On Tuesday, June 10, the boys varsity volleyball team beat Westfield High School 3-1 in the semifinals of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Division II playoffs.
Wayland finished the regular season with a record of 14-8 and headed into the tournament ranked No. 3, while Westfield came into the game with a 20-4 record and ranked No. 2 in the tournament.

Westfield took an early lead to start off the game, but Wayland responded with a run to gain control, leading to a back-and-forth battle that tied the game at 19-19. After a Westfield surge to take the lead at 23-19, Wayland mounted a comeback with key plays by freshman Alex Pearlman, junior Finn Bell and junior Max Walsh to tie the game and take the lead. Pearlman was announced “Man of the Match” for Wayland, his performance highlighted by his timely four kills. Wayland completed the rally by winning the final two points and taking the set 25-23, prompting loud cheers from the Wayland faithful who took the almost 30-mile drive to Worcester North High School.

The second set started out close with the two teams tied at 7-7. Wayland then went on a run to take the lead at 12-8.This comfortable lead didn’t last for long, as Westfield stormed back to make it 12-11, but Bell stopped all Westfield momentum with a crucial kill, sparking a Wayland rally to pull ahead 16-11. Bell led the team with 27 kills this game. After a Westfield timeout, Wayland shot out to a 19-12 lead and never looked back, winning the set 25-19.

The third set started with Westfield jumping out to an early 8-6 lead. Wayland cut into their lead with the help of sophomore Zach O’Donnell, but then forfeited their lead, with the score being 13-10. O’Donnell had a team-high 38 assists and played a major role in Wayland’s win. Westfield maintained their 21-16 lead late into the match. Bell had a crucial point to cut into the lead, but it was not enough as Westfield won the set 25-17.

As the fourth set started, both Wayland and Westfield went point for point, up until Wayland took a 6-5 lead. As the set progressed, Wayland took over with an impressive rally and kill by senior Cooper Sazamazenta to make the score 10-7 in favor of Wayland. In the back and forth affair, Westfield tied the game 11-11. The set had many momentum shifts throughout, but ultimately Wayland took a late 22-18 lead after an incredulous point. Three points away from Wayland’s second straight state championship appearance, they kept the momentum in their favor and closed out the game, winning the set 25-18.