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By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
The mission is clear for the Medfield girls volleyball team as they enter the 2016 season, and that is to beat Hopkinton and make a run in the state tournament.
Not only did the Warriors have their season come to an end at the hands of the Hillers in the 2015 D2 State Tournament, but Medfield also would have gone undefeated in the TVL (15-1) last year, had they not fallen to Hopkinton earlier in the season.
In 2016, a core group of seniors that includes outside hitter Ally Beck, right side hitter Julia McDevitt, and setter Haley Wong will lead the Warriors. Beck and McDevitt will captain the ship for the Warriors as the duo enters their fourth varsity season together.
“Ally and Julia are great leaders,” said Wong about her teammates. “Our team chemistry is amazing thus far and we are only getting closer. We have been supporting each other on and off the court and in turn, our dynamic on the court has been spot-on during practice.”
According to Wong, the entire team has been working extremely hard throughout the offseason to better their game and conditioning, which will only help them as the season wears on.
“I feel that immense drive in my teammates,” said Wong. “I think we all used the offseason to step up our game and prepare to do great things this year. We have been together since July inside and outside the gym, working on our team dynamic and goals.”
“Our drills and scrimmages have been intense and quick-paced, and I think Medvol is ready to do great things both within and outside of the TVL.”
When asked about dates to circle on the calendar, Wong made it clear that no opponent can be overlooked.
“Every team in the TVL has the ability to beat anybody on any given day,” said Wong. “Obviously, the two big ones in the early part of the season are September 8 against NDA (Notre Dame Academy) and the 21st against Hopkinton, but we’re just taking it game by game and focusing on how we can improve each week.”
The Warriors open up their season on their home floor against Millis on September 7.
