On Nov. 6, the McLean boys varsity volleyball team welcomed the Westfield Bulldogs in a win-or-go-home regional semifinal. Going into the game, The Highlanders had just won district championships two years in a row, so spirits were through the roof. The regular season for McLean had also been strong, and the skill set and chemistry the team had could be seen in the game.
The first set showed how aggressive the highlanders normally played. The gym was full of energy and tension between every point. The Bulldogs fought for every point, and at many times during the set shut down McLean’s offense with blocks. Then McLean aced multiple times in a row, pulling The Highlanders to a 13-9 lead when the Bulldogs had to call a timeout. This didn’t stop the Highlanders from snowballing though as they cruised to a 25-16 first set win.
“We had a lot of energy [during the game],” senior middle blocker Quinn Nolan said. “We definitely swung and hit a lot throughout the whole game. We never gave up on a point.”
During the second set, McLean continued their offensive leaning play style and adapted to Westfield’s blocks.
“The right sides had some impactful hits that gave us some critical points,” said Yula Tamashiro, assistant coach of the boy’s volleyball team. “We did get blocked a little today; Westfield had some really good blockers. But even with the blocks, we were still able to turn things around and get the points that we needed to take the win.”
The Highlanders held a continuous lead over the Bulldogs, forcing Westfield to take an early timeout at 13-4. McLean cleanly ends the second set at 25-14 and the energy for the Highlanders at its peak.
“We have a [serving] strategy,” junior middle blocker Elvis Lahiff said. “We serve to specific people and [play off] that.”
The third set tested McLean’s defense and determination, with Westfield pulling an early 3-5 lead. Every point was a battle between both teams, and the lead was never consistent. The Highlanders’ energy was dwindling halfway through the set.
“The team looked a little bit stressed up today,” Tamashiro said, “which is why we try to emphasize the fact that they have to have fun on the court.”
Westfield tried to push one final time after a timeout at 22-20, but showed no avail. The Highlanders narrowly won the set at 25-23 and won the game 3-0.
“We need to do a lot better on defense because [Westfield] wasn’t an offensive team,” Lahiff said. “Compared to teams we’re going to be playing in the future, we need to improve because the last set was too close.”
The Highlanders hope to bring their energy and exciting plays to the regional semifinals at home on Nov. 10 against the Herndon Hornets, their biggest rival within the Liberty District.
“We’re doing better, we’ve started running more plays and they have been very effective,” Tamashiro said. “I hope we can see more energy in the next game from our players and fans.”
