WHS boys volleyball continued their dominant season with a sweeping win over Roselle Catholic on Wednesday, defeating the Lions in two sets: 25-5 and 25-9. The resounding victory resulted from the efforts of many players, six of whom recorded numerous kills in the match.
From the opening serve, Westfield controlled the tempo. Strong serving runs, precise passing and disciplined defense allowed the Blue Devils to build early leads in both sets. The team’s consistency proved too much for Roselle Catholic, as Westfield capitalized on nearly every opportunity to extend rallies and convert points efficiently.
This has been a historical season for the Blue Devils thus far, and there is no sign of relenting. Along with a historic victory over Scotch Plains-Fanwood, the boys have had major victories over Union, Bloomfield, and Elizabeth twice. Head coach Edward Saggio attributes this success to “senior leadership. We have eight very competitive seniors who produce day in and day out.”
Among those seniors are captains Ben Bukiet-Beker and Ethan Cha. Both captains have had impressively successful seasons thus far, demonstrating consistent leadership and performance. The two captains combined for 10 kills and 6 assists in Wednesday’s victory.
Alongside stunning performances from the captains, Westfield displayed their depth as junior Jeremiah Brooks, senior Logan Welsh, and senior Brock Borlenghi all contributed standout efforts throughout the entirety of the match.
After the match, Bukiet-Beker reflected on both the team’s effort and his own performance. “I thought I played pretty well,” he said. “We got to get a lot of the players in, so I only played in the first set.” He emphasized the team’s all-around execution, noting, “Serving was good. Passing was good. The defense was good. I think all around we played pretty well.”
That consistency has been a major factor in Westfield’s success. “I think our passing was good, and we kept the pressure on them,” senior Jack Graham added. “We didn’t play down today. We kept a high level the whole time.”
Looking ahead, the team remains focused despite its strong record. “We just have to focus,” one player said about the upcoming matchup. “They’re a good team… we just have to play our hardest.” With a challenging stretch ahead, including a matchup against Bridgewater this Thursday at 6 p.m., the Blue Devils are determined to maintain their momentum and continue their outstanding season.
