By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — The North Reading High volleyball team went up to Byfield to take on Triton on Monday afternoon. The Vikings, who won the first meeting, 3-2, back on Sept. 29, ended up winning this match 3-0.
Triton won the three sets, 25-13, 25-19, and 25-18.
With the loss, the Hornets fell to 5-14 overall and 4-11 in the Cape Ann League.
This was the third match in three days for the Hornets and their fourth in five days.
“We were tired with the schedule and we were also dealing with some injuries,” explained North Reading head coach Mike Milone. “They also played much better than when we played them the first time.”
In the title game of the Medford High Pink Out Tournament on Sunday afternoon, the Hornets lost to Malden Catholic 3-1.
The Lancers won the first set, 27-25, but the Hornets won set two, 25-23. Malden Catholic then won the final two sets, 25-23, and 25-11.
“The loss in the third set took the wind out of our sails,” admitted Milone. “We also lost one of our players to injury in the first five minute of the match.”
Madison Hopfer led the Hornets in digs (13) and assists (13), Sami Mutti had a team-high seven kills while Emery Cordero and Kaitlin Murnane both had three service points.
The Hornets defeated Medford 3-0 in the first game on the tournament on Saturday afternoon.
North Reading won the three sets, 26-24, 25-14, and 25-19.
“It felt pretty good the whole way through,” said Milone.
The Hornets were led by freshman, Sydney Scholz, who had a big day with 16 kills, four assists and a pair of blocks.
“She was killing the ball and lifting up our offense,” stated Milone, about the middle hitter.
Hopfer had 25 assists while sophomore, Ella Maier, had 10 digs.
On Oct. 19, the Hornets lost, 3-0, at home to the defending Division 4 state champions Ipswich. That was North Reading’s Dig Pink night.
The undefeated Tigers swept the season series as they won the first meeting, 3-0, back on Sept. 21. They won the three sets, 25-14, 25-9 and 25-20.
“They aren’t as full as they were last year but they are still very fast,” said Milone.
Mutti had five kills and nine digs to lead the team while Hopfer had a team-high nine assists.
Murnane had two service aces.
Milone was proud to announce that, thanks to the raffles and bake sales, they were able to raise a little over $800 for the Making Strides Walk to combat cancer.
The team did that walk a few weeks ago in Boston.
It was also the Hornets’ Senior Night as Murnane, Grace Terranova and Shayla Alley were honored before the match.
North Reading wraps up the regular season on Oct. 26 as they host Georgetown at 5:15 p.m. The Hornets beat the Royals 3-1 back on Sept 12.
The Hornets were ranked 42nd in the MIAA power rankings heading into this week. Only the top 32 teams automatically qualify for the state tournament at the end of the regular season.