MILFORD – Methuen High lost the battle, in fact a few of them today against perennial power Milford High, in the Round of 8 match-up, 3-0.
But when a program goes from 0-10 to 20-3 and Merrimack Valley Conference champs in four years, something extra special appears to be brewing.
Methuen, which had early momentum in the first game, leading 23-19, lost the last six straight points to fall, 25-23.
It never recovered.
“If that set goes differently, I think that match goes differently,” said Methuen coach Matt Twomey.
“Honestly, after that we never got it going again, in a lot of areas,” said Twomey. “They’re a very good program. And they just play a lot better than we did.”
Methuen senior James Levesque, who is headed to Rivier College in the fall to play volleyball, deserves a trophy in his role in the worst to first Rangers program.
Particularly the last two years, he was the guy behind the scenes making sure everybody was putting in the work in the offseason, setting up practices, lifting sessions, etc.
“This is tough to take because I feel we were the better team if we played our best,” said Levesque. “But I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish. I’m really appreciative the guys allowed me to lead them. We are a very close group.”
In the second game, Methuen tied the score 8-8, appearing to get momentum. But Milford, which was one of the first boys’ volleyball programs in the state in 1986, took over the game key spikes and blocks.
Milford eventually pulled away 25-13. Methuen had eight clean spikes in the first game.
Methuen trailed 11-6 early in Game 3, but showed some fight winning six straight points. But for every point Methuen won thereafter, Milford won three, taking the final game 25-17.
Nothing came easy for Methuen after that first game in which it had eight spikes that weren’t touched. It had only eight over the next two games.
“Nothing was easy for us,” said Twomey. “But we did some of it to ourselves. The tough part is not playing our best. But I can’t be upset, 20-and-3 is 20-and-3.
“Schools that were taking care of us for a few years saw us give it back this year, and that felt good,” said Twomey. “We have a really good young group coming back. I believe we are here to stay, but it will take a lot of work.”
Milford, 15-5, moves on the Div. 1 final four. The program has been to three state championship matches, having lost all three.