On Saturday, October 23, the Varsity Volleyball team traveled to Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, Mass for an ISL match at the end of a difficult week for the school community. The team rallied and worked together, demonstrating extraordinary depth of character, resiliency, and camaraderie as they came away with the win in straight sets.

The Zebras fell behind early as the Bulldogs capitalized on Middlesex's unforced errors to start the first set. A key sideout came when outside hitter Sydney Feeney '22 came up with a great dig to setter Caroline Cervini '23, who assisted a kill by right side Annabelle Lerner '23. Setter and co-captain Sofia Dickinson '22 stepped to the service line, and her tricky float serve allowed the Zebras to even the scoreline, with help by libero Romy Ahn '23, whose solid defense kept Nobles' offensive weapons in check. Middle Parker Boyden '23 had another service run in the middle of the set which kept the scoreline even, and during that run she showed off her defensive skills in the back row, with a great dig that allowed Sofia to set up a kill from the outside by Julie Chen '23. Julie's excellent serve-- which she placed with precision to cause maximum confusion in the Bulldogs' serve receive-- extended the Middlesex lead. A huge block by Parker in the front row caused the Nobles' hitters to rethink their offense as the Zebras built a 22-16 lead. However, the Bulldogs rallied with a big service run of their own, evening the gap and catching the Zebras on their heels. After a timeout, though, the Zebras regrouped and refocused, and a kill by Sydney assisted by Sofia earned the sideout. With the score tied 23-23, the two teams traded a couple of sideouts, before a great dig by defensive specialist Antonia Baylor '22 let Sofia set up a big kill by middle and co-captain Morgan Clapp '22 to end the first set 26-24, Middlesex.

The second set again opened with a kill by Morgan to earn the immediate sideout. The Zebras' offensive came alive in the second set, with kills by Julie, Sydney, Parker, and Morgan, while Romy, Antonia, and Caroline held down the defense in the back. With the score at 23-17, Nobles took the serve, and after a long rally featuring great attacks and solid defense by both teams, a dig by Romy allowed Sofia to set up a kill by Julie for the sideout, putting the score at set point. Sofia then stepped back to serve and dished up an ace to end the second set 25-17, Middlesex.

The Zebras came out confident in the third, while the Bulldogs came out determined to extend the match to avoid the sweep. Middlesex edged ahead early in the set, and kept adding to their lead through the middle of the set with solid team play and great communication, starving the Bulldogs' offense of attacking opportunities. Some highlights included a service run by Caroline, which included an ace, and first-serve sideouts featuring great passing by Romy that allowed Sofia to mix up the offense and use all of the hitters. The set ended like the second, with an aced serve by Sofia, closing 25-18, Middlesex.

This win brings the Zebras' record to 8-2 (5-2 ISL). The Volleyball team now looks forward to two more league games this week: they will travel to Rivers School in Weston, Mass. on Wednesday, October 27, and will host Thayer Academy on Saturday, October 30 for Family Weekend.