Harvard-Westlake Finds Breathing Room

Like Lindsay Powers’ breathing, the Harvard-Westlake High volleyball team’s victory over Bishop Montgomery came only with great difficulty.

Powers, the Wolverines’ star setter, was suffering from a viral infection Thursday night, gasping and wheezing and “looking like she was ready to drop,” Coach King Schofield said.

But Powers and visiting Harvard-Westlake, top-ranked in Southern Section Division II, put on a clinic in heart by defeating the second-ranked Knights, 15-10, 13-15, 11-15, 15-10, 15-4.

The Wolverines have beaten the Knights in five games the two times they’ve met this season.

“When it’s No. 1 versus No. 2, I guess it’s not supposed to be easy,” Schofield said.

Wheezy, but not easy.

And no one appreciated how labored the effort was more than Powers, the talented 5-foot-9 senior who earned co-Mission League most valuable player honors last season.

She had 61 assists and anchored the Wolverines (11-0, 9-0 in league play) with precise sets and clutch net play despite her illness.

“She looked like she was ready to pass out, but she kept setting the ball until we won,” Schofield said. “It was a gutty performance.”

After winning the first game, Harvard-Westlake was bombarded in the second and third games by Cindy Weglarz, the outside hitter.

Though Bishop Montgomery predictably went to Weglarz again and again, the 5-10 junior crushed ball after ball through the Wolverine defense.

“She became thoroughly dominating,” Schofield said.

Added Powers: “She’s one of the best players I’ve seen in a long time.”

Weglarz hammered 15 of her match-high 30 kills, many boomed from the back row, in the two games won by the Knights.

But the Knights’ constant reliance on Weglarz took its toll. After spotting Bishop Montgomery a 9-5 lead in Game 4, Harvard-Westlake suddenly began shutting down Weglarz, blocking or digging most balls she hit.

With Wolverine middle blocker Amanda Selby keying an 8-0 run by scoring four consecutive points, Harvard-Westlake seized the momentum, and the match.

Selby’s 22 kills and 13 blocks were team highs.

But Powers spread the hitting opportunities around. Betsy Rintala added 11 kills and Jenni Kriste and Hillary Gross each had 10. It was a marked contrast to the Knights’ dependence on Weglarz.

“I kept telling us, ‘It takes six players to win,’ ” Powers said.