Nashua North's Ruby Zeman, left, and Taylor Joyal were keys in the Titans' comeback win over rival Bishop Guertin on Monday night at Titans Gym. (Telegraph photo by Jacob Hughes)

NASHUA – Nashua North’s home performance Monday night was founded on grit and resilience as, regardless of their varsity experience, everyone showed up when called upon to produce a 3-2 combeback win over city rival Bishop Guertin.

The Titans were down 2-1 in sets but rallied to win the fourth set, 25-16, before winning the decisive fifth set 15-11. Ruby Zeman, the only freshman Titan, contributed 11 timely kills and six assists to help North improve to 6-3 on the season.

The Titans capitalized on Bishop Guertin’s slow start, cruising to a 25-10 first-set win. However, it wouldn’t last long. Disappointed with their performance, the Cardinals (3-6) elevated their intensity moving forward. Long rallies with the Titans started to end in BG points, and a well-executed dig from Bella Nutting, a 5’4 junior, helped BG gain momentum in the second set, which would translate to the third. Allison Marino’s consecutive free ball kills complemented Akira Coravos’ cut shots, enabling them to stroll past North in set three 25-17 for a 2-1 lead after they had already evened things in the second set 25-16.

But that was it for BG. With their backs against the wall, the Titans remained composed and relied on senior Kailyn Sung and junior Taylor Joyal. Sung literally dug her team out of trouble on numerous occasions with her 15 digs. Joyal’s seven kills and four aces set a team-wide understanding of the need for unrelenting effort in the fourth set.

North jumped out to an 11-3 lead in the fourth and never turned back as Johanna Desfosses’ game-high 24 assists set her teammates up for success with great looks. Looks that were so good, they allowed Ruby Zeman to dial back in as she imposed her will late in the fifth set with a massive kill and block, ultimately securing North their sixth win.

“Both Ruby and Taylor were incredibly important to our late-game success tonight… The moment was not too big for either one of them,” said North head coach Nicole Fitzgibbons.

Despite big-time performances from Allison Marino, Akira Coravos, and Veronica Gomez, BG didn’t quite have enough to take this one. The Cards will look to get back in the win column Wednesday vs. Timberlane.

North, meanwhile, will try to make it two straight on Wednesday at Spaulding.