy Southern, South Harrison, FR
Honorable Mention
Nora Aliff, Charleston Catholic; Brooklyn Six, Oak Glen; Rylee Burkhammer, Clay County; Annie Starcher, Ravenswood; Karlee Lusk, Wyoming East; Ivory Harper, Scott; Keatyn Haynes, Williamstown; Lexi Mitchell, Roane County; Ali Wilcox, Charleston Catholic; Annabelle Haught, Williamstown; Kyndal Parsons, Midland Trail; Addy Kitzmiller, Petersburg; Jiya Marshall, Poca; Molly Thomas, South Harrison; Olivia Stephens, Wheeling Central; A'Kaia Williams, Doddridge County; Kenzie Mounts, Westside; Avery McDaniel, Philip Barbour; Hannah Rhodes, James Monroe
