BIG HIT — Weir High senior Illionna Kirlangitis goes up to attempt a kill against Brooke on Thursday night. She helped the Red Riders defeat the Bruins on senior night. - Andrew Grimm

That is exactly what the Weir High volleyball team did Thursday night.

The Red Riders, who were coming off a tough loss in the city championship against Madonna on Monday night, bounced right back with a four-set victory over visiting rival Brooke.

“It felt good to win this one after that loss Monday,” Weir High head coach Fran Capaldi said. “I think that one really affected our girls, losing the city championship is not something they’re accustom to and they just really used it as a driving force and motivation to come out tonight and play very hard.”

Not only was it a bounce back rivalry win for the Riders, but also a victory on senior night.

MILESTONE REACHED — Weir High’s Amalia Kirlangitis is greeted by head coach Fran Capaldi after recording her 1,000th career assist during Thursday’s match against Brooke. - Andrew Grimm

“It’s a really good feeling,” Capaldi said of getting a win on senior night. “We’ve had a really up and down season with a lot of adversity. It’s a really happy moment in the season to be able to win on senior night and celebrate them.”

While stopping momentum swings has been a struggle for Weir High (7-17-1), it was not on Thursday. Every time it seemed the Bruins (7-17) had gotten something going, the Riders were able to snatch momentum right back.

“That is something we’ve struggled with and it was very good to see them be able to get over adversity and show we can get the momentum back,” Capaldi said.

In the opening set, the teams went back and forth early battling to an 8-8 tie, then the Red Riders scored 12 of the next 14 to pull away. Brooke tried to rally late, but Weir hung on to take a 1-0 lead in the match with a 25-19 win.

Brooke carried its late momentum into the start of the second set, though, and after Weir had pushed back, pulled away again. Weir responded one more time, rallying to a 22-22 tie, but Brooke scored three of the last four points to even the match and win the set 25-23.

Brooke’s Kiera Kosut serves against Weir High. - Andrew Grimm

The pivotal third set was close the whole way, tied repeatedly as the teams traded the lead, neither team leading by more than two points. Brooke had taken a 23-21 lead, but Weir surged to a 25-23 victory with the last four points to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

In the fourth set, things were close early on once again, but this time Weir High pulled away through the middle of the set and went on to a 25-18 set win to close out a 3-1 victory in the match.

Amalia Kirlangitis, one of the four seniors the Red Riders were honoring in their final home match of the season, registered 33 assists in the win, surpassing the 1,000 mark for her career in doing so.

“We’re really happy for her to get that accomplishment,” Capaldi said. “That’s something we’re really proud of her for. It’s a good night.”

She also had 13 digs, an ace and a kill.

Weir High senior MaKenna Potock lines up a hit against Brooke. - Andrew Grimm

Illionna Kirlangitis, also a senior, tallied 10 kills, four aces, two assists and 14 digs. Ella Kaufman had 14 kills, two aces and nine digs, Gabby Sprouse tallied 11 kills, senior Kaylee Webster recorded eight aces, 14 digs and four assists and senior Makenna Potock tallied five aces and four kills.

UP NEXT

Brooke:Is at Magnolia next Thursday to end the regular season.

Weir High: Finishes the regular season on the road next week, starting with a trip to John Marshall Tuesday.

Brooke’s Lily Clark sends a ball over the net against Weir High. - Andrew Grimm