The Middlesex Admissions Open House day on Saturday October 6th culminated with an exciting volleyball contest where the Middlesex Varsity Volleyball team hosted Cushing Academy. The Zebras showcases the depth of their program and their warm and encouraging team culture, as every player contributed in the match, and the stands were full of fans. A gritty Cushing team dug up a lot of tough Middlesex attacks, forcing the Zebras to play as cleanly as possible and to reduce their own unforced errors, and Middlesex came away with the victory 3-1.

The first set opened with a great serve by setter Sophia Poplyk '21, which Cushing returned as a freeball. The Zebras were able to convert it with a perfect pass by captain and outside hitter Hadley Jevon '19 to Poplyk who assisted a kill by outside hitter Mayu Lee '20. Mayu was the next server, and immediately dished up a pair of aces. After the sideout, Middlesex was able to regain the serve immediately with another pass by Hadley to Poplyk who set up a kill by right side hitter Derin Colak '20. A few plays later, defensive specialist Angela Bi '21 had a perfect serve receive to setter Sofia Dickinson '22, who set up a kill by Hadley for a sideout to tie the score at 7-7, and then a great dig of a well-placed tip by libero Sevilla Jin '21 allowed Sofia to assist a kill in the middle by Kiley Briand '20. Sofia continued to get all the hitters involved; the next kill came from the right side off a great back set by Sofia for a cross-court shot by opposite Maggie Chamberlain '19, followed by another middle hit, this time by middle Natalie McCall '21. With the score now at 12-7, the Zebras maintained control of the score for the duration of the set. Highlights from the second half of the set included a block kill by Mayu, a pair of aces by Sofia, an ace by Kiley and another tip kill by Derin off of a tremendous dig by Poplyk. The first set closed out with a big kill by Mayu off of Sofia's assist, ending 25-17, Middlesex.

Cushing had the first serve in the second set, but the Zebras earned the immediate sideout off of a block kill by Natalie to end the rally. The setters continued to vary their sets; a great receive by Mayu to Poplyk  set up a kill by right side Grace Chamberlain '19 for a sideout. In the middle of the set, outside hitter Katy Qin '21 rotated in and served up back-to-back aces. After the Zebras lost the serve, Hadley's great versatility helped regain the serve immediately—she moved in for a pass on defense and was rewarded with a perfect set by Poplyk and the opportunity to put away the kill for the sideout. She then rotated back to serve, and had a good service run, adding to the Middlesex lead. During her run, a great pass by Sevilla to Sofia allowed a perfect backset to right side Morgan Clapp '22, who put away her first kill of the match. On the next play, another great pass by Sevilla to Sofia set up a crushing kill from the middle by Kiley. Middlesex ended the second set on an ace by Mayu for set point, and then a kill by Hadley to close the set at 25-22, Middlesex.

The third set opened well for the Zebras, as defensive specialist Emily Pyne '21 provided solid defense in the back row and allowed Sofia to control the offense, setting up kills by Hadley and Maggie in the first third of the set. Outside hitter Sydney Feeney '22 made her debut appearance in a Middlesex uniform, providing great net presence and a strong attack on the left. Still, the Penguins came out determined to extend the match, and despite more aced serves by Sofia, Hadley, and Kiley, Cushing managed to take control of the final points of the set and end it 23-25, Cushing.

The fourth set featured great defense by the whole squad, as Natalie scored several block kills of Cushing overpasses. Sevilla's tough serve extended the Zebras' lead in the middle of the set with consecutive aces. Another block kill by Natalie late in the set rotated Poplyk in to set and to serve, and a quick kill by Grace from the right put the score at 21-17. Poplyk continued to dish up tough serves, and a block kill by Natalie to end a long rally kept the momentum firmly on the Middlesex side. A pair of aces by Poplyk put the score at 24-17, and another stuff block by Natalie ended it 25-17, Middlesex.

Middlesex looks forward to a busy week of league competition next week-- first a home match against Governor's Academy at 4:00pm on Wednesday, October 10, and then an away match against Groton School on Friday, October 12 at 2:30pm.