Coach Kayla Wyland getting the sweep against Melrose on Savage's kill and defeating her former coach Scott Celli -- with whom she won a state championship in 2012 -- was one she's been wanting for years.

"We were doing it for us, doing it for our town, and our coach," Arkinstall said. "To accomplish that for her, it was crazy. It was an amazing feeling. She knows how hard we work and she built the program up."

Wyland's first season was the 2021 Fall II campaign, when the program earned its first Middlesex win over Reading. That fall, Wakefield beat Lexington and Burlington for the first time en route to its first postseason appearance and win. In 2022, the Warriors got their first win over Arlington, then Woburn in 2023, and Belmont last season.

This year's Warriors feature 10 seniors, and some of them played as sophomores on the first team to make the Division 3 semifinals in 2023. Last fall, the Warriors were the only team to win a set against D3 champion Weston.

"It's so emotional because of all these seniors. I've seen them in the youth clinics when I took over, trying a new sport and seeing what it is," Wyland said. "Seeing them sophomore year [in the] final four, now seeing their development and growth, confidence and gameplay. I feel like a proud mom. That's one of the biggest moments of their lives, if not the biggest to date."

This year's team is 15-4 and 19th in the Globe's Top 20 poll. With a win Friday, the Warriors would clinch at least a share of their first Middlesex League title. For a senior core that has been achieving firsts regularly, the postseason presents further opportunities.

"We have a goal: To make it to the championship and win the championship," said libero Cara Carangelo, a senior captain whose sister, Lea, was the setter during the semifinal run two years ago. "To have that goal brings us together. Keeping positive attitudes with each other makes us closer."

Arkinstall (2.7 kills per set this season) and Kenny (2.4) were two of the team's top three hitters as sophomores. Kenny said every win in the playoffs two years ago was "surreal."

"It was a lot of pressure, but I think having coach Kayla, she really helps on and off the court," she said. "She'd talk to me if I'm down or if we have a big game ahead of us. She'd say we trust you. That really helps."

It's a special combination for these teammates -- to have a team with all these milestones and firsts to achieve, and have the skill on the roster to check them off.

"I'm just so grateful for the opportunity I've had to play with this team," said Grace. "I love making memories with them. I love to conquer these milestones with my teammates."

Wyland often cites defensive specialist Brendia Diaz as an example of elite work ethic. She's a track & field athlete (shot put, javelin, discus), so she doesn't have time for club volleyball. But in-season? She's always early and stays late in the gym to make up time.

"There are other girls who don't have the opportunity to play club and I want to be a role model for that," the senior said. "You don't have to pay thousands of dollars. If you put in the work, you can play. I hope that gives hope and inspiration that there's a chance."

Armed with playoff experience, chemistry from years of playing together, and the mental breakthrough from beating Melrose, the red-hot Warriors (winners of 10 of their last 11) are heading to the D2 tournament for the first time.

"I feel like it's been everything I asked for," said Kenny. "You only have four years in high school . . . Sophomore year when my coach told me I'd be in the starting lineup almost every game, it flipped a switch in my head that as a team we had to step up and play as hard as we could. It's been a dream come true.

"We've been setting records, accomplishing new things. It's been an amazing four years."

* Riley Huml took over six-rotation setting duties for Weston during the 2023 season, and came up clutch in the Wildcats' championship.

Now a senior in her fifth year of varsity, she is setting and hitting in a two-setter lineup. She has always been willing to go this route, though it will probably deprive her of the chance to set the state assists record. She is currently second, within 100 of Dennis-Yarmouth's Vivian Castano (2,589).

"She contributes to the team in every way beyond setting, being one of our best servers, an impressive attacker, and able to pass with confidence," Weston coach Eileen Leblanc said. "She approaches the game as team-first, doing what is needed even though it may mean missing out on individual accomplishments."

* Bellingham dominated a rematch with Medfield, jumping the Warriors in the MIAA D3 power rankings. That means two teams that moved up divisions now hold top spots (Bourne, D4).

"We've been working hard on establishing our middles. [Sophomores] Aubrey Callery and Kaleigh Simpson played really well," said Bellingham coach Steve Mantegani. "We didn't have that at the beginning of the year when we played them. This is a new wrinkle for us. We've been getting better at it. It opened up our offense."

No. 4 Chelmsford at No. 7 Wellesley, 4 p.m. -- The Raiders haven't lost at home since their second match of the season vs. Newton North. The Lions are undefeated.

Shrewsbury at No. 17 Lincoln-Sudbury, 4:15 p.m. -- One of the top teams in the Division 1 power rankings tests its mettle on the road against the surging Warriors.

Wakefield girls' volleyball has been rising the ranks. Does its first win over Melrose mark an arrival? - The Boston Globe