The Middlesex varsity volleyball squad hosted the Rivers Red Wings for a late afternoon match on October 24, and, following an exciting victory by JV, notched another ISL win.

Middlesex gave up too many unforced errors in the first set, relinquishing the lead in the second half of that set. Defensive specialist Emily Pyne '21 then subbed in to serve and to play back row, and she immediately dished up an ace. Her service run evened out the scoreline to get the Zebras back in the game, so that when outside hitter and captain Hadley Jevon '19 rotated back to serve with the score at 22-24, Middlesex was able to maintain composure and serve out the set, which closed 26-24, Middlesex.

In the second set, after trading points early on, it was the Zebras who pulled ahead in the second half of the set-- a great receive by libero Sevilla Jin '21 to setter Sofia Dickinson '22 set up a kill by middle Natalie McCall '21. Middlesex began to pull away on a great service ace by outside hitter Mayu Lee '20. The second set ended on a perfect dig by defensive specialist Angela Bi that allowed Sofia to set up the final kill by Hadley, ending the second set 25-18, Middlesex.

The third and final set opened with an aced serve by setter Sophia Poplyk '21, but the Zebras then fell behind early in the set after Poplyk's run due to inconsistent play. A big sideout came on a solid receive by Sevilla to Sofia to set up a kill by middle Kiley Briand '20. That sideout allowed Hadley to rotate back to serve, and Kiley was on her toes and read to stuff an overpass of Hadley's tricky float serve. More good service runs by the Zebras evened out the scoreline and then allowed Middlesex to pull ahead-- first a run by Emily, then by Poplyk, and finally by Mayu. During Mayu's run in particular, the Red Wings rallied, hoping to extend the match. On her first serve, they responded with an attack, which Mayu dug up to Poplyk who assisted a kill by outside hitter Sydney Feeney '22. The set ended with a final ace by Mayu, 25-14.

Middlesex will travel to to Braintree, Mass. on Saturday, October 27 for another ISL match up against Thayer Academy at 3:00pm.