The Middlesex Varsity Volleyball team traveled to BB&N in Cambridge, MA on Wednesday, October 21 for a tough mid-week quad-match against fellow ISL foes and New England playoff contenders Governor's Academy and BB&N.

Facing Governor's first, Middlesex was first on the board. Libero Nina Hutteman '18 received the serve, and middle hitter Lydia Paddock '17 stepped in to set up the kill by opposite hitter and co-captain Alyssa McNally '16. A few unforced errors allowed Governor's to score points, but an aced serve by Lydia tied up the game at 3-3. On the next play, a dig by outside hitter Lily Renneker '17 to setter Maile Cowell '17 set up the kill by outside hitter Avery Light '18 to bring the score to 4-3. A few plays later, another aced serve, this time by setter and co-captain Abby Meyers '16, extended the Middlesex lead to 6-4. Middlesex then allowed Governor's to gain some momentum as they gave up a series of almost unanswered points through the middle of the set, allowing Governor's to lead the set 13-22. Some great work at the net by the Zebra front row and some quality defense in the back allowed Middlesex to get back in the game-- a big double block by middle hitter Mimi Larrieux '18 and opposite hitter Natalie Burden '18 threw Governor's off balance and caused them to miss their hit. Another block by Mimi-- this time, off an overpass from Avery's tough float serve-- brought the score to 17-23. Avery's subsequent ace brought the score to 20-23. However, Governor's gained the next two points off a pair of Middlesex errors, and the set ended 20-25.

Middlesex came out eager to clean up their game and to give up fewer unforced errors in the second set. A good run of tough serves by setter Leyla Hotamisligil '18 put Middlesex up 5-0. Another ace by Lydia, followed by a double block by Mimi and Avery, put the score at 10-2. As Abby subbed into the back row to serve up an ace, the lead was extended 13-3. Two plays later, a great dig by Nina to Abby set up the kill by Avery, putting the score at 14-4. A huge side out came from a perfect pass by Avery to Abby to set up a crushing kill by Lydia to the corner. At that point, Leyla rotated back to serve again, and immediately dished up another ace. Governor's was clearly off balance, and gave up a series of points to errors. Another dig by Nina to Leyla set up a kill by Alyssa to put the score a 22-10. The final points of the set were scored by a kill by Avery, followed by a big block by Lydia. Lily aced the final serve of the set to end it decisively in Middlesex' favor at 25-10.

The deciding third set was a heartbreaker-- despite an early lead, featuring both big swings and clever off-speed hits by the offense, another big double block by Lydia and Natalie, an returnable hit by Hadley Jevon '19, and a series of aces by Leyla and an ace by defensive specialist Sarah Ong '16, Middlesex gave up the lead and allowed Governor's back in the game in the final third of the set, losing the third 23-25.

The Zebras pulled together as a team after that discouraging loss and came out strong in the first set against BB&N. The first point was off of a kill by Lily assisted by Abby. Another kill by Alyssa off of Nina's assist to side out BB&N rotated Lily to the back row, where she aced her first serve. The Zebras' strong serve helped propel them to their early lead-- an ace by Lydia extended the lead to 7-3, and another by Abby put Middlesex up 9-5. A dig by Sarah to Abby set up a kill by Natalie down the line. Leyla then rotated back to serve again, and she dished up another pair of aces. Other highlights included back-to-back plays featuring quality digs by Avery to Leyla, first to set up a cross-court kill by Avery, then to set up a middle kill by Mimi. Another kill by Natalie, this time off of Nina's assist, gained an important side out and put the score at 21-16. Avery aced two more serves before the set ended 25-16, Middlesex.

In the second set, Alyssa was again the first to score for Middlesex, with a kill off of Leyla's assist from Lily's perfect pass. On the next play, Leyla took the dig, and Alyssa stepped in to set up the kill by Avery. BB&N was hungry for a win, and won some points on long and scrappy rallies, trading sideouts with the Zebras. Nina's pass to Abby to set up a kill by Mimi, putting Middlesex at 8-7, proved decisive, as Middlesex did not give up the lead again for the rest of the set. As Mimi rotated into the back row to serve, she also demonstrated her solid defensive skills in the back row after each serve, digging up a perfect pass to Abby who set up a kill by Lydia to extend the lead to 10-7. Further highlights included another ace by Lily, a kill by Alyssa off of Leyla's assist from Lydia's dig, another kill by Mimi off of Maile's assist from Nina's serve receive, and a big kill down the line by Lily assisted by Maile. The final points of the set were earned off of errors by BB&N, and the second and final set ended 25-23, Middlesex.

Next, Middlesex will travel to the Winchendon School on Saturday, October 24 to play at 3pm.