For the first time since 1989, the Middlesex High volleyball team is going to the finals of the State Class 1 Tournament. Middlesex (25-2) will play Giles for the state championship at the Salem Civic Center at 2:15 p.m. on Saturday.
The Lady Chargers capped their stellar season by defeating visiting Lancaster in an electric state semifinal matchup on Tuesday winning in five sets.
Middlesex controlled the first two sets winning 25-20 and 25-19. Lancaster took the third and fourth sets 25-21 and 25-15, to set the stage for a decisive fifth set that the Lady Chargers won 15-8.
Before that final set, Lady Charger Head Coach Brian Walton, who was selected Region A Coach of the Year, gathered his team. “He reminded them to trust their preparation rather than focus on the pressures of the stage,” said Assistant Coach Laura Walton. “You could see the group settle, reset, and breathe.
“The Lady Chargers came out with grit and fire in the fifth set, playing with the determination and composure that has defined their season,” she added. “It was a battle worthy of the moment and a game the entire community can be proud of.”
Both schools filled the gym with energy. Tickets sold out faster than any of the larger-school matchups, something she “couldn’t believe.” The energy in the building was unmatched.
The Lady Chargers, who are undefeated in the Tidewater District and Region A play, are deep with talent. “The coaching staff emphasized that this year’s performance wasn’t about one standout player but it was a full team effort, built from months of shared work and steady growth,” said Laura Walton.
