By Avonlea Cummings
Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter
In a remarkable regular season and postseason, the Medfield girls' volleyball team demonstrated dominance on the court, showcasing outstanding talents and team energy unparalleled in the Division III tournament. Following a decisive 3-0 victory in the semifinal against Amherst-Pelham, their hard work culminated in a berth in the Division II State Championship.
The State Championship, held at Worcester State University on Friday, November 17th, featured the top-seeded Warriors against the third-seeded Weston High Wildcats. In a fierce battle, both teams relentlessly contested each set. However, the Wildcats ultimately outplayed the Warriors, securing a 3-0 victory and claiming the championship title.
In the first set, Medfield asserted control, displaying confidence on the court and successfully thwarting Weston's attempts. Despite intense volleys, Weston found a rhythm that challenged the Warriors' defense, winning the set 25-20.
Entering the second set with momentum, Weston continued their strong performance, leaving Medfield trailing and ultimately falling short with a score of 25-17.
The beginning of the third set saw spirited support from the stands, as fans cheered on the Medfield girls, urging them to persevere against the Wildcats. Energized by the crowd, Medfield initially took control, accumulating points on the scoreboard and giving their all on the court. Weston, however, closed the gap and eventually took the lead. Both teams continued their efforts to score, with Medfield tightening their defense against Weston's powerful hits. Towards the end of the set, the Warriors rallied, tying the match at 24-24. Despite their efforts, the Wildcats secured two more points, clinching the third set with a final score of 26-24.
Head coach Jerry Shu provided insights into the team's strategic considerations between sets, emphasizing their resilience and expressing pride in the team's success throughout the year.
“We had the conversation of playing point by point everyone was just scrappy trying to get the ball, we needed to get tight and I had to remind the girls to just keep playing this it was not over yet, we came close but it came down to a couple of points at the end and we dropped. I’m proud of the girls this was almost a Cinderella season, we never expected to make it this far. They fought hard all season long,” said Shu.
The Warriors closed their regular season 19-1.
