LYNNFIELD — The 2019 Lynnfield volleyball team is on a mission.
With five starters returning to a senior-laden team that came within five points of playing for a state championship, the Pioneers are focused on grabbing the brass ring. Their quest begins Sept. 4 with a league contest at Triton (5:30).
“This year is such a gift in that, from day one we are scrimmaging, and figuring out how to gel,” said second-year coach Brent Ashley. “We started five juniors last year, they all know the routine, so that is a real gift for this year’s team.”
The Pioneers had a breakout season last year, finishing 22-3 and winning the Cape Ann League and the Division 2 North championship just one year after being moved up from Division 3. The Pioneers had dominated the Division 3 sectional, winning seven straight North titles until the 2017 realignment.
But their hopes for their first state volleyball championship were dashed in the state semifinal when Groton-Dunstable’s Peter White, the only boy on his team, took over the match and led his team to a five-set victory.
Lynnfield’s lone loss from last year’s team is Sam DeGeorge, a CAL First Team all-star. DeGeorge finished the season with a record 88 blocks, bringing her career total to 103, also a program record.
“You just can’t replicate what Sam DeGeorge was for our team,” said Ashley. “She had the maturity we needed. She was just wise beyond her years.”
But with 14 players and five of six starters with significant varsity experience returning, the outlook is bright.
The senior group is led by CAL First Team all-stars Missy Morelli (setter/outside hitter) and Sam Lebruska (outside hitter), and Second Team all-star Sophia Wilkinson (setter).
Morelli emerged as an all-around force in 2018. She led the team in kills (288) and aces (73) and was second in blocks (34), points off serve (196) and assists (310).
Lebruska led the team in digs (173) and serve receiving (188) and was second in kills (153) and aces (42), while Wilkinson led the team in assists (367)
Senior Mac Schena also stepped up last year, leading the team in points off serve (210).
Defensive specialists Sofia Ciriello, Ashley Pagliuca and Daniella Colarusso also return. Pagliuca was second on the team in digs (164) while Ciriello was third (125). Pagliuca also excelled at serve receiving, making only 15 errors in 164 attempts, while Ciriello had 23 errors in 164 attempts.
Junior Ava Buonfiglio, who swung between varsity and JV last year, has emerged as DeGeorge’s successor.
“Already I can see she will fill in well for Sam,” said Ashley.”
Junior Jillian Babine rounds out the group of returners.
New to the team are junior Olivia Murphy, sophomore Sarah Foley and freshman Ella Gizmut.
Ashley said he is tweaking the lineup a bit.
“Melissa and Sophia will set, we are not messing up their chemistry,” said Ashley. “Mac moves from outside to middle and are running a couple of plays around her out of the back row on a slide route. That leaves Ella moving to the outside to take Mac’s spot.”
Ashley said the Pioneers are working on stepping up the tempo.
“We are stop-watching this year and are averaging four seconds between the first and third touches,” he said. “Last year we played at a much slower tempo, but if they step it up, it will be ruthless, like lightning.”
Lynnfield has a challenging non-league schedule with matches against Reading Sept. 13 on the road, two matches against North Andover (away Sept. 18, home Oct. 21) and an away match against Arlington Catholic Oct. 21.
“We don’t have as many non-league matches as Pentucket has split from its co-op with Georgetown,” Ashley said. “Within the league, Masconomet and Hamilton-Wenham are both returning a lot of players, so I expect them to be good again.”
