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BILLERICA ― The summit remained just out of reach.
Wayland has executed a steady climb over its past four volleyball seasons. The Warriors advanced to the Division 3 Round of 16 in 2022 after winning just two games the previous season. They reached the quarterfinals in 2023 and made the state semifinals for the first time last season.
The 2025 season brought a bigger mountain with a move up to Division 2, but Wayland kept climbing. The No. 7 seed reached Saturday's state final against No. 1 and undefeated Oliver Ames. The Warriors won the first two sets to move within sight of the crown.
The Tigers won the next three sets to prevail 3-2 and win the state championship for the first time.
"Wayland volleyball hasn't been known for making it," Warriors senior Anna Yalli said. "Us making it this year, we proved so many people wrong. I never expected it. I went into the season not knowing what the outcome was going to be. I 's been really great. Even though we didn't win it all, we were able to play in the championship, which is really awesome."
It's a volleyball town: Wayland boys volleyball seniors brought about program's 'most successful era'
The Warriors (15-8) showed they belonged immediately with a 25-20 win in the first set. Oliver Ames, playing in the state final for the second consecutive season, jumped out to a 10-4 lead in Set 2.
Wayland chipped away until Mia MacLean put them ahead 19-18 with back-to-back aces. Yalli gave the Warriors a 24-22 lead with consecutive aces, and Fiona Strehle finished a long point to cement the set 25-22 push Wayland to the precipice of a title.
The Warriors couldn't finish the climb, though. Oliver Ames (25-0) roared to a 10-6 lead in Set 3 and extended the match 25-16. The Tigers kept rolling with the first eight points of the fourth set and forced a decisive fifth frame 25-14.
"It's just the flow of volleyball. Every team goes up and down, and our resurgence just happened a little bit late," Wayland coach Lisa Tsaur said.
Latest updates: MIAA tournament scores and schedule for fall 2025
OA jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the fifth set and hit the turn up 8-4. Wayland pulled within 13-10 to force a timeout, but only delayed the Tigers' celebration. MIAA officials and police barely held the OA student section from storming the floor after Chelsea Wagner's winning kill hit the floor to seal it 15-11.
"They've played in this game before, and they showed a lot of composure," Tsaur said. "Credit to them for playing a great game."
Tears flowed for Wayland at the end of a season cut short of a title, but the Warriors understand the impact they made by bringing their program to this point.
"Once we got here, we knew we were capable of winning," Tsaur said. "It goes to show we need to dream big."
Contact Kyle Grabowski at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @kylegrbwsk.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Oliver Ames volleyball halts Wayland's rise in D2 volleyball final
Continue reading...
Wayland has executed a steady climb over its past four volleyball seasons. The Warriors advanced to the Division 3 Round of 16 in 2022 after winning just two games the previous season. They reached the quarterfinals in 2023 and made the state semifinals for the first time last season.
The 2025 season brought a bigger mountain with a move up to Division 2, but Wayland kept climbing. The No. 7 seed reached Saturday's state final against No. 1 and undefeated Oliver Ames. The Warriors won the first two sets to move within sight of the crown.
The Tigers won the next three sets to prevail 3-2 and win the state championship for the first time.
"Wayland volleyball hasn't been known for making it," Warriors senior Anna Yalli said. "Us making it this year, we proved so many people wrong. I never expected it. I went into the season not knowing what the outcome was going to be. I 's been really great. Even though we didn't win it all, we were able to play in the championship, which is really awesome."
It's a volleyball town: Wayland boys volleyball seniors brought about program's 'most successful era'
The Warriors (15-8) showed they belonged immediately with a 25-20 win in the first set. Oliver Ames, playing in the state final for the second consecutive season, jumped out to a 10-4 lead in Set 2.
Wayland chipped away until Mia MacLean put them ahead 19-18 with back-to-back aces. Yalli gave the Warriors a 24-22 lead with consecutive aces, and Fiona Strehle finished a long point to cement the set 25-22 push Wayland to the precipice of a title.
The Warriors couldn't finish the climb, though. Oliver Ames (25-0) roared to a 10-6 lead in Set 3 and extended the match 25-16. The Tigers kept rolling with the first eight points of the fourth set and forced a decisive fifth frame 25-14.
"It's just the flow of volleyball. Every team goes up and down, and our resurgence just happened a little bit late," Wayland coach Lisa Tsaur said.
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Latest updates: MIAA tournament scores and schedule for fall 2025
OA jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the fifth set and hit the turn up 8-4. Wayland pulled within 13-10 to force a timeout, but only delayed the Tigers' celebration. MIAA officials and police barely held the OA student section from storming the floor after Chelsea Wagner's winning kill hit the floor to seal it 15-11.
"They've played in this game before, and they showed a lot of composure," Tsaur said. "Credit to them for playing a great game."
Tears flowed for Wayland at the end of a season cut short of a title, but the Warriors understand the impact they made by bringing their program to this point.
"Once we got here, we knew we were capable of winning," Tsaur said. "It goes to show we need to dream big."
Contact Kyle Grabowski at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @kylegrbwsk.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Oliver Ames volleyball halts Wayland's rise in D2 volleyball final
Continue reading...
