LYNN ― Tuesday’s volleyball match between the St. Mary’s Spartans and the Bishop Fenwick Crusaders was a nail-biter even though the Crusaders swept the Spartans three sets to none.
With Fenwick allowing the Spartans to get back in the game, coach Samantha Kelly said that there is still a lot to work on after the victory.
“Finishing the sets (with) scores of 25-12, 25-16, to (then) have a 27-25 third set, I told the kids I wasn’t satisfied with that,” said Kelly. “We have AP Thursday. Austin Prep is a good team so we’re just looking to get better and do the little things right.”
The Crusaders got off to a roaring start, going on a 6-0 run that would cause an early Spartans timeout. Lynnfield went on to make a comeback effort making the score 7-4, but Fenwick would respond by extending their lead to 17-6 before forcing another timeout.
The Spartans bounced back once again, making it 19-10, but the Crusaders would end up taking the first set 25-12. Lacey Murphy got off to a fast start as she recorded four kills and two aces in the set.
Bishop Fenwick started the second set just as they did the first, they jumped out to a 6-0 lead, which caused a Lynnfield timeout. They then extended their lead to 9-2 before the Spartans responded by cutting the deficit to 13-6.
The Crusaders found their second wind in the set as they leaped out to a 23-13 lead, causing another Spartans timeout. Fenwick would eventually take the set 25-16.
When the third set began, you could sense a different tone. The Spartans got out to a 3-0 lead, but from then on it was a back-and-forth affair. Bishop Fenwick and St. Mary’s traded blows before the Crusaders gained some separation with a 12-7 lead that caused the Spartans to take a timeout.
St. Mary’s answered the bell after the timeout, closing the gap to 14-11. After tying the match at 15, the Spartans got the lead back 19-15. From then on, there would be four lead changes, but Bishop Fenwick wound up on top, winning the third set 27-25.
Fenwick’s coach gave credit to the Spartans for the comebacks after the match.
“St. Mary’s definitely got a lot better,” Kelly said. “It was good to have that tight competition in the third set.”
Sophomore Lacey Murphy showed her poise with some quality serves with the score tied at 25 and eventually helped lead the Crusaders to victory with seven kills, four digs, and four aces on the night.
After the match, Kelly said that while she had a good game, there was still room for improvement in Murphy’s game.
“She’s a sophomore so she’s learning as she goes,” the coach said. “I think her passing we have to work on, (but) her hits, as we saw in the third set, were aggressive. I just wish she hit like that the first two sets. She’s getting there, though.”
St. Mary’s (3-3) will look to rebound against Arlington Catholic Thursday (5:30).
Fenwick (4-2) hosts Austin Prep Thursday (5:30).
