INDIANS BEAT CENTRAL, FALL TO HAVERHILL
No, it wasn’t a victory, but the Billerica High volleyball team certainly came to play on Friday against Haverhill.
After being swept 3-0 by the Hillies early in the season, the Indians made it much competitive at home, winning the first set 25-23 before Haverhill ended rallying for a 3-1 victory, taking sets two through four by respective scores of 25-12, 25-16 and 25-16.
Billerica trailed Game 1 by a 5-4 score early before a block by senior Aiden Arsenault tied the score.
BMHS senior Olivia Bento then went to the service line and won three straight points to make it 8-5 and put Billerica ahead to stay.
Arsenault was dominant at the net during the sequence, earning three points in a row at the net.
Up 10-6, the Indians made it 13-6 behind two nice kills by senior Abigail Downs and a bomb by Arsenault with senior Margaret Quin at the service line.
Haverhill rallied to cut the lead to 15-13 before sophomore Ella Quin earned back-to-back points at the net.
BMHS would take a 19-15 lead before the Hillies stormed back to actually take a 23-21 advantage.
That’s when Billerica rallied with four straight points to take the set.
A diving service return by Margaret Quin made it 23-22, giving the ball to senior Naomi Boldebuck.
A good serve led to a kill by Abigail Downs to tie the game before a long point that featured two great digs by Boldebuck eventually saw Haverhill made an error to make it 24-23. A service winner by Boldebuck ended the set.
In Set 2, senior Katherine Medeiros had the defensive play of the night, nearly running into the bleachers to make a save.
Meaghan Downs ran the offense with 20 assists for the Indians, Arsenault added eight kills and two blocks and Ella Quin contributed five kills.
Abby Downs had a solid overall performance with eight kills, 13 receptions and 15 digs while Boldebuck added 14 digs and 18 service receptions along with nine service points.
Before Haverhill, BMHS swept Central Catholic, 3-0, with set scores of 25-22, 25-13 and 25-21.
Abby Downs helped the Indians with nine kills, nine digs, 11 receptions, and 11 service points. Aiden Arsenault and Ella Quin played well at the net adding seven and five kills, respectively. Meaghan Downs chipped in with 18 assists.
BMHS (8-6) hosts Tewksbury on Monday afternoon at 5 p.m.
The Redmen edged the Indians by a 3-1 score earlier this season.
