Commitment, Experience Among WHS Volleyball's Strengths

The Westborough High School varsity volleyball team is strong throughout its 16-player roster, head coach Roger Anderson says.

But, "I think the thing that I'm most excited is that this group is completely committed to each other. And in the sport of volleyball, that goes a long, long way," he says.

"They're just willing to do whatever the team needs. They put the team before themselves. And they also have put in the work prior to the season that they needed to do," says Anderson, who's in his 15th year as Westborough head coach.

The Rangers open their season at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday at home against Westford Academy.

"We played them twice last year, had two very competitive matches with them," Anderson says.
 
"We know it's a great early test."

Westborough finished 2012 with a 13-4 record. The Rangers defeated Milton, 3-0, in the first round of the 2012 Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Girls Volleyball Central Division 2 tournament; defeated Medway, 3-1, in the quarterfinals; and then lost to Canton, 3-1, in the semi-finals.

The Rangers enter this season as "really a very balanced team," Anderson says.

"I think this team is really unusual in that everybody can go," he says.

Senior tri-captains Jessica McDermott, Addington D'Luzansky and Samantha Kehoe lead a roster that includes 12 seniors, Anderson says.

McDermott, a setter, is "the one that ends up dictating our offense when she's on the floor," he says.
 
"She has a lot of decisions to make, and she's been working hard on both her skill level and decision making. She's really working hard for her teammates," Anderson says.

D'Luzansky, a defensive specialist, is "the one who touches the ball the first time it comes across the net," he says.
 
"She doesn't often finish plays. But she's the one that starts it all off. She's got great energy, great enthusiasm," Anderson says.

Kehoe, meanwhile, is an outside hitter.

"She hits the ball very, very hard, and also very effectively. So, she finishes a lot of points," Anderson says.

The roster is:

• Seniors: Sarah Anderson, Julia Arsenault, Heather Clemons, Addington D'Luzansky, Addie Egan, Tori Flahive, Maria Hession, Samantha Kehoe, Catherine Martin, Jessica McDermott, Ali Tarnow and Melissa Zhang.
• Juniors: Elizabeth Gallary and Elizabeth Volpe.
• Sophomores: Kaylie Doherty and Gianna Scioletti.