JV Orange Volleyball Reigns Supreme Against Leander Lions
After leaping up to meet the ball, setter Harper Zoll ’25 extends her arms to launch a right side set. Jump sets require stronger technique and focus to execute properly, but Zoll uses them to increase her accuracy and reliability as a setter.
With her eyes up, outside hitter Sadie Hill ’26 dives across the court for a pass. With strong serves and spikes from the opposing team, it all came down to the Warriors’ digs and passes.
With a Westwood lead, outside hitter Emily Morel ’25 slings a jump serve into the court. Throughout the game, the home team consistently racked up points with their powerful service.
Outside hitter Dakota Hodge ’26 dribbles the ball as she runs to the end line for her first serve of the game. Habits and superstitions are crucial for volleyball players to focus in on their serves.
After a dramatic game, the JV Orange volleyball team conquered the Leander Lions in two sets on Tuesday, Sept. 6. After a confident first set, the Warriors’ lead faltered before they reclaimed momentum until victory at 25-21.
Leander won the coin toss and the first point with a dropped ball on the home team’s court. A one-point lead bounced between the teams until Westwood pulled ahead at 5-3. The guest team called a timeout, but the Warriors continued to dominate the game for nine points until the Lions once again attempted to slow the home team’s inertia with a timeout. Both sides racked up points for the remainder of the set, but Westwood’s lead proved to be an insurmountable height for Leander. The first set ended at 25-19.
“I thought we played really well as a team,” outside hitter and floor captain Harper Zoll ‘25 said. “We pulled through the second set to get a win.”
Zoll opened the first set with a jump serve, winning the first point for the Warriors. A few points later, the Lions pulled ahead with their powerful spikes, but consistent service from the Warriors led to a reclaimed lead. With both teams nearing set point, Leander began to build speed with an onslaught of jump serves and spikes from the outside and right side hitters. However, Westwood’s early lead provided enough buffer for a back row spike from outside hitter Emily Morel ‘25 to seal the game at 25-21.
“Even when we got down, we picked it right back up again with the next point,” Morel said. “Even if there was an error, we did a really good job of keeping each other up.”
After injuries on Varsity led to several roster vacancies, a select few JV Orange players moved up, leaving both teams to re-adjust to new lineups. The Tuesday game against Leander marks the first home game after the players’ return. In spite of adaptations and communication obstacles, the team ultimately found its footing in time for the game.
“The pace of the ball is definitely a lot faster when you’re on Varsity,” Zoll said. “And there’s more pressure on you, so sometimes it’s hard to get a good ball up or get a good set.”
Westwood Volleyball will take on the Vandegrift Vipers on Friday, Sept. 9, in the first district match of the season at the Field House.
Class of 2025
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