THE HORNET volleyball team, who beat Georgetown 3-1 in the season-opener on Sept. 5, travels to Salem High for a non-league matchup on Monday at 5:30 p.m. (Eric Evans Photo)
After press time:
North Reading defeats Pentucket 3-2 (Sept. 11)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — On Monday evening, the North Reading High volleyball team lost, 3-1, to visiting Essex Tech. With that defeat, the Hornets fell to 1-1 overall and in the Cape Ann League.
The Hawks won the first two sets, 25-18 and 25-13. The Hornets then won the third set, 25-23, before falling in the fourth set, 28-26.
“We were not consistent late in those first two sets,” said Hornets head coach Mike Milone. “We had some bad plays in that last set but we went down fighting.”
Emily Cordero led the Hornets in digs with 12 while senior co-captain, Madison Hopfer, had a team-high 12 assists.
Sami Mutti had nine kills to lead the way while Willow Koepke had six service aces.
Sydney Scholz had a pair of blocks.
In the season opener on Sept. 5, the Hornets won at Georgetown 3-1. They won the first two sets, 25-11 and 25-14.
The Royals then won the third set, 25-19, but the Hornets closed the match out with a 25-18 win in the fourth set.
“We came out super strong and composed,” said Milone. “We struggled in that third set but played will in the fourth one.”
Mutti and Scholz share the team lead for kills with eight each. Hopfer had 12 assists in this match as well while Cordero had 10 digs.
Mutti and Koepke both had six aces.
North Reading will have back-to-back matches on Sept. 16 and 17.
On the 16th, the Hornets visit Salem for their first non-league match of the season. They then return to CAL action the next day as they go to Ipswich. Both matches will start at 5:15 p.m.
