PEABODY — The No. 7 Bishop Fenwick volleyball team had a tough matchup against a familiar foe in No. 10 Austin Prep on Tuesday evening, but the Crusaders were able to come out on top 3-1 in the Division 3 Round of 16 at Bishop Fenwick High School.
“This is the farthest our program has gone in six years so we are in the elite eight right now and I’m very excited to finally get out of the (Round of) 16,” said Fenwick coach Samantha Kelly. “We’ve been in the (Round of) 16’s for years.”
The match got off to a roaring start, as both sides traded points with the score tied at 8-8. The Crusaders were able to gather a lead midway through the set and force an Austin Prep timeout with the score at 15-8. Fenwick continued to pile on the points, forcing another timeout as the Crusaders broke out to a 20-11 lead.
After the second timeout, the Cougars responded well, taking a chunk out of the lead and forcing Fenwick to take a timeout of its own after the Crusaders let up four points unanswered. Fenwick ended up taking the first set 25-17.
Senior Olivia Found racked up three kills in the opening set for the Crusaders. Found ended the match with eight kills. Fenwick also got a quality performance out of sophomore Ella Andrews, who had seven blocks on the night.
“We have a mixed team,” said Kelly. “We have young sophomores and freshmen, but we also have five seniors and then we have our two or three juniors. Two years ago we sliced the program to make it younger. Ella Andrews is a sophomore and Lacey (Murphy) are sophomores and to see them perform under such pressure (is impressive).”
A key part of Austin Prep’s comeback was senior Charlotte Collins, who tallied three kills and three aces in the first set. She finished the night with eight kills.
The second set was more of the same for Fenwick. After trading points in the beginning of the set (5-5), the Crusaders were able to break off a 16-9 lead and forced a Cougars timeout.
Austin Prep once again took a chunk out of the lead, bringing the set to 19-13 and forcing a Crusaders timeout.
Fenwick eventually gained a 23-17 lead before taking the set 25-18. Senior captain Merry Spooner was a key factor in the win, entering the third set with two kills, four digs, and two aces.
The third set was the most contested of the match. Both Austin Prep and Fenwick fought valiantly as the Cougars gained a 15-14 lead and forced a Crusaders timeout. Fenwick battled back and forced Austin Prep to take a timeout as the Crusaders got an 18-15 lead.
Fenwick forced a timeout with a 22-20 lead but Austin Prep wound up taking the set thanks to Lindsay Collar recording three straight aces.
After losing the previous set, the Crusaders looked to put the match away, breaking out to a 9-3 lead and forcing a Cougars timeout. With quality service, Fenwick continued to rack up points, forcing another Austin Prep timeout as the Crusaders had a 16-4 lead. Thanks to some stellar service, Bishop Fenwick took the final set 25-9.
Austin Prep head coach Meghan Harkins was still proud of her squad after the loss.
“I think they tried to stay as focused as they could be,” she said. They worked really hard all season and I’m still proud of them (even) with the outcome. I know it’s not what they wanted but I’m proud of the leadership on the team this season and they’ve just worked really hard.”
Fenwick (15-7) is now in the quarterfinals of the Division 3 tournament where it will face No. 2 Dennis-Yarmouth at a date and time to be determined.
