Volleyball Players, Coach Reflect on 2011 Season

Although the varsity volleyball team wasn't able to take home the state title this year, the Wolverines left quite a mark on the map to success, having qualified for the playoffs for the first time in nearly two decades.

"I'm really proud of the way the year finished," said Head Coach Kevin Whitaker earlier this week. "I think it shows some depth and commitment and gives us a good place to draw from."

The girls  this year with a 3-2 victory over Holliston on Friday, Oct. 14. It was the first time the Wolverines had made the playoffs in at least 15 years, Whitaker said.

But the team wrapped up its 2011 season on Friday, Nov. 4 with a 3-0 loss to Medway, knocking the girls out of the tournament.

However, the players themselves are looking at the overall regular-season record of 13-7 as quite an achievement. 

"I thought the season went really well," said Senior Captain Emileigh Rau on Monday after a group meeting with Whitaker and the rest of the team. "We're trying to build up the program and we're trying to keep that going. I'm realy excited to see where it goes; it definitely had to do with the coaches."

Rau fought alongside fellow senior captains Carol Han and Bele Wariboko this season. Wariboko said playing volleyball left quite an impression on her when compared to other sports. 

"I think we've grown as a program and it shows how we all worked really hard," said Wariboko, who plans to play volleyball as a club sport in college. "I really want to go out and play it. I've played a lot of sports at Westwood and this was the one that kind of stuck."

Incoming captains Monica Norris and Meredith Kress, both currently juniors at Westwood High School, said they look forward to continuing the program that Whitaker and the current seniors helped to form.

"I think we're really excited, because it's finally a year coming back with the same coach," Norris said. "I'm very excited to have a program that's going to continue."

Kress agreed, and said she'd like to see the program work more cohesively, allowing for more interaction between players at all grade levels. 

While Whitaker led the varsity team this season, Jenny Murphy, a former Westwood volleyball player in her own right, led the junior varsity team, and Ashley Fredun coached the freshman squad.