Girls’ volleyball is headed to the state championships for the fourth year in a row after a dominant 3-0 victory over the Needham Rockets Tuesday, Nov. 12.
Head coach Nile Fox credited the team’s ability to execute their game plan, emphasizing the importance of fundamentals. According to Fox, “just the little things, defense and serving things,” were key to the win.
From the outset, the Tigers’ confident energy was evident. Senior Devon Burke, a captain along with senior Alexa Marruci, was filled with enthusiasm while leading the charge during pregame warmups.
The game began with both teams trading points, and Needham eventually built a four-point lead, prompting North’s head coach, Nile Fox, to call an early timeout. After the break, the Tigers were confident in their response, with sophomore Nora Hamel delivering back-to-back successful serves that helped them regain the lead.
“The energy definitely comes and goes in waves depending on how we do, we’re hoping to definitely be better at that during the state championship game,” said sophomore Sasha Selivan.
The success of the first set was largely attributed to the powerful partnership between Selivan and Burke. Selivan’s precise sets paired with Burke’s lethal kills were a consistent threat for the Rockets.
With the student section cheering them on, the Tigers closed out the first set 25-19, maintaining their momentum.
The Tigers picked up right where they left off in the second set, quickly taking control of the game. “We’re starting to get more comfortable with our energy as the game goes on,” said Selivan.
Junior Charlotte Pernisie had a standout performance in the second set, contributing with multiple key kills and serves. Senior Brianna Milliken also impressed with many crucial blocks.
North won the second set with yet another 25-19 score. As they entered the third set, Needham seemed hungry for a comeback, and the Tigers found themselves trailing.
However, the Tigers quickly regrouped, and as the set progressed, the Rockets seemed increasingly discouraged by North’s dominance. Despite the early deficit, the Tigers remained relentless, closing out the third set with a final 25-19 victory, securing their spot in the state championship.
“At the beginning of the season we said we wanted it, but as the season went on, we really showed it in our play,” said Burke.
Next up for the Tigers is a showdown against Brookline Saturday, Nov. 16 in the state finals at Billerica Memorial High School, where they’ll look to cap off a remarkable season.
