Whitinsville Christian produced a statement victory Tuesday night, rallying past No. 13 Notre Dame Academy in four sets to take a major quality win. The Crusaders lost the opening set 25-17 but steadied themselves and then took three straight sets, 25-19, 25-19, and 25-18, in a disciplined comeback that highlighted in-game adjustments and resilience.
Julia Monteiro orchestrated the offense in a near-flawless setter performance, compiling 21 assists and 18 service points while controlling tempo and finding hitters consistently. Senior Faith Najem anchored both serve and attack, recording 17 service points, 15 assists, and a match-high 10 kills. That combination of steady setting and aggressive finishing allowed Whitinsville to flip the momentum after the first set. The defense and serve-receive improved as the match progressed, and the Crusaders tightened their passing and blocking to stifle Notre Dame’s primary attackers.
This result reinforces Whitinsville’s position near the top of the D5 picture and demonstrates the team’s capacity to execute under pressure against nationally ranked opposition. The win should provide valuable confidence and a blueprint, steady passing, aggressive serving, crisp setting, and timely blocks, as the Crusaders push toward postseason positioning. With leadership on the floor and depth across the rotation, Whitinsville will aim to build on this signature win and sustain the level of play that produced the comeback.
