Westmoreland connection helps Westminster volleyball win PAC title

They ride together to offseason workouts. They have helped Westminster volleyball win 56 games the past two seasons.

And, Saturday, they played in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference championship — again.

The last thing remaining on the checklist for Westmoreland County natives Haley Farmerie, Haley Moore and Samantha Kelly was crossed off after Westminster defeated Geneva, 3-1, to win the PAC title — its first since 2008 — and earn a bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

The Titans will face Susquehanna (31-6), ranked 18th in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Associaiton poll, Friday at Johns Hopkins in the opening round.

“I’ve been playing volleyball since fifth grade. It’s been a long time,” Farmerie, a senior middle blocker and Greensburg Central Catholic graduate, said. “Ending things on a high note means the world to me. I think about it almost being over sometimes, and you just want to leave it on good memories.”

Farmerie, who has 47 blocks and 123 kills for the Titans (26-6), took making good memories seriously after a straight-sets home loss to Geneva on Nov. 2 to close the regular season. Her father, Ken, regularly sends her inspirational messages and videos.

After the Geneva loss, and with the PAC tournament looming, Farmerie felt the time was right to start sharing with teammates.

“After that loss to Geneva, we were all kicking ourselves because of how we lost,” said Kelly, a sophomore setter and a Penn-Trafford grad whose 5.01 assists per set ranked sixth in the PAC during the regular season.

“The videos starting coming Sunday night or Monday morning. It helped a lot with just us imagining playing for a championship.”

The videos were what the Titans needed. That they came from Farmerie, whom teammates often call “Mom” is no surprise to those who know her.

“Even in high school, she reminded us of a mom,” Moore, a GCC alum and junior setter/defensive specialist, said. “She’s always checking in on everyone. She notices all the details. She notices if someone is even just a little bit off. She’s checking up on everyone. Not that there’s ever drama with this team, but it there was, she would be the one to put an end to it.”

The day before Westminster’s PAC championship match against Geneva, Farmerie organized the team dinner.

For her, it’s just part of the duties of being team captain, a role she shares with outside hitter Reilly DeGeorge and defensive specialist Josie Toporcer.

“Being a captain means everything to me,” Farmerie said. “Knowing me from my freshman year, I never would have imagined being a captain. I was pretty timid when I got here, and I struggled getting adapted to speed of the college game. … We want to win for each other. Everyone on the team does.”

Westminster wins with regularity. The Titans played in the conference championship game for the third consecutive season. They lead the PAC in hitting percentage (.182), opponent hitting percentage (.109) and digs (21.35 per set).

Yet, for all their statistical dominance, the Titans believe their success is based on other intangibles.

“It’s hard work and chemistry,” Kelly said. “The team is very close. They’re all definitely my best friends. We want to send the seniors out the right way.”

For Westminster’s Westmoreland connection, the right way goes back to all those car rides during the summer, campus visits — Moore hosted Kelly during hers — and championship-caliber matches played in high school.

“We’ve all spent a lot of time together,” said Moore, who ranks 10th in the PAC with 4.04 assists per set. “We just have a connection.”