On Saturday. Nov. 15, the girls varsity volleyball team lost to Oliver Ames in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Division II Championship. This was the first time in program history that Wayland has gone to the state final. Last year, Wayland made it to the semifinals, which was also a first for the program. The intense five set game took place at Billerica High School, a neutral site. Wayland won the first two sets and Oliver Ames won the last three in a reverse sweep. Wayland was ranked No. 7 in the state and Oliver Ames was ranked No. 1. Oliver Ames went undefeated in the regular season (22-0).

Senior Jubin Kim started the first set with an ace to put Wayland up early. The score went back and forth after some short rallies. When Wayland was winning 11-8, junior Audrey Nugent had a kill that led to an Oliver Ames timeout. With strong digging from senior Mia MacLean and consistent serves from Kim, Wayland went ahead 23-16. Strong attacks from Oliver Ames narrowed the gap, but Wayland ultimately took the set 25-22.

The second set opened with multiple kills from senior captain Anna Yalli, but Oliver Ames quickly responded. Oliver Ames went up 7-4, but serves from junior Addie Choi and more kills from Yalli helped Wayland close the gap to make it 18-17, with Oliver Ames still in the lead. MacLean served back-to-back aces, and Wayland’s defense won the next two rallies to tie the set 21-21. A kill from sophomore Fiona Strehle closed out the second set, with the final score 25-23, Wayland.

The third set started out close, and junior Anya Bayazitov helped Wayland stay in the game with some blocks, but Oliver Ames went up 18-14 with solid defense and hitting. Junior Willa Suratt helped Wayland earn a couple more points with her kills, but Oliver Ames ended up winning the set 25-16.

After gaining some confidence from winning the third set, Oliver Ames came out strong in the fourth set, obtaining a quick lead. When Oliver Ames went up 5-0, Kim saved the ball and put Wayland back on the serving line. Yalli aced Oliver Ames and had some strong kills, but after some long rallies, Oliver Ames was winning 19-8. When the score reached set point, 24-14, Choi served for a long rally that ended with Oliver Ames winning the set and forcing a winner-take-all fifth set.

The back-and-forth match reached its climax in the final winner-take-all set of the season. The fifth set is played to 15 points, upping the stakes. The set started with Oliver Ames taking the lead 2-0, but senior captain Kalena Imura made a huge save that put Wayland back on the service line. The set continued with long rallies with difficult digs from junior Jayden Moore and three consecutive kills from Nugent. Wayland called a timeout when they were down 11-6, and came back into the game determined.

Strehle and Bayazitov had multiple blocks that hyped up the Wayland student section. Choi had consistent serves that kept Wayland in the game. But, Oliver Ames gained a strong lead by having consistently strong passes and kills. When the score reached 14-11, Oliver Ames in the lead, Strehle made another block. But, Oliver Ames would eventually win the match, taking the final set 15-11.

“Even though we lost, it was such a great experience, and really fun to be there as a team,” junior Alexa Mazokopos said.

Both team played their hearts out. Despite the loss, Wayland players are proud of their season and their performance through the MIAA tournament.

“It was very exciting, and I [am] very happy with how our team did in this tournament,” senior Emi Niimi said. “I’m proud of everyone.”