Volleyball Coverage, presented by ARCH Orthodontics: Norwood Edges Westwood in First Two Sets, Sweeps Home Opener

September 9, 2026

The Westwood Girls Volleyball team fell to TVL Large rival Norwood in straight sets in its home opener, with the Mustangs taking all three sets, 25-23, 25-23 and 25-18.
 
The first two sets were tightly contested, but Norwood was able to make the key plays late in each to take control of the match. The Mustangs were sharp throughout the night, establishing a strong presence at the net with timely blocks and consistently finishing points with their outside hitters. Norwood grabbed the early momentum and never fully allowed Westwood to take it back.
 
Despite the loss, the Wolverines showed plenty of fight. Lyla Hayes, who had four aces, and Mia Steinmetz, who was named player of the match with one ace, four kills, 10 receives and six digs, provided strong play. Kate Innis and Veronica Reeves made their presence felt at the net with both blocks and kills.
 
Reeves also gave Westwood a boost from the service line, creating difficult returns with hard, moving serves that put pressure on the Norwood defense.
 
One of the biggest positives for Westwood was its compete level. The Wolverines battled through long volleys, chased down balls and continued fighting even as Norwood pulled away in the third set. While the result wasn’t what Westwood wanted in its home opener, the pieces are there for a team that should be competitive in the TVL this season.
 
The serve percentage in the opener was 68%, and coach Emily Bishop said she’d like to see that improve to a minimum of 80%
 
Westwood will get another big test Monday, Sept. 14, when it takes on TVL Large power Hopkinton in a rematch of last season’s five-set thriller, which was a finalist for Game of the Year.