After dropping the first set in their home match on Saturday, September 28, against a talented Milton Academy team, the Middlesex Varsity Volleyball squad once again exhibited resilience and poise as it won the following three sets to clinch its first ISL win of the season.

The scoreline was even for much of the first set, but Middlesex made too many unforced errors, and so, despite some excellent play at various points by the whole team, the Zebras lost the set 21-25. 

Middlesex was determined to clean up their play in the second set, however, and opened with a run of points off of setter Sophia Poplyk '21's serve. During that service run, a great dig by captain and outside hitter Mayu Lee '20 (who had 12 total digs for the match) allowed Poplyk to assist a kill by middle Morgan Clapp '22. The big difference in the second set was in the Zebras' ability to sideout the Mustangs on the first or second serve-- Middlesex didn't allow Milton to put together any long service runs, and so Middlesex pulled out into the lead and maintained it through to the end. Other highlights of the second set included a great receive by libero Sevilla Jin '21 that allowed Poplyk to set up opposite Natalie McCall '21 for a crushing kill., and the final point of the set was scored off of a dig by defensive specialist Sofia Dickinson '22 to Poplyk, who set up a kill by Mayu, ending the set 25-9, Middlesex.

In the third set, another run of unforced errors by the Zebras allowed the Mustangs to pull ahead early on, but then a big service run by Poplyk, an aced serve by outside Katy Qin '21 (who boasted a 100% serving percentage in the match), and some more great offense by Natalie (the most efficient hitter on the day with a 0.600 clip for 6 kills) and Mayu, allowed the Zebras to close the gap. At that point, the Middlesex JV team, fresh from their own victory over Milton's JV, arrived in the bleachers to support the varsity. With the score at 19-23 and with the enthusiastic energy of the JV to cheer her on, defensive specialist Emily Pyne '21 stepped in to serve, and her consistent, tough serve, with some great work at the net on both offense and defense by captain and middle hitter Kiley Briand '20, allowed the Zebras to close out the set 25-23.

The fourth and final set opened with three consecutive aces by Poplyk (who had 16 total aces on the day), putting the Zebras on top right away. A pass by Sevilla (who led all players with 18 digs) to Poplyk set up a kill by Morgan for a first serve sideout, and then Katy produced another service run as the Zebras widened the lead. Some errors in the middle of the set allowed the Mustangs to close the gap to 14-16, but then another kill by Kiley (who led all hitters on the day with 7 kills) for the sideout ended Milton's momentum. A few plays later, Poplyk rotated back to serve, and her tough serve forced Milton to take a timeout to regroup. Once Milton eventually earned the sideout, a good pass by Mayu allowed Poplyk to set up Sevilla in the back row to notch the kill for an immediate sideout. Katy then ended the match on her 5-point service run, 25-15, Middlesex.

With this win, the Zebras improve their season record to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the ISL. Middlesex looks forward to another week of league competition, with a match at Lawrence Academy in Groton, Mass. on Wednesday, October 2 at 2:45pm, followed by a home match against Brooks at 3pm on Saturday, October 5.