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.
