The Deerfield JV Volleyball team was a small but mighty team going into the game against missing 4 players, a significant number for a team of 13. The team, therefore, was asked to step up for the last away game of the season and on the precipice of 10 wins. The team stepped up to the challenge, some of them playing in positions they hadn’t played in all season. The Doors dominated the first set with strong hitting allowing kills from seven different players, including two from Clara Lipman, ’27 and Jessica Wu, ’27. The team also showed defensive power at the net with blocks from Willow Tugume, ’28 and a stuff block from Libby Andrews, ’29. The Rhinos tried to pick up some momentum in the middle of the first set, but the serving of Willow shut them down as she scored three aces in a streak of important serves to put the set out of hand. The Doors took the first set 25-14.
The second set showed more of the same dominant play from the team, especially at the service line with three aces from Madison Stott, ’28, two from Selin Aksoy, ’27, and one each from Karen Park, ’26 and Willow. Libero Audrey Tjeong, ‘29 played fantastic defense and kept the hitters hitting with her excellent serve receive. The second set proved to be almost a twin to the first with a 25-15 finish for the Doors.
In the third set, the Rhinos were clearly rattled by the play from Deerfield as they struggled with serves and in hitting. Still, the Doors showed some great plays, including important kills from Jessica and from Ella Ylvasaker, ’29. The third set also featured the important play from setter, Selin. She had two kills as a setter as well as a dig, which kept the momentum on Deerfield’s side. Selin ended the match with 14 assists and the third set completed in similar fashion as the first two with a 25-15 win for Doors.
The JV Volleyball team now enters their final week of the season with lots of motivation to get to a 12-2 season. They face St. Paul’s on Wednesday in a revenge match after losing to them early in the season. Then, Saturday brings Choate, the top team they will face this season. The team is excited and ready to go!