Souhegan's Chase McBride celebrates a point during the Sabers' 3-2 win over local rival Hollis Brookline on Friday in Amherst. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

AMHERST – Is it their time?

Nothing like a rare win against the two-time defending champions to have the Souhegan High School boys volleyball team thinking that way.

“You know, we’ve been 0-5 against them in my high school career,” Sabers captain and libero Chase McBride said after his team’s 3-2 stunner over Hollis Brookline on Friday after being down 2-1. “Every single one of these kids had never beaten this team. Very talented (HB) team, good coaching, but we came out with heart today. … I love the heart on this team to come back, win the (fourth) set, then the fifth set as well. I don’t think you’ll find that on any team in this league.”

As is usually the case between two really good teams, the match was full of momentum shifts. The Sabers jumped on HB right away 5-0, 10-3 en route to a 25-18 first set win. But the Cavs, led by the lethal kill combo of Ethan Norris (15 kills) and Jordan Beck (18 kills) got wins of 25-21 and 25-15, seemingly in control.

But back came Souhegan with a 25-22 win in the fourth set, and they started the decisive fifth set up 6-3 and maintained the lead for a 15-10 triumph. Game, set, match, and now they are 3-0 on the season after the Cavs ended their 2023 campaign in the quarterfinals.

“They have really come out with fire this season,” Sabers coach Carla Boyer said. “They’re really excited, I think they have a lot of confidence in their ability to win, which is great to see, and the excitement. … They’ve been amazing.”

Addison Hodgdon had 14 kills, including a big soft drop over the net that gave the Sabers a 14-10 lead in the final set, while Everett Boyer had 15 kills and Dylan Boyer, eight kills. McBride had 22 digs and three aces, and he’s clearly the heart and soul of this team.

“He really pushes everyone, he hustles, he communicates with everyone and runs that defense really well on the back row,” Boyer said.

Meanwhile, HB is now 2-1, and still evolving.

“This is a challenging group, we’ve got 10 new guys, a couple have come up through the JV system,” Cavs coach Ed Leonard, who originally had retired from the job after last year’s title only to be urged to return by AD Brian Bumpus. “They’re (Souhegan) a great team, they’re going to be a top team. They’ve been together for awhile.”

And seem to be deeper, in Boyer’s mind.

“We have a team that’s really good all around,” Boyer said. “We don’t have just one really good All-Star hitter. We’ve got three hitters all around, great middles, our defense is really strong. That’s what makes it a solid team. It’s everyone. … It’s really huge to come out this week and come out with three wins.”

Hollis Brookline’s Jordan Beck (11) tries to block the off-balance hit by Souhegan’s Owen Boyer (1) duirng Friday’s match in Amherst. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)