SAUGUS — The Lynn English volleyball team rallied to score eight straight points in the fourth set and earn its first win of the season, 3-1, over Saugus Thursday night at Saugus High School. The Bulldogs won by set scores of 18-25, 25-21, 25-19 and 25-22.
Merily Folestal led the Bulldogs with three aces and six kills while Chrisneiris Difo had five kills. Libero Angel Batista also had a strong defensive game, successfully receiving 33 balls while only having two errors.
“I have said it for awhile, the way that my team plays, they play with all their heart,” Lynn English head coach Mike Haddad said. “It’s tough as a coach when you see them working so hard and they keep getting the losses so it’s great for them to get a win. I feel so grateful they got this chance to see a reward for all the effort they have been putting into the game.
“We have had a couple of close calls this year,” Haddad added. “We have had games that went five sets and they just didn’t go our way, but this one went our way. They’ve been working hard all season so I’m really happy for the victory. I’ve been proud of them since day one but what coach wouldn’t be happy for their first win of the season.”
Right from the start both teams went back and forth, keeping the first set close at a 16-15 lead for Saugus. From there the Sachems pulled away a bit, scoring seven straight points with help from two aces by sophomore Madison Niles to take a 23-15 lead. Saugus would take the set 25-18.
The second set was once again tightly contested, eventually leading to a 19-19 tie. The Bulldogs pulled away when it mattered, taking the set 25-21 and tying the game 1-1.
In a pivotal third set the Bulldogs once again got hot at the right time, mustering up a 24-15 lead late in the set to put themselves one point away from the win. Saugus did even the gap a bit, but the Bulldogs held on to take the set 25-19.
Needing a win in the fourth set, the Sachems built a 22-17 lead before Lynn English got on a hot streak again. With Folestal serving, the Bulldogs scored eight straight points to take the set 25-22 and earn their first win of the season.
“I was really happy because it is something I’ve been working with them on, saying that even when your behind or when the game is close that is when you have to turn it up even more,” Haddad said. “That’s when you have to really dig deep and show what you’re made of and today they did that. Both teams played really well tonight and have improved, I look forward to our next matchup.”
Now with a record of 1-5, the Bulldogs have the next three days off before hosting Lynn Classical Monday (5).
“I think one of the biggest things that we need to work on is team communication,” Haddad said. “It was there tonight but it wasn’t consistent through the game.
“What I’m really hoping for against Classical is that every player at every position is calling their ball and calling their shot,” Haddad added. “We want to play smart as opposed to just playing hard.”
