The Westfield High School boys’ volleyball team’s run came to end last night at the home of a champion.
Top-seeded Chicopee Comp, winners of three of the last four Western Massachusetts Division 1 championships, swept No. 4 Westfield in the semifinals Friday, 25-21, 25-21, 25-18.
Westfield (13-7), which lost all nine sets against Chicopee Comp (18-1) this season, actually led in all three sets last night. The Bombers came out inspired early, building a 7-4 lead, battling to multiple ties, and rallying within two points late after falling behind.
In the second set, Westfield held a slim advantage throughout, until Chicopee Comp went ahead, 18-17. The Bombers reclaimed the lead, 20-19. But the Colts tied it at 20-all, tacked on three more points, and managed to win by four.
Westfield scored the first two points of the final set before Comp rallied to tie it at 2-2. The Colts took the lead, and never trailed again. But the fact that the Bombers led at some point in all three sets impressed their head coach.
“It was really a testament to our growth (as a team) over the season,” Westfield coach Tyler Wingate said. “I don’t think we came in intimidated against the number one seed. They made a couple more plays than we did.”
Seniors Alex Merenkov (10 kills) and Jason Burnusuz (18 assists) led Westfield in their final high school game.
Coach Wingate said all eight seniors provided the team with strong leadership throughout the entire season.
Westfield junior Ian Wolski added five kills.
“I’m a little bit disappointed but proud of these guys,” Wingate said. “We came in here and played a hard-fought match against these guys.”
Alex Kuzmenko led Chicopee Comp with 10 kills.
