The Westside Warrior volleyball team battled hard Tuesday night but could not secure a win against the top-ranked Papillion-LaVista South Titans, falling in a three set sweep, 25-21, 25-18, 25-16.
Despite the loss, the Warriors showed flashes of progression and determination throughout the match. They hung close in the opening set, trailing by only a few points before the Titan’s depth and precision took over. The Warriors faced difficulty in building momentum, especially after the Titans pulled ahead early in the third set. From there, the Warriors could not get closer than a few points.
Head Coach Andrew Wehrli said that while the scoreboard did not reflect it, the team is making clear progress in key areas.
“We’re on target,” Wehrli said.
He reflects on the positives of the match.
“I think our serve receive did a pretty good job tonight,” Wehrli said.
In the opening set, the Warriors showed confidence, exchanging points with the Titans and staying within striking distance throughout. Strong serve receive allowed the Warriors to stay in system and run a balanced offense. Even as Westside pulled away late, the Warriors’ energy never dipped. Something that the Warriors have focused on this season.
“We didn’t do a good enough job of taking them out of system, and we got a little bit soft with some of our swings late. Early in the game we were catching hands, and then we started to maybe swing a little deep and pushing through balls,” Wehrli said.
The second set followed a similar pattern—tight play early, with the Titans slowly building separation. Still, the Warriors’ front line battled hard against one of the state’s top attacking units. Several long rallies and scrappy defensive plays drew loud reactions from the Warriors’ bench and fans, signaling that the team wasn’t going down quietly.
The Warriors’ offensive balance continues to grow, with an increased focus on involving their middle hitters.
“We’re making more progress getting our middle, getting Myla [Deats] more involved in our offense, which is something that’s been a big key,” Wehrli said.
Junior middle hitter Myla Deats earned Player of the Match honors for her leadership and impact at the net. Deats, who leads the team in total blocks this season with 43, was a steady presence in the middle, making crucial defensive plays and helping spark several Warrior runs. Her consistency and energy kept the team engaged as the Titans’ offense found their rhythm.
“I felt like today everybody was just kind of a little bit off,” Deats said.
Deats comments on the way that her team handled the match inside the lines and her experience, despite the loss.
“I felt like personally we stayed together really well as a team the entire time, so I had a lot of fun even though it didn’t go as we had hoped,” Deats said.
The lessons from Tuesday’s match go far beyond the final score. With Deats leading the charge at the net, the Warriors’ younger players gaining confidence, and Coach Wehrli seeing steady improvement across rotations, theres a sense that this group’s best volleyball is still ahead.
Though swept by the state’s No. 1 team, the Warriors left the court with their heads high and a clear sense of what needs to come next: more consistency, sharper execution, and a continued commitment to improvement.
The Warriors will look to put those lessons into action when they return to the court. For a team that continues to fight with heart and resilience, Tuesday’s loss was not an ending—it was motivation.
Their next match will be on Monday, October 6, at 6:30pm. They will play away against Millard South High School.
