Wellington Volleyball Boys Push Past Visiting Park Vista

Wolverine Connor Klotz drives the ball between the Park Vista defenders.

The Wellington High School boys volleyball team hosted district foe Park Vista High School on Thursday, April 5, defeating the Cobras in five sets (25-21, 24-26, 25-21, 13-25, 16-14). The win lifted the Wolverines to 8-1 on the season, while the Cobras fell to 10-4.

The match swung like a pendulum through each set, with the Wolverines trailing by two most of the way through the first, but rallied and took the lead 17-16 just beyond the midway point, and eventually went on to seal the first set 25-21.

The second set was a battle. Both teams were locked-up early at 3-3, but the Cobras pulled ahead, leading 16-12. The Wolverines then went on a four-point run to tie it up again at 16-16, which forced the Cobras to call a time out.

Wellington did manage to take a brief 19-18 lead late in the set behind Connor Klotz and Stephen Papia, who combined for 6 kills, but Park Vista reclaimed the lead and the set 26-24 to tie the match.

The Wolverines mirrored their first set score, taking the third 25-21. Klotz, Papa and Brendan Bourdreau combined for 11 kills in the third.

Park Vista took the fourth set 25-13, dominating the net against a struggling Wolverine front. Errors added to Wellington’s demise in the fourth set. The fourth set win by the Cobras forced the fifth set.

The Cobras jumped out to a 3-0 lead to start the final set. The Wolverines rallied to tie it at 3-3. A serve error by the Wolverines appeared to give the Cobras a burst of momentum. They reclaimed the lead 7-3, forcing Wellington to call a time-out. The Wolverines trailed most of the way, but rallied with a five-point run to go up 9-8.

Park Vista refused to surrender, tying the set at 14-14 with big plays at the net. Wellington was also able to come up with some big plays to steal the 16-14 win for the match victory. Klotz was key in the final set with four kills. Boudreau also played a critical role serving in the fifth.

Top performers for Wellington on the night included Klotz, credited with 17 kills, and Papia with 11 kills. Bourdreau had two blocks.