The Whippet Volleyball Program had a successful night in Monroe on Tuesday, September 29, with all three teams showing determination, teamwork, and continued growth throughout the evening.
The night started with an exciting three-set victory for the JV1 team over Monroe. After dropping the first set, the Whippets responded by winning the second and third sets to earn the match victory. Strong defense and serving helped the team build momentum down the stretch, while their energy and determination allowed them to come together and finish strong.
The JV2 team also put together an exciting finish. After losing the first two sets, the Whippets battled back in the third, eventually winning an extended set, 28-26. The team continued to work together, using strong defense and serving to keep the pressure on Monroe. Their refusal to give up as the set went into extra points was great to see.
The Varsity squad then took the court and battled through a competitive four-set match. The Whippets got off to a slow start in the first set, falling behind by five points before rallying to take the lead and ultimately win the set, 25-23.
The slow start continued in the second set as the Whippets found themselves down 0-6. Although the team battled back and closed the deficit, Monroe held on to take the set, 21-25.
Needing to regroup in the third set, the Whippets responded with strong defense and offense to take a 25-21 victory. In the deciding fourth set, the Whippets came out firing and never looked back, closing out the match with a convincing 25-15 win over the Cheesemakers.
Coach Caitlin Dowden commented, “This was a great night overall for our entire program. Gaining a set win and a match win at both the JV2 and JV1 levels shows the improvements our program is making. For Varsity, we have been working through lineups to determine the best combinations that play to our strengths, allow our athletes to compete, and ultimately produce wins. Our team put together some of the things we have been working on in practice, and it was great to see that work produce wins. Our athletes are working hard, and we continue to focus on building a competitive mindset. Tonight, we saw glimpses of that confidence developing!”
There were some standout performances with Sophomore Jasmine Kilar posting a “double double” and a nice complete match with 11 kills, 10 digs, 3 aces, and 2 assists. Senior Rowan Seaver dished out a “double double” with 17 assists and 11 digs on the night. Senior Maddie Morton contributed 4 aces and 1 block, while Junior Mary Mason contributed 3 aces and 2 blocks. Junior Emery Kachel added one block at the right time to end set four!
The Whippets move on to next Tuesday night where they will face Delavan at Delavan.
Article and Photos Submitted by Mary Kilar
