Warriors top Golden Tornadoes 3-1 in season finale
THE WMHS girls’ volleyball team wrapped up the 2016 season with a 3-1 triumph over Malden last night in non-league match at the Charbonneau Field House.
By DAN BYRNE
WAKEFIELD— The Wakefield Memorial High School varsity girls’ volleyball team played host to Malden at the Charbonneau Field House on Monday in the final game of the season for the Warriors.
The Warriors wrapped things up with a victory over the Golden Tornados by a 3-1 score in a non-league contest.
In their previous match on Friday, the Warriors faced Billerica, losing 3-0 in a non-league game at Billerica High School. The set scores were 25-20, 29-28 and 25-19.
Wakefield finished the season with a 5-15 overall record and 3-13 in the Middlesex League Freedom division. Overall the Warriors improved on last year’s four-win campaign.
Head Coach Nicole Trudeau was very proud of the way her team played on Friday, specifically in the second set when they forced the game into extra points.
“We played probably our best game of the season,” Trudeau said about the game on Friday. “Emma Butler led the team in kills again and Julia Purcell and Ally Coggswell did a good job running the offense, controlling the tempo. Mackenzie Story was all over the floor, it was amazing.
“Everyone was playing great defense. It was exactly how we wanted to play,” the coach added. “To play that tight against a Merrimack Valley team, I am so proud of them.”
On Monday, senior team member Jenn Synan opened the game with a serve sending the Warriors on their way to claiming the opening set, 25-11.
“That was great,” Trudeau as she reflected on the win.
Butler led the team once again, adding 11 more kills to her season total.
“For a game where we didn’t get many opportunities to attack, 11 is a lot,” the coach said.
Coach Trudeau switched things up and brought Steph Pronco in for the second set, where the coach saw some impressive plays from the senior and her teammates. However, the visitors stole the second set by a 25-22 score.
“I changed it in the second set,” the coach said. “Steph Pronco played out of her mind, she stood out to me the whole game, just confident in herself. I think she would be the player of the game for me.
In the third set, Butler and Abbie Badgett made sure there were no mistakes and the Warriors jumped ahead to a 2-1 lead with a 25-17 win.
Butler and Badgett were on again in the fourth set, as the Warriors closed out the game. Nicole Roberto came up big keeping the ball in play.
“She’s been consistent when we needed her to be, all year,” said the coach.
Sam Salamone got the hot hand serving, as the Warriors picked up nearly 20 points and closed in on a big fourth set victory. Badgett subbed in for the final point, making a huge block to seal the win, 25-6.
“Every single senior on the floor played great,” Trudeau said. “It was just a great way to end their career.”
Trudeau finished by saying, “I think obviously we didn’t finish with the record we wanted to finish with but when you look back at this season you’ll remember the way this team played together. They should be very proud for the groundswell they’ve created in this school for this sport.”
The seniors on the team playing their final match included Nicole Roberto, Blake Ronzio, Abbie Badgett, Stephanie Pronco, Mackenzie Story, Emma Butler, Maggie Tryder, Samantha Salamone and team manager Jennifer Synan.
