Story by Brian Bobal of NJ.com
A mid-season quad against North Hunterdon, Hunterdon Central and Williamstown was just the boost Westfield needed.
All of a sudden, a team that was hesitant about what its goals wanted to be started to be locked in on the biggest goal possible.
“They were a little tentative with our goals,” said Westfield head coach Bev Torok. “I gave them a hard time about it. What good is going as far as you can in states? You go to win.”
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11/13 – 4:00 PM Girls Volleyball Final Westfield 2 Old Bridge 1
Winning became the goal and Westfield, No. 5 in the NJ.com Top 20, took step after step towards that objective.
On Sunday, at long last, they accomplished it.
The veteran leaders lead the march for Westfield to win the NJSIAA/JAG-ONE Physical Therapy Group 4 title in Franklin, 27-25, 25-27, 25-14 over No. 4 Old Bridge.
It’s the first state title in the program’s history.
“It’s pretty awesome, first time in history to win a state title,” said Caitlin Cabrales. “It’s a really good feeling. We all played so awesome and we’re really gritty. Our hard work really paid off.
Cabrales was one of four players to record at least six kills in the win, another example of Westfield’s depth coming to the forefront.
She was also a key contributor in what has blossomed into a stellar junior class with Abby Pevzner, Olivia Calandra, Chloe Wideman, Carolina Bonn and Guilianna Gallo. That group combined for 14 kills, four aces, 12 assists and a block in the Group 4 final.
Pevzner had four kills in the final set alone, which Westfield led entirely after it was 4-4.
“My juniors are the crux of it all,” said Torok, who became head coach of the program in 1995. “They’re hitters, they’re passers and they’re servers. They do it all. They are the foundation.”
The seniors completed the picture from there.
Ally Muller, one of those seniors, led the team overall with seven kills and helped swing momentum back in Westfield’s favor.
Old Bridge jumped to a 19-11 lead in the second set, ultimately taking it 27-25, but Westfield outscored the Knights 39-22 from that point on.
“I think we just realized we just had to flush that last set,” Cabrales said. “We worked hard, we had a really great comeback and now just leave it all on the court. This is the last set, last chance. I think the intensity really went up.
That made all the difference and resulted in a sweet conclusion to a special year.
“It’s so sad to leave but I’ve been with these girls since my freshman year, some eighth grade,” Muller said. “We played so well.”
