BOXFORD – Last season, the Peabody High girls volleyball team won four of its last five to sprint its way into the state tournament. This year, however, the Tanners have loftier aspirations.
Led by outside hitter Lizzy Bettencourt, Peabody put forth a tenacious showing at Masconomet, winning 3-1 in a hard-fought battle.
“This was a great team win,” said Bettencourt (22 kills), one of three senior captains who helped power her team to victory. “For us, it’s all about trust, especially with the seniors. We trust each other so much, and that makes a big difference with our passing, our communication, and our timing.”
After dropping their last contest to North Andover by two points in the fifth set, Peabody entered this match determined. Sherrill Erickson, who is in her second season leading the Tanners, was particularly pleased with her team’s resolve.
“I was proud of the way they communicated,” said Erickson. “This is a great group – a lot of them have been playing together for years, and they want it. We knew we were playing a tough Masco team, but we never gave up, even when things weren’t going our way.”
Peabody (2-1) won the opening set, 25-21, then Bettencourt dominated the second set to take a commanding 18-11 lead. Masconomet then went on a 14-6 run, nearly stealing the set before Peabody regrouped to win, 27-25. The Chieftains, who are the reigning division champions, then played their most complete set, outscoring Peabody, 25-15, to take the fourth.
But there was no fifth set in this matchup. A poised-under-pressure performance gave Peabody the fourth set, 25-20, and the victory.
Sydney Lynch and Yorna Demiri, both senior captains for Peabody, were integral in the team’s victory.
“These are some of my best friends, so getting to play one last year together means a lot,” said Lynch, a libero who constantly had an answer for whatever was sent her way. “Masco is one of our biggest competitors, so we knew we needed to be tough. We were so down after the last game, and our energy picked us up.”
“Positive energy makes us who we are,” added Demiri, a setter who was icing her right hand after a stellar performance. “We’re all friends, we’re all kind, and we all keep each other up.”
Both Masconomet and Peabody play in the NEC Dunn, so this marked the first of their two meetings. It showcased a battle between two of the league’s most explosive players in Bettencourt and Masconomet senior middle hitter Cate Wettstone (24 kills), who was sensational in defeat.
For Masconomet (0-4), the loss extends their early season struggles.
“We want to be more aggressive and limit unforced errors, but our girls played hard,” said Masconomet coach Jonathan Wettstone. “Give credit to Peabody. Their passing was so strong, and Lizzy Bettencourt was so dynamic all over the court.”
Bettencourt praised her teammates, noting that a complete effort was required to notch this win. And for a senior-laden Peabody team dreaming of a deep run in the state tournament, this was certainly a step in the right direction.
“It wasn’t easy, but all our work paid off,” said Bettencourt. “Everyone played hard and everyone contributed.”
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