Marlborough Boys' Volleyball Fights Through A Three Set Tournament Loss

The Panthers kept fighting, but never found the edge to push ahead on Monday.

Dropping three straight sets, No. 7 Marlboro High boys' volleyball lost 3-0 to host No. 2 Lincoln-Sudbury in the quarterfinals of the MIAA Central Division 1 Tournament.

“We did not get on a good serving track,”said Marlboro coach Jeremiah Encarnacion. “We told them to keep pushing and keep fighting. We would tried to take (momentum) from them, but then we would go back down.”

L-S (17-2) won the three sets 25-12, 25-18, 25-19, respectively.

While never leading in a set, Marlboro (8-3) managed to keep constant pressure on the Warriors throughout.

Tied 6-6 in the final set, L-S scored eight straight points by dominating the net with overhand kills from Victor Mohlin, Thomas Hannigan (both seniors), and John Newton (a junior). Another overhand tip placed along the sideline from Hannigan would later put the Warriors one point from advancing.

“When they tried to tip it we would not let them unless they could get really high,” said L-S senior Thomas Houpt. “The height advantage is obviously something we take advantage of and we are using it as best as we can.”

After an L-S infraction brought the score to 24-19, an overhand spike from Marlboro's Ary Cardosa sailed through the Warriors defense and just past the back line for an L-S victory.

“We were giving them easy balls to take for points,” said Encarnacion. “We were not really putting the ball away at times when we should have been.”

While a pair of on the net tips from Hannigan and senior John Swords helped put L-S up 5-0 to start the second set, three group blocks from Marlboro teammates Spencer Little and Anton Beauchamp helped the Panthers keep close at 17-14. Gradually increasing their lead, a rolling ace from L-S junior Devin Patel finished of Marlboro in the final volley.

“Today we really pulled it together in that everyone was willing to sacrifice their body (for digs),” said L-S senior Matthew Joyner.

“They were starting to do a good job of blocking us and we had to make a few changes to find the holes in their defense and stretch them out more,” added L-S coach Elizabeth McClung.

Battling early in the first set, L-S managed to go up 10-3 off a tip over the blockers from senior Kristian Catalan. Winning the next four volleys, Marlboro managed to force L-S miscues and bring the score to 11-7.

With the Warriors steadily pulling away, another serve from Patel would roll over the net and fall for a set winning ace.

“Our defense was moving really well in the first (set),” said McClung. “Our middle did a much better job reacting to tough passes today”

L-S senior Ned Donaldson and Houpt lead the game in kills with 12. Cardosa lead the panthers with 10 kills.

Patel had three aces for the Warriors.

“It is muscle memory,” said Houpt of his kills. “If you see a block you hit around it or if you see an opening you take it.”

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