The varsity volleyball squad traveled to Braintree, Mass. on Saturday, October 27 and brought home a road victory against ISL rivals Thayer Academy, winning 3-1.

The first set opened with a strong serve by setter Sophia Poplyk '21-- the Tigers had trouble handling it and sent it back as an overpass, which outside hitter Mayu Lee '20 was ready to block. Mayu was next up to serve, and she dished up a couple of aces and showed some strong back row defense-- including a pass to Poplyk who assisted a kill by outside hitter and captain Hadley Jevon '19. Middle hitter Natalie McCall '21 was the next to earn a service run-- during her 10-point run, which also included several aces, Middlesex put together some great plays: defensive specialist Angela Bi '21 sent a perfect pass to Poplyk who assisted a kill by Hadley, and middle hitter Kiley Briand '20 was on her toes and ready to block an overpass of Natalie's tough serve. The set ended with a great serve receive by Mayu to setter Sofia Dickinson '22, who assisted the final kill by right side Maggie Chamberlain '19, closing the first set 25-16.

A solid serve receive by Hadley to Sofia led to the first sideout of the second set, as Sofia assisted a crushing kill down the line by Mayu to rotate Poplyk back to serve. Poplyk immediately dished up consecutive aces, and the Zebras maintained control of the scoreline for the remainder of the set. Later highlights included a great dig by libero Sevilla Jin '21 to Poplyk who set up a kill on the right by Morgan Clapp '22. The second set ended on an ace by Sofia, 25-20, Middlesex.

Middlesex took their foot off the gas in the third, making a few more unforced errors, and Thayer was able to rally and take some points on service runs of their own. One highlight included an impressive dig by Mayu to Poplyk who was able to set up a hit by right side Katy Qin '21, which forced an error by Thayer. Despite a spirited late rally in the set by the Zebras to close the scoreline to 23-24, the set ultimately ended 23-25, Thayer after a clever tip by the Thayer setter for the last kill.

The Zebras stepped up in the fourth and final set, determined to end the match quickly. The score stayed fairly even until defensive specialist Emily Pyne '21 subbed in to serve and to play back row, and her 9-point run put Middlesex decisively in the lead-- a lead they would retain for the remainder of the set. Another block by Kiley put the score at set point, and the set ended on Sofia's serve, 25-18, Middlesex.

The Zebras look forward to their next match at cross-town rivals Concord Academy on Wednesday, October 31.