By Avonlea Cummings
Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter
The Needham boys volleyball team hosted the undefeated Milford Scarlet Hawks on Wednesday, April 24. In a remarkable display of resilience, Needham staged a comeback, overcoming a 0-2 set deficit to secure a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Scarlet Hawks.
Senior captain Luke Lorence led the charge for the Rockets with an impressive 17 kills, supported by senior captain Brian Cloonan with 14 kills, and junior Jeremy Bullard-Smith contributing seven kills to propel Needham's offense. Senior captain Owen Ching anchored the defense with 26 digs, while senior Sam Peljovich made a significant impact with nine blocks, denying Milford scoring opportunities.
The matchup between Needham and Milford, two formidable teams, set the stage for an intense showdown. The opening set established the tone for the evening, with both teams vying for control. Despite Needham's efforts, Milford ultimately secured a narrow victory, claiming the set 27-25.
Milford carried their momentum into the second set, quickly establishing a lead. Although Needham rallied to level the score, Milford's dominance prevailed as they secured the set 25-22.
Determined to turn the tide, Needham regrouped during the intermission. With renewed energy and strategic play, the Rockets seized control, claiming the third set 25-17. Needham maintained their momentum in the fourth set, with Peljovich, Avery Kalish, and Bullard-Smith delivering crucial blocks, while Lorence led the offensive charge. Needham secured the set 25-23, setting the stage for a decisive fifth set.
In the final set, Needham dominated, surging to a commanding 10-0 lead. Peljovich and Kalish thwarted Milford's offensive attempts, while Ching showcased stellar defensive play. Despite a late surge from Milford, Needham maintained their composure, ultimately sealing the set 15-4 and clinching the hard-fought victory with a final score of 3-2.
Head coach Dave Powell shared his thoughts on the team’s comeback: “Milford is a really good program and to be down 2-0 and comeback 3-2 says a lot about our guys’ character. We changed some things around in our rotation so the matchups were a little different. Some guys came off the bench like Sam Peljovich and Avery Kalish. They gave us some really good stuff and made a lot of plays. They helped us a lot. Sam Peljovich played very well, he’s a really good blocker,” said Powell.
