As girls volleyball took on the Cranford Cougars on Wednesday, the Blue Devils came out strong and never let up, sweeping Cranford in two straight sets, 25-14 and 25-12 in an outstanding performance.
From the opening serve, Westfield established control of the match with strong communication, consistent serving and an aggressive attack. The Blue Devils quickly built an early advantage in the first set and forced the Cougars to play from behind. Westfield’s ability to keep rallies under control allowed the teams to maintain momentum throughout both sets.
Cranford attempted to answer with their own runs, but Westfield responded with consistency and prevented the Cougars from gaining enough momentum to close the gap. As the first set progressed, the Blue Devils continued to extend their lead before closing the first set 25-14.
“We were ready for them, they gave us a tough match last time and we practiced many things that we didn’t do so great with leading up to this game,” head coach Beverly Torok said.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with Westfield once again taking control early. The Blue Devils’ serving pressure and steady play helped them create separation, while their defense kept Cranford from turning long rallies into points.
“Overall, we did very well with our blocking and serving. I am proud of how we played today,” said senior Karolina Gawkowska.
Westfield stayed focused as the set continued, minimizing mistakes and preventing Cranford from gaining any sort of tempo. The Blue Devils continued to play consistently and steadily to extend their lead.
With the second set nearing its conclusion, Westfield stayed composed and finished strong, taking the set 25-12 and completing the sweep.
“I think we struggled with serve receive a bit in the second set, which is something we worked on prior to this match,” said senior Addison Fillipps. “Otherwise we did well with our hitting and spot serving.”
One of the key differences in the match was Westfield’s ability to turn small advantages into larger leads. After establishing control, the Blue Devils did not allow Cranford to make a sustained comeback. Their communication and consistency helped them close out both sets defensively.
“I noticed that our communication really stepped up this game. Everyone worked together to set up a good system which helped us maintain our good plays,” said Fillipps.
Westfield will look to carry their momentum into their next matchup away against Princeton at 5:45 p.m. on Friday hoping to continue their undefeated season.
