LOWELL – Backed all the way down to the ropes Thursday evening, the Lowell boys volleyball workforce proved its youth doesn’t lack resilience and composure.
In yet one more Merrimack Valley Convention rock-fight, the No. 12 Pink Raiders (9-1) twice held off match-point throughout further time of a chaotic, must-win fourth set, to finally rally previous No. 14 Methuen and pull out a 3-2 (27-25, 20-25, 25-27, 30-28, 15-13) win.
The highest-two finishers from final 12 months’s MVC title race didn’t disappoint of their first assembly of this season, and the reigning-champion Rangers (7-3) seemed set for his or her eighth straight win with two match-point alternatives.
As an alternative, Lowell – which seemed like a rebuilding group on paper within the preseason – is the winner of eight straight and stays unbeaten in convention play.
Junior setter Vitou Seng posted a career-high 61 assists, primarily connecting with sophomore Aundre Rivera (25 kills) and senior Ian Mao (17 kills). Sophomore libero Logan Uy had 69 digs in an in any other case well-rounded efficiency.
“I believe we’re enjoying with home cash … we’re so younger,” stated Pink Raiders head coach Paul McCarthy. “These youngsters had been all enjoying JVs, that is their first 12 months with any varsity expertise. We’re simply having fun with the present. … It’s a testomony to our setter and a few of our youthful leaders that saved the keys collectively when issues weren’t going our method.”
“It’s simply guys eager to show themselves,” added assistant coach Brandon Seng. “These guys are hungry to point out their (means). What they need and what they will do. They’re writing their very own story.”
It appeared no lead was secure all through, evident by only one set determined by greater than two factors and the 15 further factors the groups performed.
Methuen responded to a little bit of a sluggish begin by forcing further factors with a 7-2 run within the first set and maintained its rhythm for a lot of the following three. Setter Shawn LaDuke (54 assists) unfold the wealth to Andrew Cox (19 kills), Cole Tourkantonis (14 kills) and Lucas Giard (11 kills, two blocks) to take over parts of every, whereas center hitters Adrian Blake (10 kills, 5 blocks) and Elijah Jean offered main complementary boosts.
The end result was a snug, 25-20 win within the second set, and a scrap-it-out win within the third that Cox and Rivera traded blows in earlier than a Blake block helped Methuen take a 2-1 match lead.
Lowell’s depth confirmed up in a giant method within the fourth for a 21-17 lead, just for the Rangers’ placed on a 5-0 run to finally pressure a 24-24 tie. Blake’s block gave them a 25-24 lead, which was met by a Mao kill to knot it again up. Blake’s kill then made it 26-25, however a pair of hitting errors flipped the lead right into a deficit and a pair side-outs adopted.
It wasn’t till a pair of Rivera kills that Lowell lastly edged out a 30-28 heart-stopper.
“I at all times inform them to by no means surrender,” Vitou Seng stated. “It doesn’t matter what the rating is, at all times attempt our greatest. I at all times inform my teammates to maintain enjoying, it doesn’t matter what.”
Seng’s play anchored the entire comeback, which noticed him distribute 11 assists and notch a kill within the fifth set – which Methuen practically pressured further factors in.
“He is aware of keep calm,” stated Brandon Seng. “No matter he does, the youngsters observe. No matter he says, the youngsters pay attention. He’s simply the principle man.”
Having a wealth of hitting choices made it simpler on the junior, as Gianni Rodriguez had 4 of his 10 kills within the set. Rivera had 4, Mao had three, and Bobby Pappas’ kill delivered the win.
“I belief everyone, I set the ball to everybody,” Vitou Seng stated. “I can belief anybody.”
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