Cape Tech Volleyball Stays Alive With Two Victories In Division 5 State Tournament

HARWICH – The nerves have been no match for the Crusaders.

Although the 20th-seeded Cape Cod Tech girls volleyball team entered the postseason with little knowledge about its opponents, the Crusaders took care of business to earn back-to-back 3-0 victories in the preliminary round and the opening round of the Division 5 state tournament.

The Crusaders opened their postseason with a 25-10, 25-18, 25-9 sweep of No. 45 Academy of the Pacific Rim on Nov. 1, then responded with another 3-0 sweep of No. 13 Mohawk Trail Regional the very next day.

“I definitely think we have that thing that we get a little bit of a momentum shift and then it goes our way,” Cape Tech coach Rachel Crooker said following the win over Pacific Rim. “But playing a team you’ve never played before is kind of a nerve-wracking thing. I think we get a little nervous and we get a little in our heads. It’s all about shifting momentum and making them think, ‘OK, what do I need to do to contribute to this and help us get a win?’”

Plenty of Crusaders (16-4) players contributed to the opening-round win. Senior Laura Feliz de Jesus and her younger sister Sarah, a junior, were consistent presences throughout the match. Sophomore Megan Bird helped aid the team’s strong serving, and senior Adelyn Burlingame anchored the defensive efforts.

Burlingame turned in the highlight of the match during the third set when she chased down a ball heading for Cape Tech’s endline and made a remarkable over-the-shoulder strike that miraculously made its way over the net for a Crusaders point.

“I saw it dropping and was like, ‘I’ve got to go because no one else is going,’” said Burlingame, a Yarmouth resident. “I just sent it. I thought it was in the bleachers, but then I looked up and saw it land. That was a big moment.”

The elder Feliz de Jesus sister said she was proud of Sarah’s effort, which was on full display long before the visitors showed up in Harwich.

“Today we got here around 4:30 because our coach said to be here early, and we started scrimmaging for about an hour,” Laura Feliz de Jesus said. “Coach said, ‘All right, let’s rest so we don’t get tired,’ but Sarah wanted to keep going, going and going.

“She’s always so enthusiastic and she always has energy. If no one has energy, she’s always bringing it onto the court.”

According to Crooker, both sisters bring something valuable to the team: they are reliable and can be counted on during times of adversity.

“Sarah is a really dedicated player and she’s coachable. She’s definitely really, really reliable,” Crooker said. “[Laura] is a very reliable server and is someone who can get us a point when we need it. Outside, she’s able to cut off balls and get it back on the court for kills.”

The pair of victories set Cape Tech up with a Round of 16 matchup against fourth-seeded Bayside Academy Charter School in Boston on Tuesday night after The Chronicle’s deadline. The winner will advance to the state quarterfinals against fifth-seeded Lee (date/time TBA).