It’s been a trend that that first-year volleyball coaches find instant success in Carroll County.
After Ben Lee led Westminster to a share of the county title in 2024, and Kristine Keck guided South Carroll through a dominant season last year, Bridget Griffin wants to be the next in line in her first year leading Westminster.
Her debut is off to a strong start. Griffin earned her first county win Tuesday night as Westminster swept Century, 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-13), to improve to 2-0 overall.
“I feel like the girls played together and played a cohesive game,” Griffin said. “We found our stride and in that third match, we finally picked it up.”
Winning at Century is never easy, but Griffin had an ace up her sleeve — former Knight Gabby Zajaczkowski. A 2024 first-team All-County selection with the Knights, Zajaczkowski now wears Westminster’s signature baby blue.
“The connection is already so good,” Zajaczkowski said. “The girls welcomed me with open arms and we’re playing better and better as the season goes on.”
The Owls struck early, using a mid-set run to take the opening frame. Despite it being early, Westminster’s communication was in midseason form. Peyton Morrow made an impression with several key blocks, while Zajaczkowski finished off multiple points with powerful kills that kept Century’s defense scrambling.
Century responded in the second set and briefly took an 18-17 lead before Griffin called a timeout to settle her team.
“I feel like our tempo was high and low,” she said. “I just told them we needed to play our game, at our speed, and not at another team’s speed.”
One key to regaining that tempo was setter Lilly Clark. After the timeout, Clark helped orchestrate an eight-point run that sealed the second set and put the Owls firmly in control. Griffin wasn’t surprised by the junior’s performance.
“She’s our main setter,” Griffin said. “We run a 5-1, so she’s setting up the offense, and we wouldn’t have the hits that we have without her.”
With the momentum clearly in its favor, Westminster closed out the third set in dominant fashion. Clark continued to set the tone, while Zajaczkowski finished what she started, delivering consistent offense as the Owls played at the pace Griffin had emphasized all match.
“She really sets me up,” Zajaczkowski said. “We have that connection. I wouldn’t be able to do it without her.”
With the first county win in the books, the Owls celebrated — Zajaczkowski especially, enjoying another win on Century’s floor, though this time in a different uniform.
Griffin joined in the postgame joy, knowing her team is building toward its full potential.
“They understand that errors are going to happen, but it’s how they recover from those errors,” she said. “[When] they’re talking to one another and picking each other up, that’s how we pull out the W.”
Have a news tip? Contact Timothy Dashiell at tdashiell@baltsun.com and x.com/dashielltimothy.
