The end of the second set brought tension between the Blue Devils and Panthers. As the score narrowed, Bridgewater-Raritan was attempting to clinch their first set. With the Blue Devils down by one point, senior tri-captain Ethan Cha delivered a vital kill to gain a crucial lead. The Panthers then hit the ball out of bounds to seal the win for Westfield.
Westfield boys volleyball came out on top in just two sets against a ranked Bridgewater-Raritan team on Thursday evening. Westfield controlled much of the first set, pulling ahead early and maintaining a comfortable lead throughout. Their offensive momentum could not be stopped with clean passing and clean kills leading the blue devils. Cha and senior tri-captain Benjamin Bukiet-Beker once again played key roles, leading the attack with consistent kills, impressive digs and smart plays.
“We played really good defense today and didn’t miss many serves,” Bukiet-Beker said. “We built strong momentum, and we need to carry that into our game tomorrow.”
Bridgewater-Raritan showed resilience in the second set, tightening the score midway through behind a series of service points and defensive blocks. However, Westfield was able to respond promptly with strong net play and disciplined defense, regaining control before finishing the match.
Head coach Ed Saggio highlighted the team’s all-around effort as a unit, saying, “Not only did we serve well today, but we had some spectacular saves, and on top of that, our blocking and passing were phenomenal.”
With the recent return of senior tri-captain and Lancaster Bible College commit, Matthew Bonn, in just his second game back, he was able to deliver three kills to contribute to Westfield’s win. Cha led the team with 9 kills as sophomore Gunner Gaspard tallied a total of 25 assists.
“We came into today’s game focused, and executed our game plan well,” Bonn said. “Everyone did their job on the court, and when you play like that, we are a hard team to beat.”
Saggio praised Bonn’s return, saying, “He makes a tremendous impact for us. At 6’4”, being able to block, serve, and swing effectively makes him a perfect addition to our team.”
This win over the Panthers extends the Blue Devils’ record to 13-3 as they continue to build momentum late in the season. With consistent performances from both upperclassmen leaders and younger contributors, Westfield looks to carry this success into the rest of the season.
The Blue Devils will be back in action less than 24 hours later against rival Scotch Plains-Fanwood on Friday away at 4 p.m.
