Warriors Turn Back Acton-Boxborough in Semis, Advance to D-1 Finals

By Eliot Schickler

For the first time since 1978, the Brookline High girls’ volleyball team will play in the Division 1 Finals.

Second-seeded Brookline earned its trip to the championship match with a 3-2 (25-23, 25-19, 9-25, 20-25, 15-13) victory over sixth-seeded Acton-Boxborough in the Division 1 semifinals on Tuesday, November 12, at Newton South High. The Warriors raised their record to 19-3 and won its 16th straight match. Brookline will try to win its first Division 1 title since 1978 when it faces top-seeded and two-time defending Division 1 champion Newton North High (23-1) on
Saturday, November 16 at Billerica Memorial High School. Acton-Boxborough ended its season at 17-5.

“The accomplishment of making it to the finals is incredible,” Warriors Coach Caitlin Sobolewski said in an email. “This team has had the talent to achieve this since the day they walked into the gym for preseason, and seeing them play with team chemistry, full effort, and confidence is amazing. This has always been something they were capable of and I am so glad they have achieved this feat.”

The Revolution led most of the first set before Brookline started to rally and tied it 22-22, before pulling it out, 25-23. Strong play from their middle hitters, 5’11 senior tri-captain Serina Ohyama (four kills, three blocks, one dig), and 6’2 junior Stasya Budnik (five kills, four service aces, three digs) carried the Warriors in the first two sets.

“Our energy and momentum was crucial,” Ohyama said in an interview with the Boston Herald. “Everything started to click. Our passes were going well, our kills were going well, we hit our groove.”

Both middle hitters did well behind the service line. Ohyama, who usually hasn’t had many opportunities to serve all year, was a perfect 4-for-4 in getting her serves in. Budnik, who normally serves, was 13-for-15 in getting them in, an 86.7 percent success rate.

A refuse-to-lose mentality also contributed to eking out the first set.

“We don’t like losing,” Sobolewski said in an interview with the Boston Herald. “We’re a competitive group of girls. In tight sets, it tips to our advantage.”

Having good camaraderie also contributed to pulling out the opening set.

“This team really leans on one another when they are in a tough set,” Sobolewski said in an email.
“I can see them playing not to win, but playing for each other and that is what we owe winning these tight sets and long matches to.”

Although her contributions aren’t reflected in the statistics, 5’11 outside hitter Molly Tipton (six digs, two service aces, one kill, one reception) helped carry Brookline for the first two sets with her steady and consistent play.

“During every play, I was trying to refocus and focus on what would win us the point which got us through rough moments,” Tipton said in an email.

Tipton also boosted the Warriors with a few lengthy service runs. Overall, she was almost perfect serving, with only one error in going 18-for-19 behind the service line, a staggering 94.7 percent success rate.

“I owe my hard work in practice to my lengthy service runs which allowed our team to stay in the game for each point and that made them have to put up a fight which helped us win,” Tipton
said in an email.

Brookline was in control of the second set and won it handily. Junior libero Maya Nock (38 receptions, 19 digs, one service ace), and classmate Josie Ross (10 digs), who only plays in the back row, were instrumental with their strong defense and passing. Nock was 7-for-8 behind the
service line, a strong 87.5 percent success rate. Sophomore Mia Jones (three receptions) also helped the Warriors on defense and was solid in passing it.

No one should forget about the contributions of sophomore lefty setter Nora Mullen (25 assists, four digs, two service aces), who deftly quarterbacked the offense and helped out on defense.

While the first two sets went Brookline’s way, Acton-Boxborough owned the third set. The Warriors did better in the fourth set and grabbed an 18-12 lead, but the Revolution battled back and won the set to force a fifth set.

“We were basically like, we have to move on,” Sobolewski said to the Boston Herald. “Volleyball is a point-to-point game. Once we got back to our game, we gained more confidence.”

Junior outside hitters Emilie Ferdinand (12 kills, 20 receptions, nine digs, two aces) and Bella Bacon (nine kills, 24 receptions, 15 digs, three aces, one block) came alive in the penultimate set and helped the Warriors pull it out.

Both outside hitters were stellar behind the service line, each committing only one error. Bacon was 14-for-15, a staggering 93.7 percent, and Ferdinand was 11-for-12, an impressive 91.7 percent. Overall, Brookline was 85-for-91 serving the ball, a strong and consistent 93.4 percent.

“We had to go back to what we know we do best,” Sobolewski said in an email. “Which is to serve the ball well and pass well. Once we were able to get back to that we just needed to stay persistent in those long rallies, and eventually, we knew the ball would fall in our favor.”

Acton-Boxborough took a 12-10 lead, but the Warriors didn’t wilt. Brookline scored five of the next six points to pull out the match and was helped by the southpaw Mullen was a perfect 18-for-18 behind the service line, serving the last three points. She then set up Ferdinand for the clinching kill.

“When I saw it go over, I was just so happy,” Ferdinand said in a Boston Globe interview. “I saw all of my teammates, and I just felt so good.”

Grit and determination won it in the end for the Warriors.

“This team has got character,” Sobolewski said in an email. “Their heart and will to win is something special that I have not had the pleasure of experiencing as a coach. Winning the match like they did against AB proves they can win in the ugly, they can win in adversity, and they will win for one another.”

Turning back the Revolution was mission accomplished – for now – for the Warriors.

“We work so hard, this has been our goal since the beginning of the year,” Ohyama said to the Boston Herald. “Every year, we say this, but this year, we wanted it so much more.”

Brookline is 1-1 against Newton North this year, with both teams winning at home. The Warriors will feel they completed their mission if they beat the Tigers at Billerica.

“It’s surreal,” Ohyama said to the Boston Herald. “Brookline has not won a state championship since 1978. That’s on the banner, and we’re hoping to be next.”