LYNNFIELD — The Lynnfield High volleyball team played its third-consecutive non-league match on Oct. 15 as they hosted North Andover. The Pioneers were able to pull out an exciting 3-2 win over the Scarlet Knights who are one of the top teams in the Merrimack Valley Conference.
The Scarlet Knights won the first set 25-23 while the Pioneers won the second one 25-19. North Andover won set three, 25-23, but the Pioneers tied the match at two winning 25-22 in set four.
Lynnfield then edged the Knights 16-14 in the final set.
With that victory, the Pioneers improved to 12-2 overall with six matches left to play. North Andover , meanwhile, fell to 11-2.
“It was a slugfest,” stated Lynnfield head coach Brent Ashley. “We’ve had a great relationship with North Andover over the years and we had a strong game plan heading into the match.”
Ella Gizmunt had a monster night with a career-high 33 assists. The junior All-Star also had a team-high 14 digs. Senior Sarah Foley had a career-high 26 assists and 10 digs while junior Celia Carbone had 18 digs.
“It was the best win of the season for us,” said Ashley, as the match lasted nearly two and a half hours.
In the other non-league game last week, the Pioneers lost at Arlington Catholic 3-1 on Oct. 12. The Cougars, a team out of the Catholic Central League, won the first two sets 25-23 and 25-19.
The Pioneers rebounded taking set three, 25-21.
However, the hosts easily won the fourth set 25-13.
“That is a tough environment with the fans right on top of you,” explained Ashley, as the AC gym is very small. “They also have a bunch of seniors as well.”
The Pioneers were also missing Gizmunt who was out for that game.
Grace Davie had a career-high 10 kills and five service aces while fellow 11th-grader, Giuliana Guarracino, had a career-high 20 digs and eight kills.
Lynnfield will play back-to-back games on Oct. 21 and 22. On the 21st they visit Newburyport. Lynnfield then plays another non-league game on the 22nd as they go to Lynn Classical.
Both matches will start at 5:30 p.m.
On Oct. 25, the Pioneers return to Cape Ann League play as they host Ipswich at 5:30 p.m. looking to avenge a 3-0 loss to the first-place Tigers back on Sept. 29.
In a couple of weeks, the team will be playing in the Division 4 state tournament. They were moved down from Division 2 by the MIAA starting this season.
