Lynnfield volleyball team bows out

HUDSON – Lynnfield had Frontier on the ropes a couple of times in the Division 3 state volleyball semifinal, but the Pioneers couldn’t deliver the fatal blow, allowing the Red Hawks to pull out a 3-2 win and advance to the state final Saturday against Case.Both teams were well matched. Lynnfield actually led most of the way but Frontier, the defending state champ, pulled off dramatic comebacks in the second and fourth sets to stay alive long enough to win, 20-25, 27-25, 18-25, 28-26, 15-7.The Pioneers came out strong in the first set with Emma Mancini delivering clutch kills. Her best run came midway through the match with teammate Katie Nugent at the service line.Mancini had a monster game overall, racking up 39 kills and 21 digs. Frontier coach Sean MacDonald knew coming in Mancini would be tough to stop so he wasn’t surprised.”Lynnfield just played fantastic. I can see why Emma Mancini is an All-State player. We had no answer for her,” he said.MacDonald said Lynnfield was passing better than his team and playing better defense for most of the game”We were very fortunate to win this match,” he said.Lynnfield led most of the way in the second set, but things went south for the Pioneers at 23-17. They let the Red Hawks back in the door and once in, Frontier wouldn’t leave. Frontier outside hitter Cassidy Ciesluk, also an All-State player, was immense for the Red Hawks, coming up with multiple kills and also serving well. Frontier won the set 27-25.The Pioneers didn’t let the missed opportunity get to them, however. They came back and won the third set, 25-18, with Mancini again getting the job done.The fourth set was a battle from start to finish with neither team able to go up by more than four points. Lynnfield’s Jessica Badger had a huge block to put the Pioneers up, 24-20, but Frontier, led by Ciesluk, wouldn’t fold. The Red Hawks came back to win that set 28-26.Lynnfield never got any momentum going in the fifth and deciding match. Frontier’s Rachel Cialek had three aces to help her team pull away for good.Despite the tough loss, Lynnfield coach Michelle Perrone was pleased with her team’s play against a formidable opponent.”We played a very good game,” she said. “We were inspired.”We just ran out of steam at the end,” she said.”We made a couple of costly mistakes.”Perrone said her team played tremendous defense. The Pioneers lost to Frontier in the state final two years ago and a year before that, lost to the Red Hawks in the state semifinals.”They’re a great program,” Perrone said. Shannon Ryan had 23 assists for the Pioneers and 24 digs. Jessica Dwyer had 24 digs. The Pioneers wrap up the season with an 18-4 record. Mancini, a senior, was disappointed with the loss, but not with the season or the way her team played against a very tough foe.”This is the best I’ve ever seen us play against them,” she said. “I’ve never been more proud of my team.” ***Arlington beat Wilmington, 2-0, in the girls soccer Division 2 North semifinals at Manning Field on Thursday. Arlington will face Concord-Carlisle in the final on Monday at 5:30 p.m. at Manning. Concord-Carlisle beat North Andover, 1-0, Thursday. Woburn beat Winchester, 1-0, on penalty kicks in the boys Division 2 North semifinals at Manning on Thursday. Woburn will face Concord-Carlisle in the final on Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Manning. Concord-Carlisle beat Belmont, 1-0, to advance.