The Whitehall girls volleyball team is experiencing a bit of a rough patch right now, and they’re looking to find some solutions to get back on track as they head into a busy week.

With Monday’s loss, a three-set sweep to Nazareth, the Zephyrs have now dropped three of their last four games. That loss drops their record to 5-4 at the midway point of the season.

The Zephyrs have been competitive in those losses, stretching both Liberty and Bethlehem Catholic to five sets, but they were only able to win one set versus Allentown Central Catholic and Nazareth, with that lone victory coming in the first set against the Vikettes.

Head coach Paul Abi-Daher said that their struggles right now reflect their raw numbers. Some of the bigger schools have the luxury of plugging in players if they need help at any position whereas if Whitehall needs to bolster a spot, their options are limited. Their depth is something that can disrupt their lineup.

“If we fix the front row, and then the back row struggles,” said Abi-Daher.

He said he’s looking for players who can fill that gap. Abi-Daher also said that they’ve played well against Liberty, Bethlehem Catholic and ACC, but Nazareth really exposed their weaknesses.

The Blue Eagles are a good team who get good swings at the ball, and defend well at the net. Maria Harding was especially effective, registering 19 kills, 10 digs and seven aces. Her powerful performance helped the Eagles win, 25-14, 25-18, 25-17.

“We just felt like we were one step behind everything,” said Abi-Daher.

The Zephs did have a bright spot during that game as senior Kristin Spengler reached the 1,000-point mark for her career. The standout setter/outside hitter has made an impact as soon as she stepped onto the court in her freshman season.

“That was a good accomplishment,” said Abi-Daher.

As they prepare for games against Emmaus, Parkland and Pottsville to close out the month, Abi-Daher knows that success at the varsity level must be rooted in a commitment to play volleyball throughout the year. He believes that most teams who are successful have a high participation rate in club volleyball, and he would like to see the Zephyrs follow suit. He said that’s where they’ll gain experience, and that at times can become more valuable than the physical aspects of the game.

“That’s where we’re at a disadvantage right now,” said Abi-Daher.

Spengler and middle hitter Alyson Peters are the team’s leading hitters, while Taylor Levan and Olivia Ballard are the defensive leaders among the back row, leading the team in digs.