Westfield’s Girls Volleyball improves to 9-0 after defeating East Brunswick Friday night during their Pink-Out fundraising event.
The Blue Devils came into the game with high expectations, facing off against an 8-3 East Brunswick team, who recently is coming off a 3-game losing streak.
The first set was a close contest, as East Brunswick matched Westfield’s crushing offense. The game remained tight at 8-6, with long possessions testing both teams’ patience and communication.
With crucial blocks by an unbreakable front line, Westfield quickly gained control of the first set.
Westfield senior Ally Muller spoke of that dominance in an interview where she said, “We’ve got great communication at the net and it’s allowed us to control matches.”
Junior Abby Pevzner ended the first set with a precision kill to the front left side of the court, finishing off the first set with a score of 25-16. A sea of pink fans were on their feet, cheering the team to blow-out first set victory.
Westfield held onto their momentum and dominated early in the second set, quickly going up 6-2. Behind a temporary breakdown in the Westfield defense and a surge in the Bear’s offense, East Brunswick took their first and only lead of the contest at a score of 7-6.
After a quick timeout, Westfield was quick to push ahead against East Brunswick. After a crucial kill by junior Caitlin Cabrales to tie the set, Westfield could not be stopped. With a front line that would bend but not break, Westfield surged toward victory ending the set 25-19 and the match 2-0.
After the game was over and the team celebrated, the Pink-Out ceremony commenced. Both teams and a large crowd joined together to remember those who lost their lives to breast cancer and to celebrate those who survived in the local community. Westfield’s Pink-Out is about more than volleyball, as thousands of dollars were donated to help raise awareness and support for those with breast cancer.
The Blue Devils teamed up with the Pathways program, which provides support and other resources to those with breast cancer. A significant cause for the team’s fundraiser was because of head coach, Beverly Torok, who is a cancer survivor since 2008.
“The cause is near and dear to my heart,” said Torok. “It’s amazing what our community does to raise funds every year.”
In a night fueled by competition and unity, both teams raised awareness for an important cause and directed more attention to a community in need of everyone’s support.
The Blue Devils take on Elizabeth Monday at 4 p.m. in hopes of continuing their undefeated campaign.
