Volleyball Team Caps Strong Week with Charity
Medford High and Vocational Technical High School celebrated Spirit Week last week and the Mustangs Volleyball program showed a great deal of spirit in their matches against league rivals Everett and Malden, according to Head Coach Alice Beth FitzPatrick. The varsity team was able to collect victories against both teams and edged their way into third place in the Greater Boston League.
In the match against Everett on Wednesday the Mustangs battled their way to a victory in five sets, defeating the Crimson Tide 3-2. After losing the first set 15-25, Medford fought back to win the second set 30-28. The team was energized by strong performances at the net by middle hitters Kelly Hayes (senior) and junior JoAnn Paul (junior), said Coach FitzPatrick. The team helped themselves by strong serving performances all around.
The Mustangs went on to win the third match handily 25-11. Junior setter Kayla Greeley and senior outside hitter Rachel Keen paired up with excellent serving performances; Keen also had three kills in that set. Everett came back to take the fourth set 19-25. However, the Mustangs were not to be defeated that day and came out very strong in set five, winning 15-4 with Greeley leading the way in serving and Keen following it up. Greeley ended the day with seventeen service points while Keen had sixteen service points and eleven kills. The team was also aided by very strong passing performances by junior defensive specialists Katie Napier and Alison Ross. Senior Katie Bowler assisted the team with strong serving and senior Kathryn Ellersick also contributed with two kills and good defense, said FitzPatrick.
On Friday, the end of Spirit Week, the Mustangs were ready to take on Malden. All three teams took home a victory that day. The freshmen team won 2-1 and the junior varsity team won 2-0. The varsity team won their match 3-0, 25-18, 25-21 and 25-15. Bowler was “unstoppable” at the service line with seven aces of eleven total service points. Christine Feeley also had eleven service points. Keen had four kills while Ellersick added three kills. Hayes had four blocks. Greeley and Katie Napier also helped the team in serving with eight and six service points, respectively.
The volleyball team not only showed its Mustang Pride throughout the week, they also demonstrated pride and spirit for a special cause on Saturday. For the second consecutive year, the team organized a fundraiser in support of breast cancer awareness. This year, the Lady Mustangs teamed up with Zumba Instructor Daniella DiDiego for an hour of Zumba, with all proceeds to be donated to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation. Members of the volleyball program, parents, siblings, friends, and members of the community joined in and raised $450 in support of this great cause, according to Coach FitzPatrick.
?I am so proud of the ladies in my program. It is a pleasure to coach them on the court and to have the opportunity to see them develop as helpful citizens off the court. We, as a program, are very fortunate to have such great student-athletes and supportive families,? said FitzPatrick.
With the victories over Malden and Everett the Mustangs finished in third place in the GBL. They go into their last week of the season with a 3-5 record in the GBL and a 5-11 record overall. The team heads to Arlington Catholic on Monday and finishes the regular season at home against Stoneham on Tuesday, October 25. Tuesday is Senior Night and the game begins at 5:15pm. On Thursday, October 25 Medford will visit Somerville in the first round of play for the GBL Cup.
– Information and photo from Coach Alice Beth FitzPatrick