The preliminary rounds of the Division 3 state volleyball tournament commenced on October 26, 2023, with No. 26 Swampscott decisively defeating No. 39 Saugus in a 3-0 match (25-13, 25-9, 25-23). The victory allows Swampscott to advance to the Round of 32, where they will face No. 7 Pembroke.
Swampscott established control early, surging to leads of 10-3 in both the first and second sets. Coach Amanda Clement had emphasized the importance of starting strong prior to the match. “Throughout the year, it’s been something we’ve either done really well or struggled with,” Clement explained. “We’re either fighting for our lives to get back into a game or we’re ahead. That was something we stressed yesterday in practice: to get out first.”
Senior captain Lauren Paul was a standout performer for Swampscott, contributing six kills and an ace. Her impact was felt on both offense and defense with strong blocks and impactful kills. “Lauren has been awesome as a second-year captain,” Clement noted. “She was an outside hitter, but we needed her in the middle this year. She moved into the position seamlessly and has been incredible. She can play anywhere.”
Despite trailing 0-2 heading into the third set, Saugus fought back, demonstrating resilience throughout the match. Megan Xavier, a senior middle hitter for Saugus, made significant contributions during the game. “She’s our middle and she’s graduating this year, but she’s really come to life,” said Saugus coach Mikayla Kingstad. “Her blocking, her hitting, her energy — it’s everything. She definitely stepped up for us tonight.”
With the conclusion of Saugus’ season, Kingstad reflected on her bond with the senior players. “I started with this group,” she shared. “It’s been a great season. We’ve overcome a lot of adversity. We’ve had a lot of injuries and weren’t too deep in the roster this year. I’m graduating eight of them and only have two returning next year. It was definitely an emotional one for me.”
Looking ahead, Coach Clement expressed her anticipation for the upcoming match against Pembroke. She believes that the experience gained from competing in the Northeastern Conference will prepare her team for the challenge. “We look at it as any other game. We face some really great competition up here just in our conference,” she stated. “Some of our best games this year have been against top teams like Marblehead, Bishop Fenwick, and Peabody. We beat Bishop Fenwick and took sets from Marblehead and Peabody. We played well against higher-ranked teams and look forward to stepping up to the challenge again.”
As Swampscott prepares for their next matchup, their strong performance against Saugus serves as a testament to their skill and teamwork, setting the stage for an exciting continuation of the tournament.
