The Middlesex Varsity Volleyball team hosted Lawrence Academy on Wednesday, November 11 for a Veterans' Day match and came up with a big win, taking Lawrence in 3 decisive sets that featured consistent serving and excellent overall team play.
In the first set, setter and opposite hitter Lily Renneker '17's topspin serve gave Middlesex a run of 6 unanswered points. Besides three aces, Middlesex scored off of a push to the corner by middle blocker Lydia Paddock '17 from Lily's assist, and a cross-court kill by outside hitter Hadley Jevon '19 assisted by opposite hitter and co-captain Alyssa McNally '16 from the dig by libero Nina Huttemann '18. A couple of unforced errors gave a few points back to Lawrence, then a perfect serve receive by defensive specialist Sarah Ong '16 to Lily set up a crushing shot down the line by outside hitter Avery Light '18. That kill rotated Lydia to the back row to serve, where she dished up an ace and also dug up a hit to Lily who set up a kill by middle blocker Mimi Larrieux '18. A few plays later, setter Leyla Hotamisligil '18 rotated in to serve and set in the back row, and her tough float serve earned Middlesex another good run of points, with four aces or unreturnable serves, plus points earned by a big double block by Avery and Mimi, and another kill each by Mimi and Avery. A big kill from the right side by Lily brought Avery back to serve, and she dished up another three aces. The first set ended 25-13, Middlesex.
The second set found the Zebras determined to play error-free volleyball and to clean up their game as much as possible. Hadley had a perfect serve receive to Leyla who set up a kill by Lily to side out Lawrence's first server. Hadley then blocked their right-side hitter on the next play, and, a few points later, came up with another big swing to put Middlesex on top 4-2. That point rotated Sarah Ong in to serve, and her hard topspin serve earned Middlesex four aces in a row. Further highlights in the second set included kills by Lydia, Mimi, Lily, Avery, and Hadley. One particularly dramatic rally included two quality hits by opposite Natalie Burden '18 that got dug up before she put away a big one down the line for the kill. The second set ended with a kill by Hadley, 25-12, Middlesex.
The momentum of the final set was entirely with the Zebras, who earned 12 of their points off of aced serves, including five by Lily and five in a row by Nina. On two consecutive serves by Lily, Lawrence overpassed, and Lydia was right there to block it down. Alyssa earned two big kills off of Lily's assists, and Sarah showed off her swing from the back row, scoring two kills, one assisted by Lily, and one from setter Maile Cowell '17. Mimi had the final kill, bringing the score to 24-5, and then the match ended, appropriately enough, with an ace by Avery, ending the third set 25-5.
Middlesex will close out their regular season on Saturday, November 14, hosting St. Paul's School at 2pm. As this is the final home game of the season, the seniors on the team will be recognized ahead of the match in a special presentation.
