THE PIONEERS had their terrific season come to an end in the D4 state semifinals, 3-1 against Joseph Case on Nov. 15 in Canton. (File Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
CANTON — Another outstanding season for the Lynnfield High volleyball team came to an end in the Division 4 state semifinals on Nov. 15 as they fell to Joseph Case, 3-1, in front of a big crowd at Canton High School. Case is located down in Swansea near the Rhode Island border.
With that loss, the 2nd-seeded Pioneers ended the year at 20-4. The 3rd-seeded Cardinals, meanwhile, ended up losing to Ipswich, 3-2, in the state finals at Worcester State this past Saturday to end up at 22-2.
Ipswich, who has now won the Div. 4 state title the past two years, gave Lynnfield two of their losses this season.
This marks the second year in a row the Pioneers have lost in the state semifinals as they fell to Medway, 3-2, last fall.
CELIA CARBONE had a match-high 40 assists in the state semifinals against Joseph Case. The senior concluded her strong career this season in historic fashion, breaking the 1,000 assist mark as just the 2nd LHS volleyball player to do so. (File Photo)
In this match, things looked good for the locals when Lynnfield won the first set, 25-18, as they were in control the entire set. However, the Cardinals then won the next three sets by close margins, 25-22, 25-23 and 25-23.
The Pioneers led late in all three of those sets as they were up 18-12 in set two, 21-16 in the third set and 20-14 in the final one.
Case, a veteran team, did not let the deficits overwhelm them and they were able to pull out the sets.
Lynnfield senior star Ella Gizmunt, had a team-high 26 kills and 12 digs in her final high school match. Fellow senior, Celia Carbone, had a big night as well as the setter had a match-high 40 assists.
The Cardinals were led by senior setter Olivia Silva who had 30 assists, six digs, three service aces and a block. Junior Hannah Storm had 11 kills and 13 digs.
