The BB&N Knights traveled to Middlesex for a thrilling Friday evening contest featuring quality volleyball, which needed a deciding fifth set to determine a winner.
 
Middlesex came out strong in the first set, breaking BB&N's serve with a huge middle block by Lydia Paddock '17. That sideout was followed by kills by Avery Light '18, Lydia, and then an aced serve by Lily Renneker '17. The Zebras and the Knights stayed neck and neck through the middle of the set, until a series of passing errors by Middlesex allowed BB&N to pull ahead. A strong kill by Lydia with the assist by Maile Cowell '17, followed by two aces by Leyla Hotamisligil '18, allowed Middlesex to pull back into the game, finally falling 21-25 in the first set.
 
Middlesex came out fighting again in the second set, with more aced serves by Leyla, then by Lydia, and then by Abby Meyers '16. Abby assisted a kill to team captain, middle hitter Rose-Marie Fuchs '15, for a dramatic side out against the Knights' best server. Middlesex missed several serves, allowing BB&N to pull ahead. In spite of a valiant effort that included blocks by Lydia and Avery and a kill by Lydia off of Leyla's assist, Middlesex fell in the second 19-25.
 
The Zebras were determined in the third set to extend the game, showing their fire and mental toughness with some great offense made possible by a series of dramatic digs by Nina Huttemann '18. They showed their versatility when caught out of system, as middle hitter Rose-Marie stepped in to set up a kill by the setter, Abby Meyers, followed by a second assist by Rose-Marie to opposite hitter Alyssa McNally '16. The offense rallied in the middle of the set, with blocks by Rose-Marie, kills by Lily Renneker  and Lydia Paddock off of assists by Leyla and Abby. Avery Light impressed the Knights with her hard-hit jump serve, which allowed the Zebras back into the game. One particularly dramatic rally featured a great hustle by Alyssa to save a missed pass, keeping the rally alive eventually to set up a kill by Lily off of Abby's assist. Middlesex ended the third set at 27-25 with a great double block by Rose-Marie and Avery.
 
The fourth set showcased the Zebras' grit and determination as they vied for the lead with the Knights. Middlesex pulled into the lead in the final points of the set off of two kills each by Rose-Marie and Avery, finally ending the set at 25-22 with a kill by Rose-Marie off of an assist by Abby Meyers.
 
After four intense sets, both sides were beginning to show signs of fatigue. The fifth set started slowly for the Zebras, with a few lost points caused by missed passes. Middlesex began to pick up momentum on two kills by Ari Odom '17 off of assists by Leyla, followed by a crushing kill by Avery off of Abby's assist. A series of long rallies in the final points of the set were taken by kills by Rose-Marie assisted by Abby before the Zebras fell 9-15.