In a sweeping win, the JV White volleyball team beat the Vandegrift Vipers 2-0 on Tuesday, Aug. 27. The Warriors played hard the entire match, never letting even while they were points ahead ultimately ending the game with their first district win of the season.
The Warriors started strong with both team captains Jordyn Choe ‘27 and Madelyn Ivy ‘27 on the court ready to score. Westwood gained a quick lead with solid serves keeping the Vipers on their toes. This followed by multiple saves from the outside hitter and middle blocker never gave Vandergrift a break. However, soon the Vipers began to catch up after a timeout. This did get the Warriors down but teammates on the sidelines kept the energy up with their chants and claps. Players on the field continued to communicate and encourage each other, applying the skills they’d worked on during practices.
“[We’ve been working on] a lot of communication and just adjusting to the ball,” Choe said. “[It] is crucial for coordination and strategy [and] helps us understand our roles, avoid collisions, and make quick decisions.”
After a win from their first set, the Warriors continued the momentum into the second, taking the lead 7-1 in the primary moments. However, even with their strong start, the gap started to close with Westwood falling behind for the first time during the game at 22 – 19 points. The Warriors struggled to keep their lead as the game alternated in the other’s favor. Without losing hope, the Warriors continued to fight for every point, reaching 25 first but soon going into overtime, forcing Westwood to beat the Vipers by two. The score continued to alternate but ultimately ended up with a win for the Warriors with a close second set.
“I think that it’s just important that we don’t get too cocky when we are ahead, but also don’t start giving up when we get down,” Ivy said. “I think we did a really good job of hustling and encouraging each other during the whole game but especially at the end, and it paid off.”
The Warriors will play their next home game on Friday, Sept. 13, at 5:30 p.m. against the McNeil Mavericks.
