The energy was high in the Cage on October 31 as the Varsity Volleyball squad squared off with last year's ISL champions Milton Academy and defeated them in three sets in front of a big home crowd.
In the first set, the two teams traded sideouts in the first half of the set as they tested each other for mismatches and looked for weaknesses in each other's defenses. The Zebras got their first good run of points off of a tough serve by middle blocker Lydia Paddock '17, who dished up a few aces and unreturnable serves. A perfectly placed push by opposite Natalie Burden '18 off of the set by outside hitter Avery Light '18 from the dig by outside hitter Lily Renneker '17 extended the Middlesex lead and Lydia's serve. A few plays later, Avery again stepped in to set up a kill, this time by middle blocker Mimi Larrieux '18. With setter Maile Cowell '17 serving, Milton found themselves unable to handle her hard topspin serve, which drops abruptly into the court-- an overpass of her serve was immediately pounced on by Mimi, who blocked it straight down to extend the Zebras' lead 9-6. Middlesex didn't give up the lead for the rest of the set, and instead gradually extended it. A great serve receive by libero Nina Huttemann '18 to Maile set up a crushing kill by Mimi to sideout Milton. Avery rotated back to serve, and immediately aced it with her deceptive, low jump float. A great kill down the line by Lily off of Maile's set was followed up by a block by Lydia and co-captain and opposite hitter Alyssa McNally '16. Maile demonstrated her versatility with a sneaky tip to a hole in Milton's defense. Further highlights included a service ace by Leyla, another ace by Lydia, and another kill by Mimi off of Maile's assist from Nina's dig. The set ended with a crushing kill down the line by Lily off of Maile's assist, followed immediately by a deceptive tip over Milton's block by Lily, ending the first set 25-19, Middlesex.
Middlesex found themselves behind in the early part of the second set as they adjusted to a slightly different rotation. Lydia helped the team get back on track with a great kill off of Lily's assist from Nina's dig, and a big cross-court kill by Avery off of Lily's assist from Nina helped them stay in the game. Avery rotated back to serve, and dished up an ace, closing the gap to 5 points. A few plays later, Lily had the serve, and her jump topspin serve earned three aces for Middlesex, plus an overpass which Lydia easily stuffed. The gap had now closed to only one point. Lily set up a back row kill by Nina to catch Milton off guard. Milton and Middlesex continued to trade sideouts, but Milton slowly regained a 4-point lead. Another kill by Avery off of Lily's assist sided out one of Milton's top servers and rotated Leyla back to serve, where she dished up three aces in a row to tie the score 22-22. Defensive specialist Sarah Ong '16 dug up a hit which Mimi stepped in to set for Avery, who put down a crushing cross-court kill to put Middlesex on top, 23-22. A double block by Mimi and Lily put Middlesex at set point, and then a perfectly placed push by Lily off of Leyla's assist ended the second set 25-23, Middlesex.
In the third set, both teams came out determined-- Middlesex to finish it, and Milton to extend the match. Middlesex drew first blood with a big cross-court kill by outside hitter Hadley Jevon '19. An ace by Sarah made Milton's passers cheat back to receive her next, but she placed it higher and caused them to overpass it, and Lydia was ready to pounce for the block. More aced serves for Middlesex by Leyla and Nina propelled Middlesex into the lead in the middle of the set, and with quality play by the entire squad, Middlesex ended the third set decisively 25-17.
Middlesex looks forward to hosting Concord Academy next Wednesday, November 4, at 3:30pm in the Cage. The Zebras are hungry to avenge their loss to these cross-town rivals earlier in the season as both teams are contending for a place in the New England postseason tournament.
