The Middlesex Volleyball team traveled to rival Groton School on October 13, 2023 for the mid-season "Battle of the Zebras" rivalry match. Despite continuing to improve & playing their best match of the season, Middlesex ultimately fell to a strong home team, 1-3.

Middlesex got off to a fast start in Set 1, with Jackie Brown's '25 strong serving, including two aces, taking the score to 4-0.  After a number of side outs, freshman Lucy McGaraghan '27 got in on the action with a fine front row tip, keeping Middlesex ahead, 9-6.  Jackie added a great dig off a Groton attack, and a kill of her own, keeping the pressure on, 10-8.  The teams traded side outs until Charlotte Heafey '25 had a great dig, which setter Clair ("CJ") Jennings '25 dumped over the net for a score, 15-13.  Charlotte got her first kill of the set, off a fine assist from CJ and great pass from freshman libero, Elizabeth Welles '27, extending the lead to 17-14.  Senior co-captain Devon Coyle '24 got in on the front row action with a middle block, keeping the momentum, 20-14.  Charlotte notched another kill off Elizabeth's dig to extend the lead to 22-15.  In one of the longest rallies of the match, the entire team played great defense,with Middlesex  finally earning the point at 24-17.  Jackie notched the final point of Set 1 with a fine attack off of CJ's set, with Middlesex winning Set 1, 25-19.

Charlotte got Middlesex off to a solid start, notching her first kill of Set 2 off a nice pass from Elizabeth and CJ's set, 1-1.  Elizabeth notched a service ace, taking the score to 3-1.  Another kill from Charlotte, followed by a service ace Sarah McLaughlin '25, took the score to 5-3.  After a number of side outs, Charlotte evened the score with a back row attack, 7-7.  After the teams traded side outs, Groton, motivated to even the score, gained the momentum with a strong service run until Charlotte put an end to it with a nice shot down the line, 13-19.  Groton finished off Set 2 with their second service run of the set, ultimately winning it, 14-25.

Set 3 started with a long defensive rally with Clara Szeman '27 registering a number of digs and fine passes from the libero position, putting Middlesex ahead 1-0.  Jackie's service ace extended the lead to 2-0.  Sarah added to her fine setting, notching a service ace of her own, keeping Middlesex ahead 5-4.  After trading side outs, Lucy got in on the front row action, teaming with Alyssa Aslam '25 for a block, tying the score at 7-7.  Groton gained momentum off a strong service run, until Jackie put an end to it with a front row attack off a fine assist from Sarah, and excellent service receive from Clara, 8-12.  Lucy got a kill from the front row, keeping the set tight, 9-13.  Groton gained control of Set 3 with another strong service run, until Charlotte halted it with a front row attack off of CJ's assist, 12-20.  Groton's tough serving carried the momentum to win Set 3, 15-25.

Alyssa made her presence known at the net to start Set 4, with two blocks in the first point of the Set, putting Middlesex ahead 1-0.  She continued her dominant blocking, putting a stop to Groton's mini service run, 2-4.  Senior co-captain Dela McCaghran '24 joined the block party with a roof of her own, pulling Middlesex close at 3-4.  After a number of side outs, Lucy had a front row tip, taking the score to 6-7.  Lucy and Devon teamed on a block, putting Middlesex ahead 8-7.  After trading a number of side outs, Alyssa registered a middle kill off a fine jump set from Sarah, keeping Middlesex within reach, 10-13.  Alyssa continued her dominant middle blocking with another roof, 12-14.  Charlotte's front row attack off a fine assist from CJ via a crisp pass from Clara kept the score close, 14-18.  After a number of side outs, Alyssa went on another fantastic run of middle blocks, scoring two consecutive roofs, narrowing the lead, 19-23.  The teams traded side outs, with Groton ultimately winning Set 4, 20-25, and the match, 1-3.

Freshman right side Lucy McGaraghan '27 earned the team helmet for the match for her positive and supportive attitude, great front row play, and formidable blocking at the net. After enjoying a long weekend to recover and recharge, the team looks ahead to hosting "the Battle of Concord" match against Concord Academy on Wednesday, October 18, at 3:30pm.