LYNN — The first set of Tuesday’s volleyball match between Saugus and Classical indicated that the Rams might be in for a swift victory. But that wasn’t the case.
Classical took the match 3-0 on its home floor, but the Sachems gave the Rams everything they had in sets No. 2 and 3.
“Saugus played really well in those last two sets,” Classical coach Frank DeLuca said. “That’s a really improved team. They looked really good. We had to use a new lineup because Cherish Nwoko’s out with an injury. That changed things a little bit and the chemistry’s a bit off. We have to work to get that back.”
Classical improved to 5-1 on the season with the victory. The Rams suffered their first loss of the season in a 5-set battle Monday at Malden.
“We had a tough one with Malden,” DeLuca said. “In three of those sets we had the lead only needing one more point. It was a little hard for the girls to get ready for this game but Saugus played very well.”
Saugus fell to 1-5 on the season. Playing well for the Sachems were sophomore setter Ryann Moloney, who gave the team a lift in the third set, and junior middle-hitter Madison Niles.
“We were quiet on the floor in the first two sets,” first-year Saugus coach Gina Vozzella said. “Then I put in our bench and they stepped up. They took over and almost won that last set. We weren’t talking the first set. The reserves were a bit nervous going in rotation-wise but they played great.”
Classical let its service game lead the way in the first set. Kiara Edmonds logged seven consecutive service points and two aces, Pamela Diaz added four consecutive service points and the Rams cruised to a 25-9 win in the opening set.
Then the Sachems found their footing and things changed. Classical built a 19-12 lead in the second set in an attempt to pull away, but the Sachems crawled back in. Saugus closed the gap to 19-15 thanks to a string of Classical errors. After Classical burned a timeout, the Rams got themselves back on the right track. Classical won the second set, 25-19, with Jean Gupton-Morrison logging six service points midway through the set.
It was much of the same through the third set. Classical notched the first two points but the Sachems rallied for nine of the next 15 and led 9-8. Again, the Rams seemed to start distancing themselves, up 18-14, but Saugus didn’t go down without a fight. The Sachems whittled the deficit to 18-17- forcing Classical to burn another timeout. The Rams hung on for a 25-22 set win to clinch the 3-0 victory.
“The key in the third set was Brooke Warren,” DeLuca said. “She only had three service points but they were three big ones to get us up into the 20’s. That was really the difference.
“It was someone different that stepped forward in every set and that was a good thing,” DeLuca said. “That really helped us out. That’s what we’ve been looking for.”
The Rams have a week to rest up and tweak things in practice before another NEC clash next Tuesday (5:30) at Peabody.
“Right now the schedule really turns,” DeLuca said. “We have to get back to where we were when we began the year. I don’t know if the girls are a little tired because we played so many games at the beginning of the year. (Tuesday) the chemistry was just off. Cherish is probably our best front player. Hopefully we have her back next week.”
Saugus welcomes Peabody Thursday (5:30).