The Northampton and Whitehall girls volleyball teams wrapped up their 2023 seasons this past week and faced off last Wednesday to finish off their respective EPC slates.

The Zephyrs played three competitive sets, but the K-Kids banked a second victory over their rivals from across the river, 25-22, 25-20, 25-18.

Whitehall jumped out fast, winning the first 5 points of the match on Jenna Conrad’s serve. Northampton responded by going on a 5-point run of their own to square the first set. The K-Kids gradually pulled in front, but when Conrad’s turn to serve rolled around again, the Zephs ran off another five points in row to claim the lead 18-17.

However, that would be the last time that Whitehall possessed the upper hand as Northampton held the Zephyr servers scoreless the rest of the way in the set.

There were no major momentum swings or long runs in the second set as the K-Kids slowly distanced themselves from an 8-8 tie by picking up an extra point here and there to win by five.

Northampton dominated the final set. A late 4-point run by Whitehall just before match point made the score respectable.

The K-Kids’ stat leaders were: Kills – Isabella Pecuch 6, Morgan Chandler and Alyx Cole 5, Quinn Micheli and Jessie Domchek 4. Assists – Addie Morgan 20. Digs – Domchek 16, Morgan 11, Lizzy Sheldon 10, Alyvia Schlegel 8.

The Zephyrs leaders: Kills – LaSereon James 8, Allison Keck 7, Emma Granger 5. Assists – Conrad 23. Digs – James 18, Alexis Barhoum 13, Granger 10, Conrad 7.

For Whitehall, their season ended with a 4-16 record overall, 3-13 in the EPC, and 1-9 in the brutally difficult EPC West division.

Zephyrs first year head coach Cristal Fernandez assessed her inaugural campaign, “There are a lot of positives to take away for next year. The biggest thing is that our team is very young. We only have 3 playing seniors graduating. So that gives us hope for next year. We see where we’re at for next year and we’re not coming in blind as a coaching staff. It was a good first season as a whole new coaching staff, but it’s tough to have a losing record.”

Northampton finished 7-11 overall, 7-9 in the EPC, and 4-6 in the division, missing districts and EPCs for the first time in 3 years.

K-Kids coach Mike Holihan has a similarly optimistic view for his squad, “The best thing I can take away from the season is that the future is bright. I have a bunch of girls willing to work to be better next year. It just wasn’t our year this year. I’ll take 7-11 with one of the toughest schedules in the league. That’s a pretty good season for us.”