On Wednesday November 16, 2022, #5 Middlesex traveled to #4 Newton Country Day School for a NEPSAC Class B Quarterfinal match. The home team was buoyed by a large and energetic home crowd, while a small yet loud and energetic contingent of the Middlesex Herd including honorary faculty members cheered on the visitors. The Falcons bested the Zebras 3-0 as they played with greater consistency and displayed exemplary setting and powerful hitting from their outsides in particular. 

Middlesex made too many unforced errors in the first two sets resulting in set losses of 16-25 and 15-25 respectively. However, the Zebras were not giving up without a fight, and they stormed out to an early 11-6 lead in the third set. They maintained control even as the set grew tighter and still held a 14-11 lead when the Falcons' strongest hitter rotated back into the front row. This sparked a streak by the home team as they took the lead for the first time and expanded it to 18-15. After several traded sideouts, the score was 21-18 NCD. Backed into a corner, the Zebras fought their way back into the set on a service run by Charlotte Heafey '25. With the score tied at 21-21, Devon Coyle '24 produced a magnificent solo block to gain back the lead for Middlesex, 22-21. However, the Falcons responded with a perfectly executed first ball sideout, and then managed to win the following three points to close out the match, winning the final set 22-25.

Congratulations to Newton Country Day for a well played match, and we wish them all the best as they advance to face #1 King in the semifinals.

The loss brought an abrupt end to a magnificent season for the Zebras. The six seniors proved again in this match how indispensable they are to this team, as has been the case all season, and how much they will be missed next year. We congratulate Caroline Cervini '23, Julie Chen '23, Annabelle Lerner '23 (all three year members of the team), and Tem Taepaisitphongse '23 (one year) as well as co-captains Romy Ahn '23 (three years) and Parker Boyden '23 (four years) for their amazing Middlesex volleyball careers. Their leadership, determination, resilience, love of volleyball, and strong connections with their teammates were instrumental to the team's many successes this season.