The Garrett College women’s volleyball team certainly tested the Wolfpack’s defense. Unfortunately for the Lady Lakers, Westmoreland County Community College aced that test, paving the way for a 25-19, 25-19 and 25-18 victory last Wednesday night.
“We’ve got some girls playing really good defense and transitioning well from offense to defense,” said Westmoreland head coach Michael Palaschak. “The key [to winning matches] is to transition well and not make unforced errors.”
The Wolfpack (3-6) finished with 22 digs, including six each from Sarah Fulton and Bryn Shearer (two aces, two blocks) and five apiece from Emma Mullett and Haley Maines (match-high 18 assists). Westmoreland’s 22-15 advantage in digs played a key role in the final result, according to GC head coach Brittany Jackson.
“They were consistently putting the ball back in play and covering well,” said Jackson of the Wolfpack. “And their third ball over was usually hard and in. Our third ball over wasn’t in very often.”
The Lady Lakers were also hurt by 13 service errors and 12 serve-receive errors in what was still their most competitive match of the season.
“Service errors killed us,” acknowledged GC assistant coach Josh Hanson, who also noted the match’s bright spots. “That was the strongest confidence level I’ve seen us exhibit at the start of a match.”
The Lady Lakers did open strongly, trailing only 8-6 in the opening set after a kill by Josie Canales (six kills, seven assists, three digs). Westmoreland, however, took control with a 7-3 run that Renah Kozemchak finished off with a service winner for a 15-9 advantage.
Daphne Harman – who had team highs in both kills (nine) and digs (four) – gave GC a 1-0 lead in the second set with a point-scoring dink. Westmoreland, however, answered with a 7-1 run highlighted by kills from Paige Klinger (team-high six kills) and Shearer, as well as a point-scoring block from Katlyn Pierce.
The Wolfpack stretched their lead to 22-11 before GC put together a 9-1 scoring streak. That surge included two Harman kills and was climaxed by a hit from Sierra Smith (team-high 12 assists), pulling the Lady Lakers within 24-20 before Haley Dunaway’s kill finished off Garrett.
GC had a one-point lead on four different occasions in the third set before Westmoreland reeled off nine straight points to build a 12-4 cushion. The Lady Lakers hung tough, eventually pulling within 19-16 when Shearer sent a kill attempt long, but Westmoreland finished the match on a 6-2 run that included a pair of points from Mullett.
Jackson said she’s pleased with the progress her all-freshman team is making.
“We’re trying to win in increments of five points,” explained Jackson. “After we get five points, we go for 10 points. We’re trying to accomplish little milestones to keep us focused.”
The Lady Lakers (0-9) were swept twice on Saturday in a tri-match at Anne Arundel Community College, losing to both the host River Hawks and Howard Community College.
“We are still not consistent enough in our overall play,” Jackson said after Saturday’s twin losses. “We have moments of great highs, but also moments of great lows.”
Canales excelled in both losses, leading the team in kills (five), digs (six) and aces (two) against Anne Arundel and committing just two serve-receive errors in 21 receiving attempts against Howard. She also had a team-high five digs versus HCC.
Harman had three kills and four digs against AACC. Smith notched a team-high three aces against the River Hawks.
The Lady Lakers were scheduled to play their annual “Dig Pink” match last Tuesday night against visiting Potomac State College of West Virginia University. They host Northern Virginia Community College last Thursday at 7:00 PM.
