Mount Greylock Survives, Advances to State Semi-Finals
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — After a five-set game with several lead changes and strong play from both teams, the Mount Greylock volleyball team Friday held on to beat Millis in the last set 15-8, pushing them to the Final Four of the Division 5 state tournament.
Seven members of the Mounties scored in the win, with Celina Savage leading the team at 20 kills, three aces and three blocks. Jackie Brannan contributed 10 kills, three blocks with two aces, while Charlotte Cody had six kills and seven aces.
Mount Greylock started the game strong, taking a 10-point lead early in the first set for a 16-6 score. Millis would bring the score close again, however, tying up the set at 22-22 and keeping it tied all the way to 26-26.
Despite the comeback from Millis, the Mounties closed out the set 28-26, taking a 1-0 match lead.
The second set started similarly to the first, with Mount Greylock taking a 16-6 lead, which they would eventually push to 19-6 before Millis took a timeout. The lead would continue to grow, despite this, with the Mounties winning the second set with a score of 25-10.
Mount Greylock coach Greg Geyer said Millis adjusted in response to the 0-2 start. Geyer noted Millis' strong play and the adjustments that allowed the visitors to get back into the game.
"After the two sets they lost, they rotated their lineup ... Their number five, I don't know how many kills they have, but she was almost unstoppable," he said. "We needed to adjust our defense for her."
This lineup change would work well for Millis, as it took a 15-9 lead to start the third set, its largest and only lead of the game to that point. Mount Greylock went on to lose the set 25-18.
Despite starting the fourth set 5-0, the Mounties let Millis back into the set, with the score eventually tied at 9-9. Millis once again built a lead after this, eventually winning its second set in a row with a 25-17 score.
The match stayed close to begin the fifth and final set, with the score tied at 5-5 to start. The Mounties, however, scored the next five points in a row, eventually winning the set 15-8.
With the win, Mount Greylock enters the semi-finals of the D5 state tournament. Geyer said the team will do what it can to keep the momentum after this win.
"The way we build off of this is we have it in our pocket," he said. "We will talk about it in practice, but knowing that all we need to do is stay in every point and not get caught up in the moment. And seeing the results is incredibly valuable."