Derrick Webb, Staff Writer
WILLIAMSPORT — For the first time since 2013, the Westfall Mustangs have claimed an outright Scioto Valley Conference volleyball title.
The Mustangs (18-3, 12-2) earned that right with a 26-24, 25-17, 25-21 sweep of Zane Trace (13-9, 7-7 SVC) Thursday in front of a home crowd.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
“Winning the SVC feels so incredible … nothing can compare to it,” senior Josie Williams said. “I know the rest of the team would agree with me. Knowing that all of the hard work over the summer and during this season has finally paid off is indescribable.”
Williams finished with 18 assists, eight kills and 18 digs in the win. As one of two seniors on the team, alongside the injured Darby Minor, Williams stepped into a leadership role this year in the most imperative of ways.
“Josie has been a huge asset to our team on and off the court,” Westfall coach Jessica Rodgers said. “She leads by example. She steps up when things aren’t going our way. She keeps the girls focused on our goals. Darby Minor has been so supportive. It’s not easy when you are told you can’t play your senior year because of a surgery. She has continued to support the team and we love having her around.”
Aiding Williams statistically in Thursday’s win was Kristin Phillips, Claire Latham, Marissa Mullins, Lauren Daniels, Grace Wolfe and Kayla Fleischmann.
Phillips ended with 22 kills, seven digs and four blocks, Latham had 20 assists and nine digs, Mullins finished with seven kills, Daniels had 16 digs, Wolfe posted 11 digs, and Fleischmann added six digs.
With one goal down, the Mustangs will now tune up for what they hope to be a lengthy tournament run. Westfall is a top seed in the Division III Southeast District Tournament and will await the winner of Federal Hocking and Wellston in a sectional final on Oct. 19.
“It’s like we always say, we don’t want to stay satisfied,” Phillips said. “We need to keep working on a few things and keep getting better in practice. It’s just about working hard and looking to the next game.”