Boys’ volleyball pushed top-ranked Wayland to five sets before ultimately falling 2-3, Thursday, May 21.
The match opened with a tight 25-22 North win in the first set, fueled by early service aces from senior Jake Svartstrom and sophomore Aaron Stein.
Head coach Nile Fox said, “This game was the best we’ve played all season. Wayland is probably the best team in the state right now, and I hope we take this into the playoffs.”
The Tigers stayed competitive in the second set, but ultimately fell to the Warriors’ standout defense. Stein, however, delivered sharp hits, and performed a diving save despite his already-injured knee.
Freshman John Warren said that Stein’s toughness lifted the whole team. “Shout out to Aaron Stein, number six,” Warren said. “We hit really well out of the outside, and our passing was pretty consistent.”
Wayland took the third set 25-23, even as senior Kayden Burns-Wong hammered several kills and Warren delivered a service ace.
As the fourth set began, senior Amaris Cotto, a captain alongside senior Peter Reale, delivered soaring kills, including one that tied the score 12-12 and sent the stands into chaos.
Stein’s perseverance brought North to 18-19, but Wayland’s libero continued to dominate defensively.
North then ripped off five straight points, winning 26-24 despite Wayland’s desperate last-point saves.
Burns-Wong said the fourth set showed the team’s growth. “This was the greatest we’ve ever played,” he said. “We were defending a lot better and scrapping up a lot more plays.”
The deciding set opened with impenetrable defense from the Tigers, but the Warriors responded immediately.
Despite the final score, Burns-Wong said the match felt like a breakthrough after a brutal two-week stretch against top-ranked opponents.
“The fact that we went to five sets with the best team in the state is probably the high of our season,” he said. “There was less hesitation tonight. People are getting comfortable with their roles.”
Warren echoed that the team’s growth, especially among the younger players, is a good sign for the future. “My outside setting got a lot better, and I got a lot more aggressive,” he said. “The best part of the season was honestly the practices.”
Fox said, “I just want the kids to play volleyball. Grass, gym, anywhere. If they keep working, we’ll be ready for the playoffs.”
The Tigers, 6-11, defeated Braintree 3-11 in the round of 32, and defeated Lexington 3-2 in the round of 16. They will take on Chelmsford in the Elite Eight round, Friday, June 5.
