Oct. 25 -- Tuesday night was an emotional one for the Tuscola volleyball team.
Just two days after head coach Jody Ward passed away following a battle with cancer, the team went on the road to take on Ashe County in the first round of the state playoffs. The No. 4-seeded Huskies defeated No. 29 Tuscola in straight sets -- 25-13, 25-10, 25-15.
"It didn't go how we wanted it to. We're still so proud of them for making it there," Tuscola coach Katie Trantham said. "It was a long ride. Ashe County is very good. We were going in as the underdogs, but we still competed. That was one of Coach Ward's goals -- just to make it to the playoffs. I'm glad that we got to accomplish that, even if it didn't end how we hoped for."
While the game was already an important one as the Mounties hoped to advance in the state playoffs, the team was playing for something bigger.
"I told them to play for him," Trantham said. "At the beginning of the season, he told everyone he wanted to win more games than last year, make playoffs and show up and compete every day. It was heavy emotions and heavy heart, but he would want us to be there and to show up and fight until the very end. That's what we did. I couldn't be more proud of the heart our girls had. They wanted to play hard and compete for him."
When the team broke the huddle before the game, instead of yelling their normal "Go Mounties," the team switched to "For Jody."
"I almost cried at the beginning of the game," senior Addi Sampson said. "We had his hat on the bench. We had his big head on the seat with his hat. We knew that he was supporting us from up there. It meant a lot to me that I knew he was watching."
While it was an emotional night for the players, there was just as much emotion for the coaches. Trantham is Ward's cousin and was brought on to the staff by Ward.
"I tried to balance my own emotions," Trantham said. "But I know that Jody would want me to hold it together and fight and tell them the same things. He fought until the very end and I wanted us to the do same."
The night was also the final game in the high school careers of Tuscola's eight seniors.
"It was intense," Trantham said. "All of my starters were seniors except for our setter. They definitely have been a big part of the program. They have influenced us greatly -- helped us win, helped mold us into who we are. They will be missed. They've been great mentors for the underclassmen, showed them what to do and what the expectations are."
That included senior Savannah Jones who was returning to action.
"I was glad to have her back," Trantham said. "She did great. She didn't really miss a beat even though she's been out for at least six weeks with an injury."
The game was the first time since 2019 that the Mounties played a state playoff game. This season was also the first time since 2018 that Tuscola won double-digit games.
"I'm really proud of them for making it to playoffs. That's a big deal in itself," Trantham said.
After the game, Trantham asked the seniors if there was any advice they had for their younger teammates.
"They were obviously sad, but they told the other girls in the locker room not to take it for granted and to work hard and to always compete like Jody," Trantham said.
A story memorializing the life and impact of Coach Jody Ward will be in Wednesday's edition of The Mountaineer.