The Middlesex Varsity Volleyball team hosted Nobles on Friday, November 4 for their final home match of the regular season. This was projected to be a close and exciting contest as the top two teams in the ISL entered this match with long win streaks (thirteen and six respectively), and they did not disappoint the large crowd gathered in the Atkins Cage. The match featured long and intense rallies of some of the most competitive play that Middlesex has seen all season. Despite keeping a close scoreline throughout, the match ended in Nobles' favor, 1-3.
Prior to the start of the match, the five seniors in the Varsity volleyball program were recognized for their contributions over the years: team manager and scorekeeper extraordinaire Ariana Odom, setter and outside hitter Erin Brady, defensive specialist Stephanie Li, co-captain and outside hitter Lily Renneker, and co-captain and middle hitter Lydia Paddock.
The first set opened, appropriately enough, with a great kill by Lydia assisted by libero Nina Huttemann '18. The opening service run by setter Defne Colak '18 put the Zebras on top 3-1. More kills by Lydia and by outside hitter Hadley Jevon '19 during another good service run by Lily helped Middlesex to push slightly further into the lead. A few hitting errors by Middlesex evened out the scoreline before a kill from opposite Natalie Burden '18 tied it again. The two teams continued to trade sideouts as the score stayed even through the middle of the set, and with the score tied at 14-14, a great dig by Nina to Defne set up a kill down the line by Lily to sideout Nobles' top server. Lily rotated back to serve and dished up a pair of aces to put Middlesex up 17-14. Nobles' powerful front row challenged the Middlesex offense at the net and managed to block a number of our hitters, forcing the Zebras to adjust. A quick hit by middle hitter Mimi Larrieux assisted by Defne put Middlesex at 20-21, and a few plays later, a great serve receive by Stephanie to Defne set up a crushing cross-court kill by Lily. Outside hitter Avery Light '18, dug up a hard-hit ball to Defne who set up a kill in the middle by Lydia to put the score at 22-23. The two teams traded sideouts, and the first set ended 23-25, Nobles.
The second set was similarly intense, featuring long rallies and hard-won sideouts on both sides of the net. The Middlesex servers unfortunately were less consistent in this set, and, with a number of missed serves, allowed the Bulldogs to gain a lead which they would slowly extend throughout the set, which ended 17-25, Nobles.
Determined not to allow the Bulldogs to win in straight sets in their home gym and hoping to extend the match, Middlesex came out strong in the third set. With great defense by Nina, who anchored the back row, the Zebras varied the offense, with kills by Hadley, Lily, and Lydia at the beginning of the set. The girls made smart plays, swinging hard when they saw an opportunity and tipping when they saw a hole in the Nobles defense. A great dig by Avery allowed Defne to set up a slide by Mimi who crushed it across the court from the right side. Despite giving up a long service run in the middle of the set to allow Nobles to regain the lead, Middlesex stayed competitive and chipped away at the lead. A crushing kill by Lydia earned the sideout and tied the set at 24-24, and a few errors by Nobles in response to solid play by the Zebras ended the third set 27-25, Middlesex.
The fourth set looked a lot like the first, with long and intense rallies and exciting play on both sides. The whole team celebrated when Avery had a superb kill from the back row early in the set. The senior co-captains also looked sharp in their final set: Lydia scored five kills while Lily notched three, plus an aced serve. In the end, though, despite having the score even at 22-22, a series of long rallies ended the set 23-25, Nobles, bringing the exciting contest to an end.
Despite the loss, the Zebras can be proud of the level of play and the impressive volleyball on display for Senior Day. Middlesex (17-2; 12-1 ISL) will take the weekend to rest up and regroup as they hope to secure home court advantage in the New England playoffs. The team will be on the road for the final week of the regular season, traveling to Lawrence Academy on Wednesday, 11/9 for a 2:30 PM match and to Concord, N.H. to face the St. Paul's School at 1:30 PM on Saturday, 11/12.
