The Middlesex Varsity and JV Volleyball teams traveled to Lawrence Academy, the reigning Class-B volleyball champions, on Wednesday, October 2, and both took home victories. The varsity team played cohesively, with contributions from every position, ultimately winning 3-1.
The first big kill of set 1 came during a service run by captain and middle hitter Kiley Briand '20—she had a great defensive dig to setter Sofia Dickinson '22, who assisted the kill by outside Katy Qin '21. A few plays later, a big kill by captain and outside hitter Mayu Lee '20 earned Middlesex a side out on the first serve. The scoreline stayed fairly even into the middle of the set, when the Zebras began to pull away—setter Sophia Poplyk '21 rotated in to serve, and had a solid run, which included a well-placed kill by middle Morgan Clapp '22. Another first-ball sideout followed Poplyk's run—this time off of a perfect serve receive by libero Sevilla Jin '21, which allowed Poplyk to set up another kill by Morgan. The first set then ended 25-15, Middlesex.
The second set again featured strong work by front-row hitters, but the back row stepped in offensively as well—Sevilla scored three kills in the middle of the set and forced the Spartans to adjust their defense to compensate. The second set ended 25-15, Middlesex.
Lawrence came out determined in the third set, hoping to extend the match, and their gritty defense kept the scoreline even as the Zebras struggled with consistency. Highlights from the middle of the set included a great dig by outside Sydney Feeney '22 to Sofia, who set it right back to Sydney for a big kill. A few plays later, during a long service run by Sevilla, a perfect pass by defensive specialist Emily Pyne '21 allowed Poplyk to assist a cross-court kill by right side Anna Buell '22, forcing the Spartans to take a timeout to regroup. Once the Spartans earned the sideout, though, a series of unforced errors by the Zebras, combined with a reinvigorated Spartan offense, helped Lawrence to come back to win the third set 23-25.
Middlesex came back in the fourth set ready to close out the match, correcting some of their mistakes from the end of the third set. Katy scored the first kill of the set to earn a first-ball sideout. Toward the end of the set, right side Parker Boyden '23 notched a kill on a Spartan overpass to put Middlesex decisively in the lead and forced Lawrence to take a timeout. The set ended with a perfect serve receive by defensive specialist Angela Bi '21, which allowed Poplyk to assist a final, crushing kill down the line by Mayu, ending the set 25-17.
Middlesex improves to 4-1 overall (2-1 in ISL) and looks forward to hosting Brooks on Saturday, October 5 for a 3pm match.
Highlight Video link: http://www.hudl.com/video/2/198580/5d95cc41bee1a70e48213096
