LYNN — The rivalry between KIPP Academy (3-2) and Lynn Tech (2-1) was apparent from the jump, with KIPP taking Tuesday’s match 3-2 in a loud and packed KIPP Charter School Gymnasium.
Even though it felt like Tech was at home, KIPP battled through the noise to take the thrilling showdown in set scores of 25-12, 20-25, 23-25, 25-19, and 15-12.
“So proud”, said KIPP coach Katie Griffin on the come-from-behind victory. “I just said, ‘Let’s keep it together, keep it collected, and let’s earn every point.’”
It started out with sunshine and rainbows for KIPP, which dominated the first set. Even after a 13-point loss in set one, Tech coach Kaitlyn Wechsler wasn’t worried about her team.
“We’ve had a little bit of a hard time starting off slow at the beginning of games,” she said. “It really is hard to fight back, but when we play our game, we know that we can play with anybody.”
She was right. Tech won the second and third sets.
In set three, there were three lead changes across the first 10 points, continuing the back-and-forth nature of the city matchup. That continued until KIPP led late, 23-22, but three straight passing errors gave the set to the Tigers.
The pressure was on the Panthers in the coming sets as the Tigers held the lead – and momentum – but middle blockers Lazuli Clark (13 kills, 5 aces, 3 blocks) and Erinma Nwoke (6 kills, ace, 2 blocks) stepped up to the challenge and led their team to victory.
In set four, Clark produced six kills, four aces, and a block – not to mention a service run of seven consecutive points to give KIPP a 12-11 lead. After three straight kills later in the set from Clark, KIPP took a four-point lead and never looked back, taking the set 25-19. Nwoke also added a kill in the set.
“[Clark and Nwoke] are up at the net, very aggressive, and ready for anything that comes over,” Griffin said.
Set five was more of the same dramatics, with the crowd just as amped as the players. KIPP snagged an early lead, and after taking four of the last five points, took the set 15-12.
Even after a heartbreaking loss for Tech, Wechsler was proud of her team.
“Their focus was there 100 percent of the time,” she said. “They’re dealing with a lot of obstacles this year, and they’re continuing to fight through no matter what.”
She enjoys her team’s versatile rotation, too.
“It’s not really one of us. It’s all of us,” Wechsler said. “It can be any given player on any given day that’s going to lead us in stats, which is a nice thing to have as a coach.”
Zahara Belizaire (9 assists, 3 kills, 2 aces, 2 digs), Katie Tartarini (7 kills, ace), Ariana Camilo (6 aces, 3 kills), Maria Groscos (6 digs, 4 aces, 3 kills), and Ava Bishop (8 digs) all played a role for Tech.
