After a two year hiatus, the "Battle of the Zebras" finally returned as all of the Middlesex fall sports teams traveled to Groton, Mass. in the early afternoon of Friday October 15, to compete in their rivalry games against the Groton School before both schools' Fall Long Weekend. The competition between the Varsity Volleyball teams was an exciting and scrappy contest, with Middlesex ultimately winning 3-1.
Setter and co-captain Sofia Dickinson '22 got Middlesex on the board first, scoring a first-serve ace. Middle hitter and co-captain Morgan Clapp '22 was next to score, earning a kill assisted by Sofia to start a service run by Anna Buell '22. Parker Boyden '23 stepped back to serve in the middle of the set, and notched two consecutive aces, and, a few plays later, Middlesex earned a big sideout off of a great dig by defensive specialist Antonia Baylor '22 that allowed Sofia to set up a kill from the right side by Annabelle Lerner '23. Strong hits by Groton's outside hitter combined with some unforced errors by Middlesex allowed Groton to pull into the lead, but some good serving by Middlesex, including an aced serve by serving specialist Marissa Fadley '22, put Middlesex at set point, 24-22. Unfortunately, Groton then capitalized on a series of misplays by the away team to overtake and then win the first set, 24-26.
Middlesex was determined in the second set to reclaim the match, and a perfect first serve receive by Antonia allowed Sofia to set up a kill by Julie Chen '23 from the outside for the first point of the set. Middlesex then jumped out to an early lead off of a great service run by libero Romy Ahn '23. A highlight of the middle of the set was a crushing quick kill by Morgan for a first-serve sideout. The next attack came when Julie sent a perfect pass to Sofia, allowing her to assist a kill down the line on the right by Annabelle. Defensive specialist Caroline Cervini '23 had the next service run, extending the Middlesex lead. The set concluded as Morgan killed an overpass, ending 25-19, Middlesex.
The third set stayed fairly even as the two teams traded sideouts. Caroline had another good run at the service line, notching yet another ace and helping to anchor the defense. A key sideout in the middle of the set came when outside hitter Sydney Feeney '22 found a hole in the Groton defense down the line. Romy closed out the set with her consistent, tough serve, ending it 25-20, Middlesex.
The fourth set opened with some unforced errors on both sides as both teams fought fatigue. Middlesex gave up an early lead and allowed Groton to pull ahead in the middle of the set, but solid serving by Caroline, Antonia, and Parker as well as consistent, patient team play by the whole squad allowed Middlesex to overtake them and win the fourth set 25-21.
This win brings Middlesex's record to 6-2 (4-2 ISL) at the halfway point of the season. The team is now enjoying a well-earned long weekend before returning to practice on Monday. Middlesex will host cross-town rival Concord Academy on Wednesday, October 20 at 4:00pm, where both schools are also collaborating to support the Side-Out Foundation and its Dig Pink® program in conjunction with the match. More information about this event is available at https://giving.side-out.org/campaigns/18008.
