Classical volleyball bows out

HAVERHILL – The year 2013 was by all counts a successful year for Lynn Classical, after a season filled with accomplishments, including a trip to the state tournament. After a first-round win over O?Bryant, however, the Rams were “rewarded” with a matchup against a buzz-saw in the form of No. 5 Haverhill.Classical was overpowered from the start, as the Hillies used their depth and athleticism to run away with a 3-0 victory by scores of 25-9, 25-8 and 25-15.?When you get to the quarterfinals, you know you?re going to see some great teams and Haverhill is just that,” said Classical coach Frank DeLuca. “They played with a powerful style and were very directional with their shots. We just couldn?t keep up.”Haverhill?s Abigail Sonuga, the MVP of the Merrimack Valley Small Conference, was the story of the game with 22 kills.The hosts ran away with the first two sets, scoring six straight points to finish the first before reeling off eight straight to end the second. Seven different Haverhill players factored into the scoring in both sets.The Rams played a spirited finale that saw them score five straight points after trailing 16-6. With Lindsay Tobin serving throughout, Classical cut the deficit to six, highlighted by a powerful kill from Michelle Nwogu on the right side following a scramble at the net.The Hillies responded with streaks of three and four consecutive points before Sonuga finished things off with her ninth kill of the set.Nwogu, a senior, led the way for Classical with three kills and several nice blocks. Along with Nwogu, Classical will lose four other seniors to graduation.?We?re going to miss our seniors an awful lot,” said DeLuca of Nwogu, Jaheirie Collazo, Serina Soth, Katrina Syrakos and Linda Khuth.Thanks to their contributions, Classical had its best season in the program?s four-year history, an accomplishment DeLuca is proud of.?Our 10 wins were the most we?ve ever had and we won a state tournament game for the first time,” he said. “We?re going to continue building on our success.”