The Varsity Volleyball squad traveled to South Hamilton, Mass. on September 13 to square off with the Pingree Highlanders for their first match of the 2017 season. As the defending NEPSAC champions, the team felt the need to prove themselves, and came up with a win in straight sets with contributions from all players.
The Zebras looked slightly unsettled at the start of the first set, losing a few points to unforced errors, until co-captain and outside hitter Avery Light '18 came up with a kill from the back row to sideout Pingree's first server. The two teams continued to trade sideouts, sizing each other up, until the middle of the set, when, following a tremendous dig by defensive specialist Angela Bi '21, the team began to find its offensive groove. With the back row's defense anchored by co-captain and libero Nina Huttemann '18, whose perfect serve receives made it relatively easy for the Zebras to set up their plays, Middlesex extended the lead. A big sideout in the middle of the set came from a great dig by Avery to setter Defne Colak '18, who assisted a crushing kill by co-captain and middle hitter Mimi Larrieux '18. A strong service run by opposite Grace Chamberlain '19, which included an ace, put Middlesex up 22-14. Another perfect pass by Nina to Defne set up a kill by middle hitter Natalie Burden '18 for the sideout. Avery then rotated back to serve, where she aced out the set, with a final score of 25-15.
The second set began more decisively in the Zebras' favor, with a perfect serve receive by Nina to Defne to set up a huge kill by Mimi to sideout Pingree immediately. A run of great offense by Middlesex, led by Avery (who totaled 13 kills in the match), gave the Zebras a big lead. A service run by opposite hitter Maggie Chamberlain '19, whose first serve was too tough for Pingree to handle, extended the lead. The set ended with another strong run of serves, this time by outside hitter Hadley Jevon '19. Her first serve was returned as a freeball, which was converted into a kill by Avery. Her second serve was an ace, bringing the score to 24-7, and the set ended with an error by Pingree, 25-7.
The final set featured some more high-level work at the net, including a huge block of the Highlander outside hitter by Mimi assisted by opposite Natalie McCall '21. Middlesex continued to add points, with Hadley, Natalie Burden, Avery, and Mimi notching kills. The set ended on a service run by defensive specialist Sevilla Jin '21, who aced her first serve to put the score at 24-13. On her second serve, the ball was returned and dug up by Hadley, and Defne set up Natalie Burden for the final kill of the match, ending the third set 25-13.
Middlesex is looking forward to hosting the first Interstate Invitational this Saturday, September 16, facing two schools from Connecticut along with Lawrence Academy. Middlesex will play Suffield Academy at 2:30PM, while Lawrence Academy plays Pomfret School on the second court, and then, in a rematch of last year's NEPSAC Championship game, Middlesex will play Pomfret at 4:00PM, while Lawrence plays Suffield.
