Westborough High School volleyball has been known as the champion for years. With their 45th continuous home game win completed, and their second consecutive state title brought home, the girls are ready for more.
WHS volleyball unusually began its season without head coach Roger Anderson and assistant coach Jeff Lerman. Anderson has accumulated 426 wins throughout his career, so this was a detrimental loss at the beginning of the season. With rumors circulating about what happened, WHS volleyball had to overcome the whispers to begin their season off strong, despite the absence of a head coach. Although Anderson has been reinstated as head coach and Lerman as his assistant, the talks about what possibly happened have yet to subside.
Those aren’t the only rumors the girls face this season- peers have begun to question the abilities of the 2024-2025 team after losing Senior captain, two-time Gatorade Player of the Year, and Division I commit, Quinn Anderson. As one of the players myself, I have been faced with multiple fans asking me the million-dollar question: “Are you guys even going to be good this year?” Quinn was an unstoppable force and helped the team achieve many victories. She will be missed tremendously during the season, along with the six other seniors. However, I firmly believe in us this season, as our team skill and chemistry are impressive.
On September 10th, Varsity played their first game against Nashoba. Despite going into the games with many nerves, the girls were ready to fight to continue their winning streak. The team wanted to prove to themselves that although they had faced obstacles, they were prepared to start strong. Winning versus Nashoba in three sets helped the team remember who they are, and what matters.
When the pressure feels too much WHS volleyball is privileged to have sessions with Kiley Murray, a sports physiologist, to work on mental health and navigate the challenges that fall alongside being an athlete. I spoke with Senior Varsity player Hailey Lenkauskas about her thoughts about Kiley Murray. “I love having sessions with Coach Murray because it is so nice to work on mental health after a long week of volleyball and school,” Lenkauskas reported. “It helps prepare us with strategies and mindfulness. She is a great resource to have.”
This season, the girls are determined to keep their winning record and bring home the state championship for the third year. With a team of only upperclassmen, WHS volleyball hopes to serve as role models for the school and uphold all ethical values this program requires.
