WORCESTER – The Westfield High School Bombers are your 2017 Division 1 Boys’ Volleyball State Champions.
No, that’s not a misprint. Yes, you are reading this correctly. Your city’s high school boys’ volleyball team is the best in the state.
It really comes as little surprise that after three consecutive trips to the state tournament, and a second finals appearance in three seasons, that the Tyler Wingate-coached Westfield Bombers would break through with a championship victory in the penultimate game of the year.
The three-time defending Western Mass champion Westfield Bombers swept the Wayland Warriors 27-25, 25-22, 25-21 in the D1 state finals Thursday night at Worcester State University.
“It’s amazing to witness it and experience it with all my teammates,” said Westfield senior captain Noah Kappel, who opened the contest with a kill and ace, and finished it off with consecutive aces.
Kappel missed nearly three weeks during the second half of the regular season due to a lower back and hip injury, but shouldered the load against Wayland (23-3). He finished with 12 kills and five blocks.
The Westfield Bombers hoist the championship trophy after defeating the Wayland Warriors in the Division 1 boys’ volleyball state finals 3-0 Thursday night at Worcester State University. (Photo by Bill Deren)
“(That was) a team performance, but I can’t tell you – that was a heck of a performance from Noah Kappel,” coach Wingate said. “He was on it tonight, offensively, blocking, and then the serving at the end. …You could see tonight what an MVP performance looks like. That was huge.”
Westfield (19-3) opened the night with five straight points – thanks to Kappel’s two points and three unforced errors (set, net, and hit) – before Wayland battled back to tie it, 6-6.
The two teams were tied again at 11-all, 12-all, and 13-all, and again every step of the way from 17-17 on until Westfield found a way to turn the tables on Wayland late to escape the first set with a 27-25 victory.
Wayland led for much of the second set before Eddie Loboda’s strong serves, a Luis Castro key hit, and Kappel’s kills helped Westfield surge ahead.
Wayland reclaimed the lead late, but kills from Kappel and Loboda kept it close for Westfield. The Bombers would eke out a 3-point victory.
In the third and final set, the two teams were tied eight times, but key kills from Kappel and his two late aces secured it for Westfield.
“We worked so hard,” Kappel said. “This was our number one goal as soon as we started the season at tryouts. Day One we knew we wanted to be here, winning this game. …There’s not much more you can ask for.”
Scott Walsh finished with 30 assists and seven digs for Westfield. Bombers’ Tyler Stanton had 15 digs, Loboda contributed eight kills and five digs, and, Ryan Murray and Shane Kiendzior delivered seven and six kills, respectively,
“It’s honestly, truly amazing,” Loboda said. “To start as a sophomore on varsity and watch all the great players play, all the people that I always looked up to and watch them come to states and take a hard loss, and then to start the next year, and lose in state semis, but this year to make it all the way and finish it in three – it’s honestly an amazing feeling.”
One that is sure to last a lifetime.
DIVISION 1 BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL STATE CHAMPION
Westfield Bombers
