On Wednesday November 13, the Middlesex volleyball squad took the over three hour long bus ride down to Stamford, Conn. to face the #1 seeded King School in the NEPSAC Class B quarterfinals. As the Zebras were still shaking off their road legs, the Vikings' tough serves and strong pin hitters put the Zebras on their heels to start, and they fell behind early. Katy Qin '21 scored the first kill of the match for Middlesex, off of a great dig by captain and outside hitter Mayu Lee '20 to setter Sophia Poplyk '21. Opposite Natalie McCall '21 had a good service run in which she aced three consecutive topspin serves to help narrow the gap. In the middle of the set, the Zebras earned a key sideout on a dig by libero Sevilla Jin '21 that allowed Poplyk to set up a kill by captain and middle hitter Kiley Briand '20. Still, the gap was too great, so despite some more good plays, including a big kill by middle Morgan Clapp '22 for a first-ball sideout late in the set and back-to-back kills by Katy during Poplyk's service run, the set ended 16-25, King.
The second set stayed even to start, as Poplyk aced her first serve to put the Zebras on the board first. The set included many long and gritty rallies-- one key sideout came after a timeout, when defensive specialist Sofia Dickinson '22 dug up a ball that Sevilla stepped in to set for Mayu to put away for the kill-- Mayu's 100th kill on the season. In the middle of the set, the Zebras' blockers adjusted their timing, and forced the Vikings to change their attack. Natalie and Morgan put up a big double block of King's first outside hitter, and Mayu and Kiley stuffed their right side. A late set sideout was earned when defensive specialist Emily Pyne '21 sent a perfect serve receive to Poplyk, who set up a crushing kill down the line by Mayu. Still, despite the overall stronger play, the second set ended 20-25, King.
The Zebras were showing some weariness and frustration to start the third set, and they gave up a run of points to the Vikings' best server to put themselves in a deficit they would be unable to overcome. They finally earned the sideout on a solid pass by Sofia to Poplyk, who set up Morgan in the gap for a kill. A first-ball sideout on a kill by Natalie at outside, assisted by Poplyk, sent Katy back to serve, and she put together a service run that helped to close the gap. During her run, both Mayu and Morgan notched additional kills, and Katy scored an ace. Sevilla was the next Zebra to serve, and she aced her first, but the initial deficit was too great, and the third set eventually ended 14-25, King, to end the match.
The Zebras produced high quality plays on the day demonstrating their growth as a team this season. We congratulate King on a well played contest, and wish them all the best as they advance in the tournament. Middlesex fell short against a talented and well-coached team, but they can hold their heads high and be proud of their accomplishments this fall. It has been a great season, and we are appreciative of all the encouragement and support from friends, families, and the entire school community.
