The Westonka White Hawks volleyball team delivered a commanding performance this week, notching two important victories — a straight-sets win over Holy Family and a hard-fought five-set triumph over Hutchinson. The team showcased its depth, resilience, and balance in both matches, with standout performances coming from all corners of the court.
The White Hawks opened the week with a clean sweep over Holy Family, taking the match in three straight sets with dominant serving, efficient hitting, and tight defense.
Leading the charge from the service line was Hayden Winther, who served with 100% accuracy. She was closely followed by Hannah Birkins (93.3%) and Bridget Budzius (91.7%). Westonka also picked up three service aces — one each from Winther, Lexie Rehman, and Ashtyn Cupp — keeping Holy Family on their heels from the outset.
The White Hawks spread the ball effectively across their offense. Amelia Kliebenstein, Maria Neumann, and Bridget Budzius each recorded eight kills, while Rehman added six. Neumann led the team in hitting efficiency with an outstanding .538 hitting percentage, with solid support from Kliebenstein (.278), Budzius (.250), and Rehman (.235).
Budzius also shined defensively, tallying 14 digs, followed by Birkins with 13. In serve receive, Budzius led the team with a 1.83 rating, while Meaghan Kreiser (1.75) and Birkins (1.69) kept the ball in system consistently.
At the net, Evelyn Hendrycks controlled the action with 3 blocks, followed by Kreiser (2) and Kliebenstein (1).
Setting duties were split between Cupp (13 assists) and Winther (12 assists), who paced the offense with precision.
The week ended with a thrilling five-set showdown against Hutchinson. After trading sets, Westonka dug deep in the final frame to secure a gritty 3–2 victory.
The White Hawks once again found success from the service line. Cupp, Budzius, and Rehman each tallied two aces, while Birkins and Kreiser added one apiece. The aggressive serving proved key in critical moments throughout the back-and-forth battle.
Meaghan Kreiser led the offense with a dominant 18 kills, hitting at a sharp .318 clip. She was followed by Budzius with nine kills (.200 hitting percentage) and Kliebenstein with five kills and a strong 0.250 efficiency. Neumann added three kills, while Kenna Tappen and Sage Kiner each chipped in two.
Passing was a highlight in this match, with Lizzy Huls leading all passers with an impressive 2.17 rating. Kiner (2.10)and Shea Zachow (2.08) closely followed, helping keep Westonka’s offense in rhythm against a tough Hutchinson serve.
On defense, Cupp anchored the back row with 16 digs, while Winther (13) and Birkins (11) continued to contribute steady backcourt play. Kiner and Zachow also added five digs each in key moments.
Cupp not only led in digs but also dished out 26 assists, orchestrating the offense with great decision-making. Winther added 11 assists, continuing her consistent all-around play.
At the net, Hendrycks was again a wall with four blocks, while Tappen and Rehman each recorded three blocks, shutting down Hutchinson’s attackers at crucial points in the match.
This brings the White Hawks record to 13-5 for the season. They play at home on Tuesday, Sept. 30, and Thursday, October 2.
