NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – It's been a different type of season for the Westminster College women's volleyball program.
The reigning, 3-time Presidents' Athletic Conference champions have been relegated to the spoiler's role this season; however the Titans have embraced it.
At Buzz Ridl Gymnasium that was evidenced in Thursday night's 25-12, 25-15, 25-20 whitewash of Washington & Jefferson College.
"I told them, 'A lot of people don't want to play us right now 'cause we're coming on strong," veteran Titans' taskmaster Tammy Swearingen said. "Grove City … Bethany … Thiel … Geneva. We've played a lot of five-set matches, but came up on the wrong end.
" … I wish we could've done this a little sooner," admitted Swearingen.
Junior outside-hitter Lauren Lampus (Sarver, Pa./Freeport Area High) logged 8 kills, 13 digs, 3 serving aces and a block for the Titans (3-8 PAC, 4-24 overall).
"Since the beginning of the season it's definitely been a year of rebuilding, but every game we just play harder and harder, and we never give up the fight – we just keep fighting," summarized Lampus.
"I just think every, single game we've gotten better and better," continued Lampus, one of a half-dozen juniors who have assumed a leadership role. "We have a young team, a lot of new girls playing together, so I think it's just been getting comfortable with each other and trusting each other."
Also contributing were junior setter Reanna Daniels (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory High), 15 assists, 3 serving aces; first-year outside-hitter Ella Stewart (Meadville, Pa./Meadville Area High), 8 kills, 11 digs, 3 serving aces; junior middle-hitter Saylee Grinnen (Wampum, Pa./Ellwood City-Lincoln High), 7 kills; first-year setter Angie Nardone (Ellwood City, Pa./Ellwood City High), 10 assists, and junior Libero Malia Duffy (Allison Park, Pa./North Allegheny High), 20 digs, 5 assists.
As a team the Titans tallied 36 kills.
Regarding her juniors embracing the leadership role, Swearingen said, "It's been a process, and I need to work with them a little bit more with this leadership thing, but they're coming. It was tough at first because (the juniors) didn't want anyone to get mad at them. But as a leader, someone's always going to be mad at you, all the time, so you have to get used to it. It's been a learning experience for them, but they're starting to do a little bit better.
"Malia got on them a little bit there in the huddle (during a time-out) and said, 'We've gotta step up, this is our game.' But it was nice to see that," a smiling Swearingen said, adding, "I think we're starting to come on here at the end. They're finding a little confidence and jelling. Every time I thought we were getting to this point someone would get hurt. Then we'd bring it back and somebody else would go down.
"It's just nice to see them play hard," added Swearingen.
"The juniors have had to step up and work very hard to lead a young team," Lampus reflected. "At the beginning of the season things weren't going the way we wanted them to, we were losing a lot of three- and four-set matches. But we've been fighting back every, single game, and that just shows we're not laying down and letting teams beat on us – we're fighting back.
Washington & Jefferson (3-8, 11-11) was led by Piper McFarland (24 digs), Adrianna Sacramento (23 assists), and Claire Sauerland, Lizzie Carmichael and Faith Fetsko, who evenly divided 18 kills.
Swearingen reflected, "We can play the spoiler right now, play that role, and maybe go into next year with a little momentum."
Swearingen, who has taken the Titans to 6 PAC crowns, continued, "I told (the Titans), 'Until someone wins the (2022) championship, we're still the three-time defending champs, and everybody wants to knock us off. And when (opponents) did, especially early on, you would've thought they had won the national championship. That was hard to swallow. But at the same time you know that, and you've just got to get ready for next year."
Westminster welcomes Franciscan University Saturday at 4 p.m. in the PAC regular-season finale.
