Wang set up for success Senior leads Newton North on and off court
When Newton North’s Ashley Wang discovered she had a stress fracture in her back during the spring of her sophomore year, it could have meant the end of her volleyball career.
She loved volleyball, following older sister Victoria onto the court when she was in seventh grade. The 6-foot-3 setter and right hitter was showing promise both on the court for the Tigers and for her club team, Smash Volleyball. Opportunities to play in college were starting to emerge, and the Tigers were oh-soclose to clinching another state title.
Then the injury sent her to the sidelines. Wang could have been discouraged. Instead, she saw it as an opportunity.
“I got to see the team from a different perspective,” said Wang, now a senior. “I could see what we were good at and what we needed to work on.”
Wang took several months off, hoping to rejoin Newton North in time for the playoffs. In the meantime, she managed the team and gave pointers to her teammates.
“Our team is super close, and they take feedback really well,” said Wang. “We would give each other advice in the huddle. So I helped out by managing and watching. I wanted to do whatever I could to help the team.”
“She changed as a junior,” said Newton North coach Richard Barton. “She became more thoughtful. She became more thoughtful of what her teammates were feeling.”
Her feedback helped the team to a 15-1 regular season record and the top seed in the Central/East Division 1 tournament. When she returned to the court, Wang’s performance helped power the Tigers to the sectional title without losing a set. They then defeated nationally ranked powerhouse Barnstable in another 3-0 win in the state semifinals, setting up a date with Hopkinton in the championship match.
Wang and the Tigers battled mightily in the title game against the Hillers. After taking the first two sets, they fell four points down in the third. Wang made several crucial kills to bring Newton North back, leading to a 25-22 set win to clinch its second state championship in four years.
“All of us were screaming so loud,” Wang said of the moment of victory. “It was just a pure and happy moment for all of us.”
As the Tigers take the court to prepare for their title defense this season, Wang has become the ideal senior captain. Her time on the sidelines has made her as valuable of a player as she is a leader.
“She is not interested in being a star player,” said Barton. “She is interested in being a good senior leader. She cares about herself, but more this year, she’s concerned about the others, especially the girls new to the team or the sport. She is excited to see what they can do.”
Those newcomers are just as excited about Wang’s ability as she is theirs.
“She has tremendous power as an attacker,” said Barton. “She blocks about two feet over the net with her arms angled down. She is as strong a setter as there is in New England right now. And a serve to die for.”
With traits like those, it’s no wonder Harvard’s come calling for Wang, who has verbally committed to the Crimson. But that’s not at the forefront of her mind right now. She wants to enjoy this season with her teammates and see where it takes them.
“It would be nice to repeat, but we are focusing right now on each game,” said Wang. “We are a target for other teams now, so we have to keep our focus on every single game.”
‘She is not interested in being a star player. She is interested in being a good senior leader.’ — RICHARD BARTON Newton North girls volleyball coach, on senior setter Ashley Wang