The Varsity Volleyball team returned to the Cage for their second home match of the season against the Tabor Academy Seawolves on Wednesday, September 27, losing 0-3 in three hard-fought sets.
In Set 1, Charlotte Heafey '25 got her first kill of the match off a fine outside set by Clair ("CJ") Jennings '25 to knot the score at 1-1. Senior co-captain Devon Coyle '24 got in on the action with a tip off the Seawolves' block to narrow the deficit to 3-5. Libero Clara Szeman '27 had her first service ace of the match, further tightening to 4-5. Charlotte continued her front row attack with a hit down the line, keeping the score close at 6-7. After the Zebras and Seawolves traded multiple sideouts, Charlotte had notched two aces to put Middlesex up 10-7. Charlotte complimented her front-row kills with a fine back-row attack, knotting the score at 13-13. Jackie Brown '25, returning to the court from an early-season ankle injury, had a nice service ace to put the Zebras up 14-13. After side-outs by both teams, Clara added to her service ace total putting Middlesex up 16-14. The Seawolves went on a serve run of their own, until Elizabeth Welles '27 put an end to it, getting the score to 17-21. Charlotte kept things close with a back row kill (20-24), and Jackie added a kill to tighten the score to 21-24. The Seawolves ultimately prevailed, winning Set 1, 22-25.
Tabor started serving in Set 2, and jumped out to an early lead. Jane ("Janie") Martin '26 and Alyssa Aslam '25 teamed on a fantastic outside roof block, getting the Zebras on the board at 1-4. Clara continued her strong serving, with two consecutive aces, narrowing the deficit to 4-5. Tabor went on a service run of their own, until Devon put a stop to it with a fine middle attack off a nice set from CJ, taking the score to 6-9. Alyssa got her first middle kill of the set, keeping the Zebras in reach, 8-11. Jackie put pressure on the Tabor service receive, with three strong serves as well as solid back row passing. Alyssa put a stop to another Tabor run with by winning a joust at the middle of the net, out-leaping her taller opponent, taking the score to 11-19. Charlotte followed by a fine outside kill off a dig from Clara and CJ set, narrowing the deficit to 12-19. The teams traded side outs, with Charlotte getting a nice block, taking the score to 14-22. After a number of traded side outs, Tabor ultimately prevailed in Set 2, 16-25.
Middlesex, down 2 sets to 0, came out determined & strong in Set 3, with CJ getting the Zebras off to a strong start with her strong serving, registering 3-0 on the scoreboard. Alyssa got in on the action with a nicely placed free ball winner, keeping the Zebra lead, 4-1. Clara contributed with a fine dig off a Tabor middle attack, and Natalia ("Talia") De Leon '24 getting her first kill of the match, taking the score to 5-2. Devon added a nice block in the middle, expanding the Zebra lead to 6-2. Tabor went on a service run, until Charlotte put a stop to it with a fine outside kill down the line, knotting the score, 7-7. After a number of side outs, Jackie kept things close with an outside attack to the floor, tying it at 9-9. Charlotte kept the Zebras within reach, with a service ace, followed by another outside kill, narrowing the deficit to 14-17. The Seawolves, with their significant height advantage over the Zebras, put together another service run & strong front-row blocking and attacks, to close out Set 3 with the win, 17-25, and taking the match 0-3.
Abby Tribush '26 earned the team helmet for the match for her enthusiastic sideline support for the entire team, and positive and encouraging attitude. The Zebras continue to improve in the early part of the season, and will focus on reducing unforced errors in this week's practices. The team continues its ISL schedule at home against Milton Academy on Saturday, September 30 at 2:30pm.
