WA Girls’ Volleyball falls to Newton-South
September 14, 2016
WA Varsity Girls’ Volleyball lost to Newton-South High School with a final set score of 2-3 this Wednesday. The game was close throughout, but WA’s little mistakes built up through the play.
The whole team wore orange armbands around their arms to show their support to Matt Roberge’s family.
NS took a quick lead in the first set and scored the first two points of the game. However, WA soon evened the scores with three points in quick succession. Throughout the first few minutes of the game, WA and NS took turns leading or tying the game.
The two teams slowly came up to the halfway point of the first set. Down by 11-13, WA started the second half of the first set two points behind NS.
Senior Angela Alibrandi broke through two blockers, finally giving WA a lead of 21-20. After a long play and good saves by senior libero Samantha Walters, WA lost the point to arrive at a tie with NS. Soon after NS took the lead and came to set point at 24-22. However, WA pulled ahead after a deuce and won the first set of the game 26-24.
The second set started with Westford Academy taking the first point of the set. NS then took the lead with four points with a score of 1-5. WA and NS eventually tied with a score of 8-8, after NS leading then WA catching up.
NS took the lead after a WA penalty, bringing the score to 8-10. Walter spiked the ball and gained a point for WA, but NS continued to lead with a score of 16-10. WA played catch-up for the majority of the second set but was unable to pull through in the end. NS powered forward to a 25-19 set win.
The third set started off with Westford getting the first point and developing a quick lead, but Newton-South soon tied with WA 3-3. Junior Elizabeth Arnold hit a spike that took WA to a one-point lead, which widened marginally as the game progressed.
WA slowly gained a two point lead on NS with the score 7-5. The two teams were tying the majority of the time, but NS started to pull ahead with a 10-9 lead. Walter had a good play and tied WA back up with NS. At the halfway mark of the third set, WA still had a two-point lead of 16- 14.
As the third set came to a close, the NS spectators started to become very rowdy with yells of encouragement and loud chants. Not to be outdone, the WA spectators did their part of yelling and clapping to encourage the team. Once NS secured a lead, it began a relentless six-point streak that was unbroken by the WA players. Newton-South eventually won the set with a final score of 25-19.
During the fourth set, Westford overtook Newton-South and held onto a one or two point lead throughout much of the set. A long streak of winning spikes and blocks brought WA to a significant lead, and they eventually won the set.
The fifth set was a long line of ties, where the two teams rarely edged each other out by more than one or two points. Eventually, Newton-South proved itself to be the victors, taking the lead and winning the match with a final score of 3-2.
Eang thought the team played well and thought the challenge was something the team could benefit from.
“I think we did well. This was a big challenge compared to the three matches we had so far […] I know we have a solid team, and this would be a good learning experience for us,” he said.
However, he also saw some things the team needs to improve on.
“Covering those empty spots, they are not covered properly. We hit well. We pass decent enough, but we do not cover well,” said Eang.
Eang is optimistic for his team’s next match up against NS after this experience.
“I think that we will be better when playing these guys a second time,” he said.
