MIAA Spring Volleyball Championships: Newton North, Westfield rally for victories in five-set thrillers

WORCESTER - Both matches took five sets at Worcester State College, and both teams had to dig out of early deficits to ultimately take home their respective championships after losing in the state title matches in 2023. For one school it was the first championship in program history, while the other added another notch to its rich history.

Here is a look at the championship action:

Division 1

Newton North 3, Needham 2 - In a matchup of Bay State Conference powers, the Tigers not only avenged a loss in the 2023 title match, but ended the Rockets' three-year reign atop Division 1. It was the first state championship in three tries for North.

After splitting the first two sets (23-25, 25-12), North fell into a 2-1 hole as Needham won the third set, 25-17. But a grueling 25-22 fourth set tied the match and set the stage for the Tigers, who clinched the match victory and championship with a 15-8 win.

Senior Adam Christianson led North with 15 kills, 14 assists and 3 blocks. Senior Joaquin Cuevas-Torres had 19 assists, and junior Simon Vardeh 20 kills. 

Division 1 bracket     

Division 2

Westfield 3, Wayland 2 - After falling in a 2-0 hole in the match, the top-seeded Bombers took control by winning the last three sets (25-22, 25-19, 15-13) and brought home the program's fifth state championship by outlasting the No. 3 Warriors.

Senior Miles Shepard had 19 kills, including the one that clinched the match for Westfield. Junior Zach Kukharchuk had 18 kills and 11 digs in the win, and senior Ryder Finnie chipped in 45 assists.

Division 2 bracket