Harford Community College demonstrated their dominance on Pep Rally Night, as they secured a convincing three-set victory over Westmoreland County. The final score of 25-12, 25-10, 25-3 showcased Harford's exceptional performance in all aspects of the game.
From the very first set, Harford set the tone with remarkable precision and teamwork. Their offense was firing on all cylinders, and their defense proved impenetrable for Westmoreland County. Harford comfortably won the opening set 25-12.
The second set saw Harford's momentum continue to build. Their attacking strategies overwhelmed Westmoreland County, leading to a convincing 25-10 victory in the second set. Harford's players demonstrated a balanced approach, utilizing a mix of powerful kills and strategic placements to outclass their opponents.
The third set was more of the same without much opportunity for the Wolfpack to respond. Harford maintained relentless pressure and held Westmoreland County to a mere 3 points in the set.
Throughout the match, Harford's players exhibited outstanding individual performances that contributed to their team's success. Laura Piva led the charge with 8 kills, while Kaja Szuba and Morgan Barnett added 6 kills each. Jill Van der Velde's 5 aces and Morgan Barnett's 17 assists played pivotal roles in maintaining Harford's offensive tempo.
Defensively, Harford remained equally impressive. Julia Hudson's 12 digs ensured that the opponents' attacks were effectively controlled. The team's strong blocking was evident through Laura Piva's and Yara Gonzalez's 3 blocks each.
Head Coach Johnny Powell commented, "Never playing Westmoreland before we were not sure what to fully expect, but we planned to come into this match being dominant. I think the team executed that to an extent. We still have a lot to work on and improve, especially with the utilization of our middle hitters, but it was a good victory for us heading into a tough week against two powerhouse programs."
The Fighting Owls "fierce" was on full display as the home team shone in front of an electric crowd. Now the team looks ahead to a 14-game stretch of road contests before returning home to face Monroe College in October.
