Photo/John Orrell
By John Orrell, Contributing Writer
Fitchburg – So many good things have happened for the Westborough High girls’ varsity volleyball team in this 2015 season that it seemed like the very best was destined to come when the team traveled north to Fitchburg High School Nov. 21. And for a time, it did indeed appear that the very best, a Division 2 state championship title, was in reach.
But in the final minutes, seemingly perennial nemesis Notre Dame Academy (Hingham) snapped a third-set tie that was deadlocked at 20 apiece to edge the Rangers, 25-23, before putting the match away, 25-15, in the final set, sending the Cougars (23-1) home with their second state title in three years.
For the Midland A champion Rangers, it was the end of a phenomenal season that culminated with a record of 20-3. In that run, the team defeated Ashland (3-0) in quarterfinal play before eliminating Hopkinton (3-0) in semifinals and Canton (3-0) for the Central Mass. title. The team went on to oust Arlington Catholic (3-1) in Division 2 state semifinals before matching up with Notre Dame for top honors.
“It’s tough to get here and not win it, but I’m really proud of my team,” said WHS head coach Roger Anderson, who has clearly inspired confidence amongst his players. “The eight seniors on this team have been unbelievable leaders for me this year. I always feel like the seniors carry the load and the seniors are the ones that get you through the big moments. I couldn’t have asked for more from them.”
Notre Dame took the first set, 25-20, using an 11-4 run midway through to pull ahead for keeps. Westborough answered right back with a second-set 25-17 win in which they would never trail. The momentum appeared to turn in the Rangers’ direction with the match even, but the Cougars had other ideas.
In the third, Notre Dame sprung to an early advantage leading at one point 14-5, before Westborough caught fire with a sizzling 14-5 run of their own to even the score. During that stretch, the throngs of loyal Ranger fans that made the trip were almost deafening in their high decibel support that clearly amped up the team’s play. The Cougars, however, found new life of their own to edge ahead and forge the 25-23 third-set victory.
Notre Dame and Westborough are two teams that know each other well having had a long history of tough competition. The Cougars defeated these Rangers for the Division 2 state title match two years ago and, more recently, Notre Dame came out on top (3-2) in the team’s October 1 matchup at Westborough this season.
“With Notre Dame, we know each other intimately,” said Anderson, whose team opened the season winning 14 of their first 15 and recorded 12 shutouts overall. “They’re a great program. We love playing the best teams. We love playing them so we’ll continue that rivalry, I’m sure.”
Westborough has flirted with championship status since its last title in 2007, but has come up just short. They advanced to the State Championship match in 2013 versus Notre Dame Academy (Hingham) and dropped a hard-fought decision to Hopkinton in Sectional Finals a year ago. Anderson will lose a number of talented seniors to graduation and will look to move forward next season with a younger squad that will include at least eight members of the class of 2018.
Members of the 2015 Westborough High girls varsity volleyball Division 2 state finalists are seniors Sarah Bock, Julie Hutchinson, Melissa Sullivan, Emily Saylor, Mary Bush, Kerry Larkin, Gianna Scioletti and Kaylie Doherty along with junior Haley Brown and sophomores Megan Ku, Jaclyn Latimer, Rebecca Arena, Emma Smallcomb, Kristen Steudel, Erica Ross, Emily Hannan and MaryKate Lehman as well as freshman Chloe Goebel.
