It was a tough assignment for Whitehall when play opened in the District XI Girls Volleyball Championship two weeks ago.

They had to play back-to-back games, the first against Pottsville which they won in three sets, 25-19, 25-12, 25-15, and then immediately had to take on Liberty who came into the 3A tourney as the second seed. They eventually lost to Liberty in four sets, ending their season.

Whitehall made it tough on Liberty, losing two of the three sets by a combined eight points. The Zephs won the first set, 25-23, which signaled to the Hurricanes they were in for a battle.

But the ’Canes responded by winning the next three sets to advance to the semifinals where they met Nazareth. The Blue Eagles won that match which put them in the district championship against Parkland which was won by the Trojans.

The Zephs finished this season at 11-9, closing out George Cowitch’s first season as the girls head coach.

The experience of playing two games in one night really didn’t faze them. With a week of preparation they were up for the task, according to Cowitch.

“I thought the girls took it in stride pretty well,” said Cowitch.

While they swept Pottsville, Cowitch felt they didn’t play their best in that match. However, their match against the ’Canes was a better effort despite the loss.

“We played really well against Liberty, which was nice to see,” said Cowitch.

After Whitehall won that first set, Cowitch said that Liberty made some adjustments, helping them prevail 25-12. That was in response to some adjustments that Cowitch made heading into the match.

The ’Canes won the next set 25-19, but Whitehall was on the verge of winning the fourth set, holding a 23-20 lead until some calls didn’t go their way. Cowitch said that two out-of-bounds calls were overturned, something he’s never seen before as a volleyball coach.

“We had them on the ropes, that’s for sure,” said Cowitch.

Despite playing seven sets that evening, Cowitch said fatigue wasn’t a factor.

If anything, he felt Liberty was getting a little winded during the match. He said that all their preseason conditioning helped them navigate the long night.

What ultimately played a role was their youth. Both the Zephs and Hurricanes were both young teams, and mistakes will be a part of that maturation process. The ‘Canes just made fewer in that match, allowing them to advance.

Cowitch said they played the best they could have played. It was just another step in their quest to become one of the best teams in the league.

Kristin Spengler led the team in kills against Liberty. Spengler was also named to the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference all-stars as a third-team selection.