The Westonka White Hawks volleyball team showcased grit, stamina, and all-around talent during one of their busiest stretches of the season, playing seven matches in one week and emerging with a strong 11-4 overall record. From conference contests to a highly competitive weekend at the MN High School Showcase tournament, the White Hawks proved they have the depth, discipline, and firepower to compete with anyone.

The week opened with victory over Rockford on Monday September 8th followed by a loss to Watertown-Mayer on Tuesday and rolled into a series of back-to-back matchups at the two day tournament. Despite the packed schedule, Westonka kept its composure, maintained a high level of play, and got contributions from every position on the floor.

Westonka’s serving game was a key strength throughout the week. Ashtyn Cupp led the way with 10 aces, using a powerful and well-placed serve to keep opponents off balance. Meaghan Kreiser followed closely with nine aces, while Lexie Rehman added six, Bridget Budzius recorded five, and Hayden Winther chipped in with four. From a consistency standpoint, Budzius led the team with an impressive 95.5% service accuracy, followed by Kreiser at 94.7% and Winther at 93.3%, showing the team’s precision from the line.

In serve receive, Budzius again stood out, leading the team with a 1.76 rating, while Lizzy Huls and Shea Zachow also provided strong backcourt stability with ratings of 1.61 and 1.54, respectively. Their efforts helped set the tone early in each rally and allowed Westonka’s offense to stay in rhythm.

The offense was paced by Kreiser, who had a dominant week at the net with 61 kills and a stellar .301 hitting percentage, proving her ability to score in key moments. Budzius continued her two-way impact with 37 kills, while Rehman and Maria Neumann each contributed 23, giving Westonka balanced offensive production. Amelia Kliebenstein added an additional 14 kills, showing great depth across the front row.

Running the offense was Cupp, who recorded 95 assists during the week, consistently putting hitters in position to score. Winther added 42 assists keeping the attack unpredictable.

At the net defensively, Evelyn Hendrycks and Neumann led the blocking effort with six blocks apiece, helping to slow down opponents and provide crucial momentum swings. In the back row, Budzius again anchored the defense with a team-high 38 digs, while Lizzy Huls added 30 digs to round out a stellar week of defensive play.

Hannah Birkins was also recognized for her standout performance during the Showcase Tournament over the weekend, where her energy, positioning, and smart decision-making in the back row gave the White Hawks a critical boost in tight sets.

With a current record of 11-4, Westonka is showing signs of a team ready to make noise down the stretch. With balance, leadership, and growing confidence, the White Hawks are well-positioned to take the next step as they move into the heart of conference play.

The White Hawks next game is in Jordan on 9/18, and they will be at home on Tuesday 9/23 to face Holy Family.  

Below is a recap of the wins and losses from the week.  

• Win:  Rockford 3-1 (25-20, 19-25, 25-17, 25-23)
• Loss:  Watertown-Mayer 1-3 (25-18, 8-25, 17-25, 14-25)
• Loss:  Stewartville 0-2 (18-25, 12-25)
• Loss:  Cretin-Derham Hall 0-2 (22-25, 28-30)
• Win:  Zimmerman 2-0 (25-23, 25-17)
• Loss: Rocori 0-2 (16-25, 12-25)
• Win:  Byron 2-1 (25-23, 20-25, 15-13)