By Tim DeLouchrey
Sports Liaison
Girls’ Volleyball faced off against the Chelmsford Lions Tuesday in the main gym and came away with a 3-1 victory, pushing their record back to .500 at 5-5. It was a well fought match by both teams, but WA solidified themselves as victors.
The first game started with a 10-0 run by Chelmsford. During the run, WA looked out of sync, and wasn’t communicating very well. However, they quickly got back into the game when a carry by a Chelmsford player sparked a WA run. The score was 16-13 as Chelmsford took a timeout to try to hold on to their lead. Chelmsford finished strong after the timeout, finishing the first game 25-21, with the final score coming on a failed save by senior Bianca Tardi.
The second game was much more back and forth than the previous one. The score was 5-3 after a block by Tardi, but WA could not pull away, as Chelmsford kept grinding out scores. They were able to keep it within two up until the ten point mark, where WA took a 10-7 lead. The Ghosts then went on a two more runs, pushing the score to 17-8. Chelmsford took a timeout, and came out much stronger. They responded with a run of their own, getting them back within five. WA senior Kristen Camara put an end to a Chelsmford run with a decisive kill, putting the score up to 18-8. From there, the teams mostly exchanged points, ending the second game in a WA victory, 25-16.
The third game started out 3-3, with a kill by Tardi sparking a 3-0 run to give the Ghosts some breathing room. The game went on, with neither team able to best the other, keeping the score within three. A block by Camara finally stretched Chelmsford’s deficit to four. Chelmsford responded well to this timeout, going on a run to put themselves within one. However, they began to fall apart after that. WA went on a 7-0 run highlighted by a kill by junior Marie McGourty off the bench, as well as countless mistakes by Chelmsford. WA went up 24-16, and Chelmsford’s 3-0 run was too little too late. WA won the third game 25-19.
During the fourth game, Chelmsford displayed their desperation to stay in the game, diving and hustling for everything. The score was 13-9 with WA on top at the first timeout. WA came out of the timeout with a 6-0 run, putting them up ten and in great position to close out the final match. Chelmsford then had their own run of 7-1, as WA struggled to finish. Their run ended on a bad hit, putting WA up 21-16. The game was well played by both teams after that, with WA finally closing out the game 25-18, on a kill by captain Alexa Sullivan.
“I think we are really hitting our stride,” said head coach Maria Henderson after the game, “I was very proud of them today.”
Captain Alexa Sullivan was also very happy with the results.
“I think we played really well, we made the most of our opportunities,” said Sullivan.
Camara, who played very well, was also excited about how the game went.
“I think we did well. We executed very well,” said Camara.
The ghosts take on Concord- Carlisle on Wednesday in hopes to carry on the momentum.
