Nov. 24, 2009 — The Westwood Lady Lumberjacks volleyball team moved on to the final round of playoffs after a win against Burney on Tuesday, Nov. 17 in semi-final play.

Westwood took the opening two games of the Burney match with scores of 25-19 and 25-13 and just when the Westwood ladies thought the match was theirs, Burney surged ahead in the end of the third game to top Westwood 25-21 pushing the match into an exciting fourth game.   

“During the first two games,” said Westwood coach Nancy Barrera, “we were sharp. We have been really playing our best volleyball of the season during the playoffs.    

“The intensity is directed by our seniors who are playing like they are on a mission. Our momentum got away from us in the third game and we began to make a lot of mental mistakes.   

“We did not talk enough and began to play with hesitation, which meant more mistakes. Burney took the opportunity to fight and ended up winning that game.”       

Westwood found the strength to pull ahead winning the final nail-biter 25-22 and took the semi-final match 3-1 in front of a loud Westwood crowd.   

Westwood’s Megan Tilford led the team offensively against Burney with 22 kills on the night, followed by Ellen Medici with 15, Adrianna Alexander with seven, and Morgan Tilford with six.   

“Megan Tilford did a great job of blocking and misdirecting their attack,” said Barrera. “Even though she didn't always get a stuff block, she kept changing the direction of the ball and forcing them to dig the ball off the block, which in turn disrupted their hitting and entire offense.”    

Megan Tilford and Medici led the team in blocking with four each followed by teammate Cassandra Bowen who had two on the game.   

Bowen came up with 23 digs on the night followed by Medici with 16, Alexander with 14, Morgan Tilford with 13, Megan Tilford with 12, Chelsey Chapin with 7 and Bree Massey with 5.   

The win pushed Westwood’s record to 17-5 on the season and sent the Lady Jacks into the final round of section play against the Fall River Bulldogs from McArthur, Calif.    

The Bulldogs just came away from a battle with Mercy High School out of Red Bluff, Calif., winning the match 3-0 and is sure to give Westwood a run for its money. No results were available from the championship game at press time.