BELMONT — Two close matches highlighted an exciting week for the Wakefield High volleyball team.
The Warriors took on strong Middlesex League programs Belmont and Burlington both on the road last week. After two hard-fought matches and 10 total sets, Wakefield came home with a 1-1 record.
The Warriors beat Belmont 3-2 on Sept. 16. The Marauders got off to a strong start, taking the first set 25-21. Wakefield bounced right back to take set two, 25-17 and brought that momentum into the third where they cruised to a 25-16 win. Belmont forced a fifth set by winning set four, 25-21.
In the fifth and deciding set, Wakefield held on for a thrilling, 15-12 decision and overall 3-2 win.
Senior captain Lila Arkinstall put the Warriors on her back in this one. The middle hitter had a match-high 18 kills. She also tied for the team lead in serving aces with 4. For that performance, Arkinstall was named as a Boston Globe Player of the Week.
Wakefield had two players setting up Arkinstall against the Marauders: senior Allison Cook (21 assists) and senior captain Tori Grace (17 assists).
Helping spark the attack from the outside were senior captain Mia Kenny (9 kills) and sophomore Talia Galante (9 kills). Senior Addison Butland also added 6 kills.
Wakefield had 11 aces altogether. Kenny matched Arkinstall with 4. Senior Brendia Diaz had 2.
At the net, senior Jackie Sullivan and junior Ila Carpenter each had 2 blocks.
Defensively, Wakefield was led by senior captain, libero Cara Carangelo who had 26 digs and 24 serve receptions. Cook had 20 digs and Galante had 11 digs and 15 receptions. Kenny had a team-high 34 serve receptions to go with her strong hitting.
Wakefield brought plenty of momentum into their matchup with a strong Burlington team on Sept. 18 at BHS. The Red Devils entered the game at 5-1 while Wakefield was 5-2. Burlington had the edge in the Freedom Division standings after beating Melrose 3-1 while Wakefield fell to Melrose 3-0 earlier in the season.
The Warriors proved they belonged at the top of the standings from the jump, taking an epic, prolonged first set, 29-27. The Warriors built on that win by earning a 25-20 victory in set two, taking a 2-0 lead.
The Red Devils turned the tide with a 25-18 set three win, creating a key, fourth set. As is often the case in volleyball, the winner of a set has the advantage for the next one as confidence and rhythm come into play. Burlington retained those in the fourth, winning a close one, 25-21.
With no momentum, Wakefield fought valiantly in the fifth, nearly taking the win before Burlington was able to hold on for a 16-14 decision.
In the end, it was as close as a match can be. The Warriors came up short, but gained plenty of experience against a strong team, something that will only help them come playoff time.
Arkinstall (13 kills) and Kenny (11 kills) led the attack again. Galante added 7 kills and Carpenter had 5.
Carangelo was all over the court with 27 digs. She added an incredible 40 serve receptions too. Kenny had 26 receptions and Diaz 23.
Diaz had a strong serving game with 6 aces while Carangelo added 4.
Sullivan was a terrific presence at the net, collecting 3 blocks.
Cook (24 assists) and Grace (17 assists) set up the hitters well again.
Wakefield (5-3) continues their stretch of tough matches when they host Weston (2-6) tonight, 6 p.m. at the Charbonneau Field House. The two teams have built a small rivalry after meeting in each of the last two Div. 3 state tournaments. Top-seeded Weston knocked out No. 17 Wakefield 3-1 in the Round of 16 last year. Two years ago, the Wildcats beat the Warriors 3-1 in the Final Four on their way to a state title. Weston lost in the Finals last year to Medfield.
Wakefield will return to Middlesex League play tomorrow night with a trip to Watertown (1-7) at 5:30 p.m.