Varsity Volleyball hosted Marianapolis Preparatory School for a Saturday afternoon match on September, 25, winning in straight sets.

Middlesex began the match sluggishly after a long school week, and Marionapolis got on the board first, stringing together several points and building an  early lead by capitalizing on several unforced errors by the Zebras. However, Middlesex soon adjusted and earned the sideout on a great pass by libero Romy Ahn '23 that let outside hitter Anna Buell '22 notch the first kill of the match. A long service run by opposite Marissa Fadley '22 then put Middlesex on top, 9-8, and they maintained control of the scoreline for the remainder of the set. During Marissa's run, the Zebras' offense came alive: a dig by defensive specialist Julie Chen '23 to setter and co-captain Sofia Dickinson set up a kill by middle Annabelle Lerner '23. On the next play, Sofia mixed it up and assisted a kill on the outside by Sydney Feeney '22. The set ended on a service run by Julie that included several consecutive aces, 25-12, Middlesex.

The Zebras' strong serves again put them in early control of the second set, as Romy opened with a six-point service run. In the middle of the set, Marionapolis answered with a service run of their own, forcing Middlesex to adapt their serve receive to earn the sideout. An excellent pass by defensive specialist Antonia Baylor '22 let Sofia set up a kill from the back row by Romy for a sideout, and Julie then subbed in to serve, dishing up a first-serve ace to put the Zebras back on top and forcing Marionapolis to take a timeout to regroup. After the timeout, Sofia set up a kill by middle Parker Boyden '23 to extend Julie's service run. Near the end of the set, co-captain and middle hitter Morgan Clapp '22 stepped back to serve, and her consecutive aces put the score at set point, and the second set ended 25-19, Zebras.

In the third set, right-side hitter Sadie Goodwin '23 made her Varsity debut, as Middlesex changed system in order to take further control play at the net. The Knights were determined to extend the match, while the Zebras made a number of unforced errors as players adjusted to their new rotations, which kept the scoreline tight throughout the set. A long service run by setter Caroline Cervini '23, which included three consecutive aces, was an early highlight of the third set. During her run, Caroline recorded her first assist, when a dig by Romy let her set up a kill by Sydney. The Knights answered with a long run of their own which put them in the lead, but the Zebras chipped away at their deficit. A pass by Julie to Caroline, who set up the middle kill by Morgan, evened out the score at 25-25, and the set ended with a final ace by Sofia to finish the set 27-25, Middlesex.

Middlesex looks forward to beginning league play next week starting with a home game against the 2019 ISL co-champion, Tabor Academy on Wednesday, September 29 at 3:30pm.