DERRY, N.H. – Despite blitzing Salem in three sets when the teams met in late April, the Pinkerton Academy volleyballers expected a Friday night war in the Division I state quarterfinals.
And they absolutely got one.
The Blue Devils, seeded fifth, pushed No. 4 Pinkerton to the brink, grabbing a 2-1 set lead, before the Astros found their best stride and rallied to win, 15-6, in the fifth.
“Regular season, they were missing a couple of guys when we played them. We knew they were going to be tough,” said Astros’ senior leaper Kayden Layne.
“They got hot toward the end of the season. We knew we had to come to play.”
Layne was absolutely immense down the stretch, swinging free when it mattered most and punishing the visiting Blue Devils, who close out the year at 10-7.
“Even when we were down, we said to keep our heads up. We never lost confidence,” said Layne. “The coaching and our captains (led us), that kept our heads up.
“There is definitely some pressure, but at the end of the day, it’s just volleyball, and we played our game.”
After the team split the first two sets, Salem took charge at 20-20 in the third.
Jackson Gonyea pounded a kill, and Christian Cruz stepped up for a man-sized block to put the Devils up 22-20. Brody Snyder delivered one more key point, and the Devils prevailed, 25-22.
The upset looked imminent when Salem broke to a 4-0 lead, but it was all about Layne and Pinkerton the rest of the way.
Layne and 6-foot-6 sophomore Sean Phelps pounded the ball relentlessly, combining for 10 points at the net as the Astros rolled 25-19.
The momentum continued in the fifth as lefty Ben Koelb served four straight points to open the set. Layne had three kills in the set, including the loudest blast of the night to make it 12-3 and render Salem’s upset hopes extinct.
Pinkerton, now 14-3, will challenge unbeaten topped seeded Coe-Brown in the state semis on Tuesday (7 p.m.) at Nashua North.
Coe-Brown surrendered just two sets all year, but the Astros feel like they have a shot for sure.
“We went toe to toe with them in the regular season. They’re tough, but we were right with them,” said Layne. “I think we have a shot. Just like tonight, we have to bring the energy and play for each other.”