Post-publication update: Lynnfield loses to Bellingham High School 3-0 in Final Four contest (November 12, 2025)
THE LYNNFIELD volleyball team punched their ticket to the Final Four with a 3-0 win over Old Rochester on Friday night at LHS. The No. 4 Pioneers will meet top-seeded Bellingham in the semifinals on Wednesday, 5 p.m. at Westwood High School. (Courtesy Photo)
LYNNFIELD — The Lynnfield High volleyball team is off to the Div. 3 Final Four.
The No. 4 Pioneers defeated No. 13 Lynn Classical 3-2 in the Round of 16 on Nov. 4 and followed that up with a 3-0 win over No. 5 Old Rochester in the quarterfinals on Friday night, also at LHS.
Lynnfield (21-2) will now meet No. 1 Bellingham (20-2) in the state semifinals this Wednesday, Nov. 12, 5 p.m. at Westwood High School.
The winner will advance to the Finals where they will play the winner of No. 2 Medfield vs. No. 3 Joseph Case.
Lynnfield had an epic battle with Lynn Classical in the Sweet 16 last week.
The Rams shocked the home Pioneers by taking the first two sets and putting the pressure on by scores of 25-22 and 25-23.
Lynnfield didn’t panic, cruising to a 25-15 win in set three to stay alive. The fourth set was the best of the match as the Pioneers hung on for a wild, 26-24 victory. With all the momentum, Lynnfield then closed strong with a 15-9 win in the fifth and final set.
Junior captain Audrey Manning was the star of the match for the home Pioneers, collecting an astounding 30 kills and 16 assists.
Senior captain Alexia Vaquerano had a a strong hitting match, finishing with 18 kills.
Sophomore Carina DeLeo had 20 assists to pace the home team.
The Pioneers beat Classical 3-0 in September but the Rams went on to finish the regular season with a 15-match winning streak, not even losing a set since Sept. 29.
Junior Thayer Sutherland added 7 aces and 6 kills.
Lynnfield had to hold off a furious rally by the Rams in the 5th as they cut an early Pioneers lead to 11-9 before Lynnfield finished strong for the win.
The Pioneers didn’t have as much trouble with Old Rochester on Friday night as they cruised with set victories of 25-16, 25-20 and 25-17.
Bellingham, who has defeated Scituate, Notre Dame Academy and Weston in the tournament, enters the Final Four as winners in 16 of their last 17 matches.
The Pioneers will head to Westwood on a 13-match winning streak.