The Middlesex varsity volleyball squad, slightly depleted due to illnesses, traveled across town for a Halloween match-up against Concord Academy. Although the team improved in each set, they fell short, ending 0-3.

Nerves were apparent amongst the players in the first set as the team adjusted to replacing two starters and having players in unfamiliar positions and configurations. Middle hitter Natalie McCall '21 earned the first kill of the match, finding the hole in the Concord defense off of the assist by setter Sofia Dickinson '22 as libero Sevilla Jin '21 took the serve receive. Outside hitter Mayu Lee '20 was the next to serve, and she immediately dished up an ace. A highlight of the middle of the set was a quick sideout earned by middle Morgan Clapp '22 when she blocked an overpass.The next sideout was a kill by Mayu off a perfect pass by outside hitter and captain Hadley Jevon '19 to setter Katy Qin '21 for the assist. Concord won the first set off of a solid kill by their outside, closing the set 17-25.

In the second set, the Zebras earned an important sideout early when right side Derin Colak '20 found a hole in the Chameleons' defense, forcing an error. Later in the set, another right side attack, this time by Maggie Chamberlain '19, again forced Concord Academy out of system forcing an uncontrolled shot, which Natalie was able to block to end the rally. Despite some great plays by the Zebras, Concord pulled ahead, and it wasn't until a service run by Mayu that Middlesex was able to close the gap and stay in the set. During her run, a great defensive pick up by Derin allowed Sofia to set up a kill by Natalie; on the next play, a pass by Sevilla to Sofia assisted the kill by Derin. Natalie was the next to have a service run, and, after a first-serve ace, a great pass by defensive specialist Angela Bi '21 to Sofia set up a kill by Morgan. Despite these strong runs toward the end of the match, Middlesex was ultimately unable to close the gap, and the set ended 20-25.

An early highlight of the third set was when Hadley notched a stuff block of an overpass of Mayu's tough serve. In the middle of the set, the Zebras took the lead as offense led by Mayu and Natalie and directed by Sofia and Katy came alive. The score remained close, and the set was tied at 23-23 after another kill by Morgan, but unfortunately the final two points were taken by the Chameleons, and the set ended 23-25.

The Zebras have little time for rest and training, but look forward to recovering so that the whole team is healthy for their 5:15pm match on Friday, November 3 against Marianapolis.