The T.C. Williams volleyball team didn’t win Tuesday’s scrimmage against West Springfield, but Lady Titans head coach Rhea Butler said she was pleased with her team’s effort.
T.C. Williams, which has struggled against West Springfield in recent years, won games two and three before eventually dropping the match, 3-2 (25-12, 14-25, 24-26, 25-22, 15-10), at The Garden. It was T.C. Williams’ first game action of the season.
The Lady Titans, who lost seven seniors from last season’s team, return four athletes and have three seniors on this year’s roster.
"We played pretty well. I was impressed," Butler said. "I felt like our offense was where I wanted it to be for our first time playing a game."
West Springfield closed game one on an 18-2 run and won 25-12. But T.C. Williams bounced back, winning games two and three. West Springfield closed game one on an 18-2 run and won 25-12. But T.C. Williams bounced back, winning games two and three.
Senior outside hitter Miranda Branch, who finished with six kills and five aces, said it took time for T.C. Williams’ veteran players and new athletes to get on the same page.
"After the first game, we got everything together and stuff started working better," she said. "But the fifth game, I think we just lost steam."
West Springfield won a tightly contested game four, 25-22, and scored four of the last five points in game five to close the match with a 15-10 victory.
Six-foot freshman Kate Whitmire, playing in her first varsity action, finished with 13 kills. Butler said the outside hitter will be a key contributor this season.
"I was so nervous," she said. "I had butterflies and everything. During warmups, I couldn’t hit. It was really nerve-wracking. But after the first game … the butterflies left."
Senior outside hitter Nicole Burdett had nine kills.
Branch, Burdett, junior libero/defensive specialist Abby Wilson and junior middle hitter Natalie Brown are returnees for T.C. Williams.
Sophomore Sophie Siegel, senior Alexis Mitchell and freshman Sydney Trout could see time at outside hitter.
Juniors Rebecca Stone and Meron Hailu and the freshman Trout could see time at setter, while juniors Kate Tackett and Amberle Farthing could see time in the back row.
T.C. Williams opens its season at 7:15 p.m. today at Edison.