Point for point, serve for serve, gasp for gasp. Who wanted it more? That was going to be the deciding factor in who came out on top in the battle between Westfield and Kent Place. Westfield answered this question during the second set, but not before having to put up an astonishing 33 points to beat the Dragons.
The Blue Devils gave their all as they launched serves across the net in a hard-fought second set. Kent Place was unsuccessful in returning the powerful ball, and for the first time in 6 points, Westfield took the lead 32-31. Nerves flew through the air on the match point and a chance for the Blue Devils to put this one away. The serve was exemplary and Kent Place perfectly returned the ball. Luckily for Westfield, junior Ava Gaspard was in the right place at the right time. She flawlessly spiked the ball away from the Kent Place defense to take the set 33-31 and win the match.
Westfield was able to win in just two sets but that is far from the full story. Kent Place applied the pressure and seemed to catch fire at the end of both sets causing a nail-biter. The Blue Devils had to dig deep to fend off their relentless opponent. Gaspard said, “When Coach Torok gets up out of her chair, we all really recognize how close the game is and how much we want to win and end it in two [sets].”
It was a back-and-forth battle the entire match. Neither team was able to create a secure lead throughout both sets. Momentum passed back and forth and Westfield struggled to get rid of their nagging opponent. When one team got hot, the other was quick to respond with some heat of their own.
Kent Place proved to be a more stubborn foe than Westfield expected. Senior captain Catie Carayannopoulos believes the team needs to work on their “chemistry along with adjusting quicker to how the other team is pressuring them.” She also said, “We are fundamentally a much better team than Kent Place, however, because our team chemistry on and off the court hasn’t formed, we played down and connected to how they [Kent Place] were playing.”
This has been coined a “rebuilding year” for the Blue Devils as they lost 9 seniors, who were “almost all starters and so dominant in the program for the past two years” noted head coach, Beverly Torok. Last year the team had a dominating season in which they won the county conference and state sectionals. This year the team expects nothing less and looks to “continue their county championship reign,” said Carayannopoulos.
Although the win did not come as easy as they wanted, Westfield proved through this clutch win that they still have the fire and determination to win and compete with the best. With a young roster, predominantly juniors, they have the energy but will have to adjust to the pressures of a varsity schedule playing some of the best teams in New Jersey.
Despite the loss of so many pivotal players, Torok is optimistic about her squad. She said, “[the team] has the skills” and “are making their way to be a great team.”
The Blue Devils are back in action this Thursday at home vs. Rahway at 4 pm looking to sort out their problems and gain another victory.
