Published: 10/21/2019 9:46:14 PM
Modified: 10/21/2019 10:53:03 PM
GREENFIELD — There was improvement from the Greenfield High School volleyball team this season, but after a 3-0 loss to Belchertown on Monday at Nichols Gymnasium, the Green Wave will miss out on a postseason berth.
Greenfield (5-9) needed to win its final three matches to secure a playoff berth, but fell behind quickly against the Orioles.
“They were flat,” Greenfield coach Lisa Moore said of her team. “Don’t ask me how. They had a decent practice yesterday.”
Set scores were 25-10, 25-13 and 23-12 in the independent match. Return errors plagued the Green Wave throughout.
“The third game was better,” Moore said. “But it was far too late.”
Korynne Callahan led the Green Wave with four aces, three digs and two kills. Callahan served up three straight aces in the second set.
“I think we just needed to cover more,” Callahan said. “We weren’t covering. I feel like it was good because we did better than we did last year. We were talking more, but it is kind of sad that we aren’t going to playoffs.”
While this season will not include a postseason trip, the communication improved this season and the goal of reaching the playoffs remained in sight well into October.
“I feel like we talked to each other more (this year),” Callahan said. “Just keeping up our hopes of getting (to the playoffs).”
The Green Wave fell behind early in all three sets, leading to multiple Greenfield timeouts in an attempt to make adjustments.
Greenfield had surges of momentum throughout the night, but Belchertown had answers to close out the sets.
Greenfield hosts Easthampton High School tonight at home before closing out the season with Athol High School on Thursday. The Green Wave hope to get Kelsey Richardson back for the final two matches of the season.
“I just want them to have that game that leaves them feeling satisfied,” Moore said. “We’ve had some good games. We are much better than we have been in the past. So that’s great for the season overall. We are back to respectability. Most of them are coming back.”
Denisse Montijo had two kills, two aces and three digs for the Green Wave. Mackenzie Southwick chipped in with three aces, two digs and four assists.
Greenfield fell behind 7-3 in the first set. An aggressive kill by Callahan eventually cut the deficit to 10-5.
Karisma Santana added a first-set kill for the Wave, pulling the hosts within 16-9.
Set two was more of the same as Greenfield fell behind 12-2. Callahan’s three straight aces made it 17-10, but the Orioles closed out the set.
Southwick opened the third set with an ace, giving the Green Wave a quick lead but the Orioles answered with seven straight points to pull ahead.