Natick's production spikes at start, finish
The Natick boys' volleyball team had just blown a 23-17 lead in the third game. Brookline had come firing in Game 4, building a 21-16 advantage in trying to force a deciding game. After starting the day in dominating fashion, the Redmen were without any momentum at their home gym, on the wrong end of a 4-point run.
Then senior cocaptain Elio Jaho smacked home a kill to stop the bleeding, and Natick erupted. Jeremy Siden, the other senior cocaptain, was up to serve, and before he was done Natick had taken a 22-21 lead. The Redmen sealed the deal, 25-23, a few minutes later on a Jaho kill, the 3-1 victory improving the reigning state champions to 9-0.
"We never give up, it's like a tradition of ours," said coach Peter Suxho. "In the other teams' eyes we are the champions, so everyone wants to beat you, but they can't."
Brookline (4-2) came closer than most. The first two matches were won handily by the Redmen, with Jaho (18 kills) and Siden (16 kills) leading the way.
Game 3 looked like a blowout when Natick went on a 15-2 run. Then Brookline came back to win, 26-24, largely behind Leo Bazzoli and Lui Ted.
The momentum swing continued in Game 4 when Kyle Haverburg served Brookline for 6 straight points. After some spirited volleys, Natick closed the deficit to 17-16. Aaron Bartel then made a strong hit for Brookline, and scored the next 3 points before Jaho and Siden stepped up.
"I told them they have to lead with example, with action, you have to lead with spiking the ball," Suxho said of his seniors. "Now they are leading."
Bay State: Weymouth rolled past Framingham, 3-0, behind Rob Sinewick's 18 kills and 10 service points.
Merrimack Valley: Chelmsford (10-1) moved into first place with a 3-0 win over Haverhill, fueled by Jeremy Velazquez (35 assists, 6 blocks, 5 aces, 20 service points) and Matt Hohrath (10 kills, 4 blocks).
Nonleague: Sean Bishop put up 39 assists and Phil Ellison had 12 kills in St. John's Prep's 3-0 victory over Methuen . . . Tullio Peiera racked up 13 kills in Barnstable's 3-0 win over Durfee.
Boys' lacrosse
Nonleague: No. 12 Billerica came close to handing No. 1 Duxbury its first MIAA loss since the 2003 state final, but lost a rainy matchup at Bentley last night, 11-10. Pat O'Laughlin made 18 saves for the Indians (7-3) but couldn't stop three goals apiece from Quinn Cully and Scott Austin. Derek Sweet collected a goal and four assists for Duxbury (8-2).
Girls' lacrosse
Dual County: Alexa Rozelle had six goals and two assists in Lincoln-Sudbury's 18-7 win over Wayland . . . Laura Crowe's four goals propelled Newton South to a 12-3 win over Tyngsboro.
