Published September 23, 2020
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
LYNNFIELD — Two weeks ago, Cape Ann League officials decided to postpone the girls’ volleyball season until the new Fall 2 season which takes place from Feb. 22 to April 25. Football is planning on playing in that season as well as the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) added a fourth season this school year.
“I found out the news on Twitter,” recalled Lynnfield High volleyball head coach Brent Ashley. “I was not surprised.”
The ruling was made because of the coronavirus pandemic and the fear of playing indoor sports this fall.
The day after the announcement came out, Ashley talked to his team.
“I was trying to be supportive,” he explained. “I know the decision was made for the safety of the kids.”
Lynnfield will be allowed to hold practices outdoors this fall. Ashley’s squad had been doing player-only practices during the summer.
“I am going to encourage the kids to play club volleyball this fall,” said Ashley, who is entering his third year at the helm.
Although the team will have to wait several months to return to action, Ashley tried to put a positive spin on it.
“The leagues who are going now will not have a postseason,” he pointed out. “By February, the MIAA might change their minds and we could possibly have a playoff.”
In the North Shore, the Northeastern Conference, Merrimack Valley Conference and Catholic Central League are going to play volleyball while the CAL and Middlesex League will wait until the Fall 2 season.
Last fall was an outstanding one for the Pioneers, their lone defeat came in the Div. 2 state semifinals as they fell, 3-0, to Danvers. With that loss, the Pioneers ended up at 23-1 overall. They only lost five sets all season, the three to Danvers and two to Tewksbury in the previous round.
Lynnfield finished a perfect 16-0 in the league.
Six players from that team graduated but the Pioneers are slated to have seven veterans back in February.
