Lady Tigers Rally Past Springfield Shawnee to Reach District Final

The West Liberty-Salem varsity volleyball team is one step closer to a district championship after defeating Springfield Shawnee in four sets to advance to the district final.

The Lady Tigers prevailed in a hard-fought match, winning by scores of 25-22, 26-24, 29-31 and 25-12. After taking the first two sets, West Liberty-Salem faced a determined Springfield Shawnee squad that battled back to claim a marathon third set. However, the Lady Tigers responded emphatically in the fourth, dominating the final frame to secure the victory and extend their postseason run.

West Liberty-Salem relied on a balanced team effort to overcome the challenge, with several players delivering standout performances on both sides of the net.

Sophomore Reese Winters led the offensive attack with 17 kills while adding 19 digs, two blocks, five assists and an ace. Senior Lilli Heminger also provided a major contribution at the net, finishing with a team-high 18 kills, three blocks, nine digs and two aces.

Senior Sophia Landon orchestrated the Tigers' offense with 34 assists while contributing 14 digs, five aces, two kills and a block. Senior Kiersten Stoll added 17 digs and four kills while recording two aces, helping West Liberty-Salem maintain its defensive intensity throughout the match.

Senior Reagan Winters chipped in 18 digs, two aces and three assists, while Caroline Foster recorded five kills and a block. Freshman Rylee Falloon contributed three kills, two digs and a block, while Sophomore Kenna Wright added two digs and an assist. Senior Emma Liggett also helped defensively with five digs.

The victory showcased the depth and resilience of the Lady Tigers, who remained composed through a tightly contested opening two sets before weathering Springfield Shawnee's third-set push. Rather than allowing the setback to shift the momentum, West Liberty-Salem responded with its strongest set of the night, pulling away in the fourth to put the match away.

With the win, the Lady Tigers advance to the district final, where they will have an opportunity to continue their postseason journey and compete for a district championship.

West Liberty-Salem is scheduled to face its next opponent Saturday, Oct. 31, at 4 p.m. at Monroe High School.

After battling through a challenging four-set semifinal, the Lady Tigers will look to carry that momentum into the championship match as they continue their pursuit of postseason glory.