Emilly Weihrauch also contributed to this article.
After opening their season with a win, Malden’s Girls’ Varsity Volleyball team faced an even tougher challenge on Monday, September 14th against Lynn Classical.
Although the Tornados ultimately fell 3-0, the match had moments that conveyed the team’s ability to compete. They recovered from mistakes and continued fighting even when times were tough, and momentum kept shifting.
With the team’s main setter, Senior Captain Aaliyah Ferreira, out with an injury, Malden had to adjust to a new lineup and find ways to keep its rhythm while players stepped into unfamiliar roles. For a team coming off a win, the sudden adjustment created a mental challenge just as much as a physical one.
Lynn took an early lead in the first set with their serve, but Malden refused to let the gap grow without a fight. After challenging rallies, the score was 13-6; Malden gained points and rebuilt their drive.
A strong hit from senior Outside Hitter Maliya Kazadi, also a Senior Lead Reporter for The Blue and Gold, brought Malden to 17-12. Juniors Libero Xiaohui Li and Outside Hitter Anna Desrosiers contributed key plays as the set continued, rebuilding the team’s confidence. The teams traded points through several long rallies before Lynn eventually closed the first set, 25-18.
Despite losing confidence in the first set, the second set brought another opportunity for Malden to shift the momentum.
Although the players felt discouraged by Lynn Classical’s achievements, Senior Captain Sherley Jeune emphasized, “We all know how to play volleyball; just because they can hit, doesn’t mean we don’t have hitters; just because they can pass, doesn’t mean we don’t know how to pass.”
Lynn opened the second set with a 3-0 lead, but Malden’s backline kept the ball alive. The Tornados fought back to tie 5-5 with a tug-of-war of unsuccessful and successful attempts to “tip” with Lynn.
With the scoreboard at 7-7, Jeune delivered a strong hit before Kazadi followed with an ace to put Malden ahead 8-7. The moment brought the energy back.
Malden continued fighting, and Jeune recorded a kill, bringing the score to 16-11, the Tornados trailing closely behind. Soon, a mistake from Lynn allowed the Tornados to gain some momentum, bringing the score to 16-13 in favor of Lynn. Despite the girls’ efforts, Lynn finished the set 25-15.
Sophomore Sabrine Harrzaguia opened the third set with a kill, and a strong hit from Kazadi helped the Tornados take an early 3-1 lead. Improved passing and communication helped Malden regain some of the confidence they had earlier in the match.
Although the unfamiliar lineup continued to require adjustments, the team stayed connected. Players encouraged one another during huddles and celebrated one another’s good play, keeping the energy alive even as Lynn extended their lead.
Junior Jamilah Simbul explained, “I don’t think we were playing at our 100% best of all time. There was a new lineup, which really affected how we usually play, with players having to step up and adjust to the unfamiliarity.” Still, the team found ways to create positive moments.
Even as Lynn approached the end of the third set, Malden continued competing, eventually reaching 24-15 before Lynn closed the set 25-15 to complete the 3-0 victory.
For Malden, however, this match also showed the importance of staying together when things do not go to plan. The team took this as a learning moment rather than focusing on the negatives of how the game went.
“I think that the game wasn’t our best for multiple reasons,” senior Raquel Ferreira reflected. Ferreira continued to add that this game should act as motivation for the team to not only do better against Lynn next time, but to also “do better as the season goes on in general,” rather than spark discouragement among the team.
And that is exactly what Malden will carry forward: not their loss, but the motivation to make sure the next time they step on the court, they play to continue their amazing start they have already created. With a season still ahead of them, the Tornados can use Monday’s challenges as another opportunity to grow together.
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