There are these moments in sports.
Moments where a team’s cause supersedes a team’s skill, where environmental pressure manifests into tireless grit. Moments that imprint into the minds of anyone fortunate enough to witness them. Moments that transform into memories that are cherished longer than any point, set or game.
Girls volleyball hosted undefeated Watchung Hills on Friday, resulting in a riveting 2-1 win that concluded Westfield’s 14th annual Pink Out fundraiser. The fundraiser held priceless emotional value to the players, coaches and the entire crowd as both teams gathered to play and raise awareness for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The air was thick. The gym’s temperature blazed from mere body heat as spectators in a wave of pink gathered into the bleachers, waiting for the climactic match of Westfield volleyball’s most iconic event. With a 30 minute delay, anticipation swelled for the players and the audience. Even the warmups were a competition.
It was time to begin. With one serve, the atmosphere’s energy was balled up, tossed into the air and smacked over the net. Westfield came out blazing with a 5-1 lead early in the first set. However, the Warrior’s made it clear they were not going down without a fight. Capitalizing off of weak moments of Blue Devil communication, they fought back. Watchung Hills won the first set, 25-19.
“In the first set, we were just overwhelmed by the crowd. We were nervous to play because we have had a shaky season so far,” senior defensive specialist Grace Kim said.
Head coach Torok is a breast cancer survivor. 14 years ago, her team at the time started fundraising for breast cancer awareness as she underwent her first rounds of treatment. The pressure around winning the Pink Out games after weeks of fundraising and years of tradition goes beyond a team’s skills or ability to score points; it’s for their coach, their leader.
Something changed between the first and second sets: The Warriors relaxed and the Blue Devils intensified. Watchung Hills returned the energy for the first few points, but when Westfield’s offense and defense became more cohesive, they shied away from the dominance exerted in the first set. Through a series of kills and equally effective tips, Westfield’s front row and a few successful serves helped them take full control of the court. Westfield won the second set, 25-14.
Suddenly, both teams were headed back to the beginning. 1-1 might as well have been 0-0. Both teams proved they had the ability to win, both teams proved that they wanted it. Now, it was just about who wanted it more.
The third set was neck and neck. The Blue Devils refused to let the Warriors get away with a lead early on. That is, until Westfield began to fall behind due to “playing tight” and wavering communication, according to Torok. She called two timeouts after Watchung Hills began to deepen their lead, but while she spent time regrouping her team, the Warriors were celebrating their lead.
Then, nine points ahead of the Blue Devils, the Warriors gave up a crucial serve, allowing Westfield to regain possession for the serve and bridge the gap between the two scores. With undeniable grit and the hard work of senior outside hitters Caitlin Cabrales and Abby Pevzner, the Blue Devils regained their balance and crept back in points. Senior blockers Olivia Calandra and Karolina Bonn also played pivotal defense that gave Westfield possession to serve.
Kim subbed in. She took a breath, looked around and took it in. Then, she landed an ace and, with two more successful serves, she brought in three critical points for the Blue Devils. The Warriors were shaken. The crowd was roaring. Westfield had come back.
It was 22-21 when Watchung Hills called a timeout. Roles reversed: Torok was firing up the girls to finish strong while the Warriors were scrambling trying to hold on to their lead.
Coming out of the break, a back-and-forth exchange of points left the score in a tie, 24-24. One team needed two points to win. The atmosphere was charged. This was their moment.
And, like this team always seems to do, the girls dug deep. Like clockwork, Cabrales stunned with a crucial kill. For the game, junior Keira Deignan blocked an attempted hit by the Warriors.
They’d done it.
Pink jerseys flooded the court and a teary Torok introduced Pathways, the program that will receive all funds raised from Pink Out.
Torok is proud of the work that the volleyball community puts into the fundraiser. As a survivor, she feels it is a meaningful movement that recognizes a disease that is “still alive and kicking.”
The community that more than a decade of Westfield girls volleyball teams have built in support of coach Torok is nothing short of honorable. As she ran through the “survivor tunnel” assembled by the JV and varsity players, she beamed with pride. Friday’s game wasn’t just an added win to their record, but a remarkable step taken toward the victory against breast cancer.
