THE WARRIOR volleyball team defeated Belmont 3-1 on Sept. 11, the first victory over Belmont in program history. (Courtesy Photo)
WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield High volleyball team welcomed Belmont to the Charbonneau Field House on Wednesday and came away with an impressive 3-1 victory, their first over the Marauders in program history.
Consistently one of the best programs in the Middlesex League, Belmont had served as one of the last teams that Wakefield had yet to topple in their 12 years of existence.
The Warriors, who moved to 3-0 with the victory, had to stay mentally strong as the visitors took the first set with a comfortable score of 25-16.
Wakefield turned the tables in the most thrilling set of the season so far, taking the second, 27-25 and gaining all the momentum for the rest of the match.
The Warriors capitalized on that with a 25-19 win in set three and a 25-17 win in set four to seal it.
Junior captain Mia Kenny led the way with 17 kills, 12 digs and 19 serve receptions.
Junior Cara Carangelo was chosen as the team’s player of the game with 8 kills, 12 digs and 6 receptions.
Senior captain Sophia Anderson had 3 aces, 22 digs and 17 receptions while fellow back line senior captain Brooklyn Calder had 23 digs and 39 receptions.
Junior Tori Grace had 22 assists and junior Allison Cook had 17 assists and 3 aces.
Wakefield took control of the back-and-forth second set after a kill by junior middle Lila Arkinstall (6 kills, 2 aces, 2 blocks) gave the Warriors a 22-19 lead and forced a Belmont timeout.
After trailing 24-21, Belmont came back to tie it and extend the set. Wakefield broke a 25-25 tie on a big hit down the line by junior Emma Ickes (3 kills, 2 blocks). On the ensuing winning point, Cook made a great one-handed defensive play to keep it alive and an imposing net-front presence from Kenny and junior Jackie Sullivan (6 kills, 3 blocks) led to a Belmont error as the Warriors won it and tied up the match.
Wakefield took control early in the 3rd, at one point leading 12-5. A block-kill from Arkinstall forced a Belmont timeout with the Warriors up 16-8 but nothing could stem the tide as the Warriors cruised to a set win and a 2-1 advantage. Their final point in the third came on a Carangelo kill after she had a dig that went to Cook who sent it right back to Carangelo for a powerful spike.
Wakefield put together their best defensive set of the match in the fourth and their consistent hitting continued as they pulled away in the middle of the frame to finish up their best win of the season so far.
The Warriors fell to 3-1 after a 3-0 loss to Melrose also at home on Friday night.
Wakefield will look to get back in the win column tonight when they host Stoneham at 6:30 p.m.
