It’s been more than three weeks since the last time the Westwood volleyball team played a home game, and closer to a month since they last played in their home gym.
On Tuesday, the Lady Panthers proved that there’s no place like home.
Behind a balanced attack and solid serving, Westwood rolled over Buffalo, 3-0 (25-7, 25-9, 25-10), to improve to 19-7 on the year.
“We worked, in fact, yesterday in practice on finishing games,” WHS coach Janae Evans said. “They came out and did what they were supposed to do.”
The game was the first for the Lady Panthers at Westwood since an Aug. 20 game against Cayuga, a game that was played at the Westwood Middle School gym.
Westwood hadn’t played in their home gym since finishing up their home tournament the weekend before that Cayuga game.
The return home was an easy one, and Westwood opened it in style.
The Lady Panthers never trailed in Game 1, and opened on a 5-0 run that included three aces from Heather Wooden and a kill from Natali Muniz.
From there, the lead kept widening, and Westwood went up 15-5 on two Hardison aces. From there, the Lady Panthers closed on a 10-2 run.
Game 2 was the only place that Westwood fell behind in the match, as Buffalo took an early 5-4 lead.
But, Mi’Kayla Benson and the Lady Panthers changed all that.
Behind three Benson aces, Westwood jumped out to a 13-7 lead, a lead that got extended to 17-7 with yet another ace from Benson.
A kill and a block from Marialle Boles took the match all the way to 24-9, where the Lady Panthers finished it off.
Game 3 was a lot like Game 1, with Westwood jumped out to a big lead early. The Lady Panthers led 9-3 after kills from Benson and Wooden and — after Buffalo cut the lead to 11-6 — went on a 9-3 run to make it 20-9.
Two-straight Benson kills made it 22-10, and Westwood never looked back.
Game 3 also produced the highlight of the night, when WHS libero Lacey Wooden laid out for a ball that seemed destined to fall in for a Buffalo point.
The sophomore managed to punch the ball over the net in dramatic fashion — surprising even herself — and the Lady Panthers went on to win the point.
“She has been great. I felt like, by far, that she was naturally my best defensive player at reading things,” Evans said. “It’s a tough position because they’re involved in every single play on the floor.
“She’s done an incredible job and she was willing to step into that position for her team, and that was very big of her.”
Lacey Wooden moved to libero at the beginning of the year, replacing reigning Defensive Player of the Year Rachel Abke, who graduated.
Evans said that that move was as big as any in getting the Lady Panthers to where they are now.
“She’s such a hustle player (and) plays like that have been made numerous times because she’s willing to lay out on the floor and just make things happen,” Evans said.
Benson finished the match with a team-best nine kills to go with her four aces, while Ciara Parker had five and both Muniz and Boles had four.
Heather Wooden finished with 14 kills and four aces of her own, and Neeli Hardison had seven assists.
“I know it’s a lot easier to key in on one player and be able to stop one player,” Evans said. “I think it’s good that we’ve got six up front that...you never know which one is going to be the one that’s threatening that night.”
Lacey Wooden had a team-high 21 digs.
Westwood hosts Brownsboro Friday, with varsity action beginning at 4:30 p.m.
ELKHART 3, Latexo 0
The Elkhart volleyball team made quick work of visiting Latexo Tuesday, sweeping their match, 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-19).
Ryan Grimsley had a big night in attack for the Lady Elks, leading the way with nine kills.
Courtney Cheatham, Robin Grant and Tiffany Rosas all had three kills in the victory, with Cheatham also pitching in four aces. Grant added two blocks and Rosas had two aces.
Paige Huff had 17 assists and two aces in the victory for the Lady Elks.
Elkhart hosts Oakwood Friday, with varsity play beginning at 4 p.m.
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Coaches or team representatives are encouraged to call in scores and stats to 903-729-0281 ext. 242 by 9 p.m. after games, or to email sports@palestineherald.com
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