North took home the MIAA Division I state championship by defeating Needham 3-2 Thursday, June 13 at Worcester State University. With the win, seniors Adam Christianson and Sam Huang, captains along with senior Joaquin Quevas-Torress, and junior Simon Vardeh earned places on the Massachusetts Boys All-State Massachusetts Coaches Association (MAVCA) team.
“We played a great game and did what we had to do the whole night,” said head coach Nile Fox. “We just kept our play consistent and kept attacking.”
In the first set, Christianson implemented a variety of shots to score kills, from smashing a deep cross-court shot to a sneaky setter dump to the middle of the court. However, Needham’s defense was everywhere on the court, digging up the hard hits and covering the blocks by diving. A strong double block by Needham secured them the first set 23-25.
In the second set, North returned with restored momentum. After North clinched six consecutive points, Needham called a time-out. Following the time out, a cross-court kill and two aces by Huang brought North to 15-8. A remarkable dig by Needham’s libero forced North to call a timeout at 16-10. North closed the set at 25-12 after executing two successful blocks consecutively.
“The whole game was nerve-racking. It went back and forth and just made my heart race more and more at each point,” said Christiansen.
Heading into the third set, momentum swung back to Needham. North managed many powerful kills, but were outplayed by Needham’s setter dumps and saves, ending with a score of 17-25.
In the fourth set, the Tigers stepped onto the court with renewed energy fueled by fan chants and cheers. Vardeh seized an early 3-2 lead with a decisive kill down the line. The match intensified as North battled to a crucial 13-12 advantage after a relentless rally. Needham fought back fiercely, narrowing the gap, but in a game-changing moment, Vardeh tricked Needham’s defense with a last-minute tip, securing the set with a 25-22 win.
The fifth set ignited the crowd as North claimed a decisive 15-8 victory over longtime rivals Needham. Sophomore Peter Reale’s timely kill leveled the score at 2-2 early on. North surged ahead 7-3 with strong blocks and kills, bolstered by a cross-court smash extending their lead to 13-7. In the final moment, a Needham player’s overstep during a block attempt sealed North’s hard-fought win.
“It didn’t even feel like a win at first. I was still confused as to what actually happened.” said junior Brady Dwyer. “We worked all year for this by playing club and practicing, and we finally got the trophy.”
