Volleyball can be a lot like stand-up comedy in that to make a great performance, the set-up has to be just as good as the punch line.
Marblehead High just happens to have one of the best set-up artists in North Shore history in senior Eva Burke. In Monday’s victory over Notre Dame Hingham, Burke handed out 31 assists to become of only a handful of players in the history of the region to reach the 1,000 career assists.
“Eva is such a hard worker, and we’re incredibly proud of her. To see her reach this milestone while playing the best volleyball of her high school career is a true reflection of everything she’s poured into this program,” Magicians head coach Killeen Miller said.
The win over Notre Dame helped the Magicians (now 15-2 including Tuesday’s win over Danvers) climb up to No. 6 in the Division 2 state power rankings. Marblehead is unbeaten in Northeastern Conference play and has won 10 in a row, including marquee non-league wins against Woburn, Reading and now Notre Dame.
“We pushed ourselves with the non-conference schedule. Even when we lost to (No. 9) Burlington in September, every set was competitive and it fueled us to want to level up,” Miller said. “Then the Reading match was a turning point; we were able to carry that momentum into this week.”
Burke’s ability to run a smooth, diverse offense is one of the big reasons for Marblehead’s success. The Magicians have three players with over 100 kills before Tuesday’s match, led by Lila Moniz with 183, senior Greta Sachs with 142 and senior captain Mari Modrzynska with 110. Junior Sammy Walker also chips in at the net, averaging nearly two kills per set.
“Our offense has been a major strength this season, and that’s a direct result of the work our players put in during the offseason,” Miller noted. “Like Eva, our hitters have gotten faster, stronger, and smarter. We’ve challenged our middles and setters to create more space for our pins and diversify their shots along the net. The combination of that growth, paired with Eva’s talent and leadership, has made this such a rewarding season.”
Burke is among Marblehead’s leaders in service aces and also has a double-digit game in digs under her belt this season. Her season high in assists was an amazing 45 in a win over Peabody, and she’s topped the 30-assist mark in six of her team’s last seven bouts.
After posting a career-best 396 assists last fall, Burke now has 355 this season with two regular season games and the state tournament still to come. Her new school record surpassed the previous all-time best of 788 held by Julia Potvin.
“Eva has spent countless hours in the gym this season, working with all of our offensive players to help them find their rhythm. She’s added tremendous depth and versatility to her own game, not only as a setter but as a strong defensive asset,” Miller said. “She’s gotten faster, sharpened her timing with her hitters, and continues to rise to every challenge. I couldn’t be prouder of her.”