For the third straight year, girls’ volleyball brought home the state championship, cementing their dynasty with a dominant 3-0 sweep over Brookline at the MIAA state tournament finals Saturday, Nov. 16. This marks the Tigers’ fourth consecutive appearance in the finals, a streak that has made them the team to beat in Massachusetts girls’ volleyball.
“What a game,” said sophomore Sasha Selivan. “We all put in so much effort and dedication not just in the game but also in the season overall. I’m so proud of all of my teammates. We set our goals and we hit them. Intentions are everything.”
Selivan and senior captain Devon Burke were central to the Tigers’ electrifying performance. Selivan nailed three aces in the first set, her fourth ace in the next sparking a critical offensive push that left Brookline reeling. Meanwhile, Burke dominated the net with 13 kills, combining with Selivan’s pinpoint serves to create a stringent attack. Together, the Selivan-Burke duo set the tone for the Tigers’ commanding victory.
North faced stiff competition in a thrilling opening set. Both teams traded point for point, the scoreboard locked in a constant back-and-forth. Selivan kept the energy high, nailing three aces to push the Tigers forward. The opposing student sections were each overflowing with energy, fueled by the relentless momentum shifts between the teams.
The teams remained neck-in-neck as the set pushed into overtime. After what felt like an eternity, the Tigers broke the deadlock with two decisive points to secure a 29-27.
“We all knew the consequences if we didn’t get our acts together, and it definitely pushed our motivation,” said sophomore Lyla Burton.
The intensity carried into the second set, where both teams fought for control. The Tigers rode the high of their first-set win and kept pace, eventually pulling ahead. In a decisive moment, Burke was subbed in and hammered home the final point of the set, securing it 25-22.
As the third set began, the Tigers made their intentions clear. North surged to an early 7-3 lead and never looked back, dominating the court with precision and poise. The set ended in a resounding 25-14 victory, sealing their championship and sparking celebrations from the bench and the packed stands.
“I am so proud of girls this year and their determination. At the beginning of the season we all wrote our goals on a board and the number one goal was to win states,” said head coach Nile Fox. “What can I say, we did it again.”
Girls’ volleyball has now clinched six MIAA Division 1 volleyball titles since 2014. Not only did the team bring home the victory, but it also dominated the entire playoff tournament, refusing to drop a single set throughout.
“I am so excited by the way the season ended, we accomplished everything we shot for and Coach Nile really did everything he could to get us where we are now. We deserved this win more than anyone,” said Burke.
