In the second round of the MIAA state tournament Wednesday, Nov. 6, the girls’ volleyball team dominated Chelmsford in straight sets, sweeping the match 3-0 at the Reggie gym. The win propelled the team to the Elite Eight, heightening excitement as fans look forward to a potential third consecutive state championship title for the Tigers.
“The game had electric energy, taking us to a whole new level. We’ve been working hard every day and yesterday it showed in our consistency and attitude on the court,” said senior Devon Burke, a captain along with senior Alexa Marucci. “I can’t wait to see where our next game takes us.”
The first set was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams locked at 12-12 after fifteen minutes of play. The Tigers fed off the spirit radiating from the sidelines and the bench, which helped them raise their level of play and secure a 25-19 victory.
“It was so close in the first set. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was terrified. To be so close for so long in such an important game was definitely nerve-racking. Twelve minutes doesn’t seem like a while to most people but in volleyball, it’s an eternity,” said sophomore Lyla Burton.
The intensity continued in the second set, which was even tighter. By the 23-minute mark, the Tigers found themselves trailing 13-16, prompting head coach Nile Fox to call a timeout.
Following the break, the Tigers returned to the court with a renewed determination. “I’d never seen us play so aggressively,” said sophomore Paige Elman. The set went into overtime, with both teams battling fiercely. Ultimately, the Tigers emerged victorious with a hard-fought 25-22 win after 38 minutes of play.
“The amount of energy people were putting on the court was insane, this might have even been the first time I’d ever seen Nile so nervous.” said sophomore Izzy Holton.
The third set continued to be a hard-fought contest, but the Tigers entered with renewed focus. Despite the close score, the team managed to pull ahead, sealing the victory with a 25-22 finish. The flawless win had fans erupting in celebration as the final whistle blew. Sophomore Adrianna Labate described the atmosphere, she added, “The energy was so electric, you could feel it all the way across the school.”
“It was such an amazing game, the fact that we might have not won really got us in the zone,” said Burke.
Following their Friday, Nov. 8, win over Franklin, the Tigers went on to defeat Needham on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at South, advancing to the MIAA championship finals.
