The score is 23-20. The game is up for grabs. It’s Livingston’s serve. Westfield receives and sets up junior Lillian Wood perfectly for a kill, leading the Blue Devils to win the State Semi-finals in just three sets.
With a current record of 27?-5, the Blue Devils have been persevering every game. Their success is not only evident in victories, but even more so in the team connection. Against Livingston, the team communicated effectively, setting each other up for a number of kills and overall resulting in a synchronized win.
Going into the game, the team knew what they were up against. Head coach Beverly Torok said, “We knew that [Livingston] had won in five [sets] against Passaic County Tech, and they lost the first two [sets], so we knew they were a comeback team.”
The first set was close throughout, but Westfield held the lead until the end, when the Blue Devils were tied 25-25 with the Lancers. An incredible block by Wood and senior co-captain Audrey Stack brought them to 26 points, and the team persevered 27-25, taking the first set and fueling their drive.
The second set was also tight, with Westfield in the lead for a majority of the set. However, despite Livingston finding their way back, Westfield stayed strong and demonstrated their ability to overcome adversity and move past it to come out victorious.
“We had energy, we were able to pass great, set great and got great points,” said Stack. “We want to carry that through to the finals.”
Last year, the Blue Devils reached the State Finals but lost to powerhouse Williamstown in two sets. The team has been on a revenge tour, doing everything in their power to get back to the top, as they made history by winning the State Championship in 2022 and lost in the State Semifinals in 2023.
Seniors Vicki Morey and Ava Gaspard both had phenomenal games, combining for a number of kills and service points. Senior Audrey Hu also had a great game with assertive and crucial digs.
“Today we had an overall great game,” said Morey. “One game changer was our serving. We served really aggressively, got the other team out of system, and we’ll carry that with us Saturday.”
Despite winning in three sets, Livingston was one of the more skilled teams the Blue Devils went up against this season. Seeded lower, Westfield was also on the Lancers’ turf, but once they got into their flow in the first set, they were unstoppable. Team chemistry, determination and resilience led to the final moment of the third set, in which the tension and effort throughout the game paid off.
The Blue Devils will go up against Old Bridge in the State Championship Finals on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Franklin High School, hoping to end their extraordinary season on a high note and, above all, remain strong as a unit.
