SOUTHWICK – Better late than never.
No. 11 Southwick Regional rallied from one set down to defeat No. 22 South High Community School in four sets in a Massachusetts Division II Round of 32 boys volleyball match Thursday evening at home, 23-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-14.
“We just weren’t really warmed up … and we were feeding off each other’s negative energy,” said Southwick junior outside hitter Nicolas Spina, who finished with 27 kills and 13 digs.
Sparked by two early kills and two early blocks from senior Ismael Carrion, South High (11-5) went on an 11-0 run to take a commanding 18-11 lead in the opening set.
Southwick (15-5) made a strong push to overtake South High, closing the gap throughout the set with several kills from Spina. Two consecutive solid plays at the net from River Thompson (nine kills, 13 digs, two aces, ½ block) made it a one-point game, 24-23, but senior Coddan Nguyen landed a kill to secure the set for the visitors.
Southwick made its move in the second set. Spina spurred his team on with three kills and an ace during a six-point stretch. Later in the set, Spina delivered a critical kill to give the Rams a two-point lead, 21-19. He smashed back-to-back kills to win the frame.
Southwick turned the tables on South High in the third set, going on a 7-0 run to take control of the match. Kills from Spina and Thompson, a Zachariah Frailey ace, and two Rams blocks helped the host team take a 13-7 advantage.
South High pulled to within three points of a tie, 17-14, but that is a close as the visitors would get in the set. Southwick closed out the set with three straight points – one kill each from Daniel Methe and Spina, and a hitting error by the opposition.
Southwick opened the fourth and final set with a 4-0 run, highlighted by an ace from Phong Tran (44 assists, eight digs, four aces, two kills, block) and a Spina kill. The Rams took control of the match by opening up a 14-4 lead. Two aces from Methe and one from Thompson, a Spina kill and block, and a Thompson ace contributed to the 10-point advantage.
Spina delivered three kill shots for three of Southwick’s final six points to seal the victory. Rams senior libero Max Salvador made 16 digs.
According to Spina, the match truly was won when “there was constructive criticism. The guys started telling each other where we need to be, and how we can build each other up.”
“It’s a mental game,” Spina said. “We [decided] we were just going to play the way we know we can play.”
Southwick boys volleyball coach Kaitlyn Anthony applauded her players for coming together and making the necessary adjustments to swing the match in their favor.
“I’m glad that we can find the ability to come back when we are low in the beginning or if we have that rough moment,” coach Anthony said. “There was a lot of actual collisions going on. We were just not normal. Our setter had a rough start too. I think we were struggling to find that spot where our hitters needed it. Tensions got a little high … but I think we showed we can move on.”
Southwick advances to face the winner of No. 6 Marlborough (17-2)-No. 27 University Park Campus (11-5) in the Round of 16.
