Photo: Belmont High’s Libero Layla Cadet (4) and Danbi Kim (3) in action against Woburn

One point away from eeking out a thrilling five-set victory against Wayland, Belmont High Volleyball Head Coach Raylynn Kauila was so into the moment, she was practically on the court for the final point.

And with the first of consecutive five-set wins – the second came Friday, Oct. 2 at Lexington – Belmont extended its winning streak to seven matches to reach the midpoint of the season, 9-2, and 16th in the MIAA Division 1 Power Rankings, a big improvement from last year’s 10-9 regular season that ended with a first-round loss in the MIAA tournament.

“Sometimes their energy is so contagious!” said the second year coach. “While I can only put the best lineup out there, I do try to keep their energy up, and match their energy to push them.”

Belmont hosts Concord-Carlisle High (2-7) on Friday, Oct. 9 at 5:30 p.m. It’s free to attend.

After a lackluster 3-2 start to the season, Belmont faced a strong 5-1 Woburn High squad at The Wenner, Sept. 22. But to the shock of the Tanners, the Marauders swept their Middlesex League rival out of the Field House in three sets (25-15, 25-13, 25-16) on a night that Belmont started each set with the lead and stretched that advantage as the games went on. 

The team’s core – Middle blocker/opposite hitter Katia Polina, setter Sophie Wang, defensive specialist Emma Miao, opposite hitter Danbi Kim, Middle hitter Leelee Kozelian and senior liberoes Layla Cadet and Sophia Pavlou – is proving to be “a handful” for opponents, said Kauila. 

“Once we beat Woburn, we gained some confidence and momentum,” said Kauila. “The girls realized, especially how we started games against (losses to) Burlington and Wakefield, our record was not reflecting who we were. It’s like we can beat these teams. And we’re showing that even though we’re (a) small team, we can keep up with them.” 

That ability to stay close and play up to the competition was evident against Wayland, a top-ten Division 3 squad, who came to town with a tall team – at times Wayland would put on the court four players taller than Belmont’s – that dominated both sides of the net, blocking and shooting. 

Where Belmont had the advantage was outstanding serving, especially from Wang and Polina, and the digs from the backs led by Miao and Cadet. Belmont got out to a fast start, and when Kim grabbed a point with kill from the back and Miao made a string of winning serves, it was two points from winning the first set. 23-18. But Wayland would storm back, and with Belmont failing to convert three match points, the hosts would waste their chance in the first to lose 26-28. 

The second set saw Belmont refuse to back off the net, winning consecutive points from block to swing momentum and seeing it cruise to a 25-14 victory. The third set was close until serving once again pushed open an advantage for the Marauders, and see then take the set 25-15. 

But Belmont began making unforced errors due in part to Wayland’s commitment to playing aggressively at the net, with Belmont falling 21-25. The final set was close at 7-5 when Polina hit a service ace that started a 6-1 run to up the lead to 13-6. But Wayland would not go away quietly, ripping off four points before seeing Belmont finish them off to win 15-10.

With the opportunity to hit double digits in wins by Friday, Kauila sees the team’s success as important for it as the Marauders enter the meat of its season, starting Tuesday, Oct. 13, away at one-loss Winchester (ranked third in the Globe poll and followed by Division 2 powerhouses), away at Melrose (Oct. 15), third in the Division 2 power rankings, and home vs. Reading who comes in second in the rankings with one loss. (Oct. 20).

“That schedule is going to push us and will get us ready for that post season push,” said Kauila. “I’m excited for the next weeks and will see how we handle [the competition],” she said.