The boys varsity volleyball team defeated the Needham Rockets in three sets on Thursday, Apr. 10 in the Schluntz Gymnasium, improving their record to 5-0 for the season.
Entering the game, the Warriors had not taken down the Rockets for 14 years. Additionally, the Rockets eliminated the Warriors from the state tournament the season prior and are currently the number three-ranked team in the MIAA Division One power rankings entering the contest.
For senior and captain Kristaps Vaivars, this made their performance not only more important but all the more satisfying.
“This game was really important to us. Not only does it help us this season, but historically, it’s been a while since we’ve beaten Needam,” Vaivars said. “To finally get that victory at home, especially since we got it done in a sweep, it felt really good.”
The Warriors got off to a quick start, taking the first set 25-19 and never looking back. Vaivars, who finished the game with a team best of 16 kills, said he credits the victory to the team’s resilience.
“The key to success was staying focused the whole game,” Viavars said. “We stayed strong, and while they crumbled in important moments, we stepped up.”
The second and third sets were smooth sailing for the Warriors, going 25-19 and 25-15, respectively. Junior Amir Tomer played a crucial role in the team’s success, finishing the game with five kills, three aces and two blocks.
According to Tomer, the team’s success was a result of the energy they brought.
“We really felt super interconnected,” Tomer said. “Feeding off that energy, seeing my teammates getting really high and having a good time, it just makes me play better.”
As a result of the anticipation surrounding this matchup, the atmosphere inside the gym was lively, something that head coach Lexi De la Cruz found key to the team’s success.
“We are a very emotional team; we like to play our own style of game,” De la Cruz said. “I think that it is important for the fans to support as well as the bench players, so we are able to come back even when we’re down, like we did a couple times.”
Coming off such a dominant victory against a team of Needham’s caliber, Tomer is all the more confident moving forward this season.
“It gives me confidence. We know we’re a top team, we know we can fight with anybody out there,” Tomer said.
De la Cruz said he’s already looking ahead to the team’s next big challenge, a challenge that comes with the opportunity for his team to solidify their status as the team to beat in the state.
“Next week, we play Newton North on Thursday; that’s our next important game,” De la Cruz said. “If we’re able to win that match, we will definitely be considered the top team in the state”.
