Milford's Savannah Watson was a huge key in the Spartans' win over rival Souhegan on Wednesday night in Milford. (Photo by Jack Belanger)

MILFORD – Milford High School girls volleyball co-head coach Gabriella Monico wanted to know her team could be resilient when it mattered.

After watching her Spartans Wednesday night give up a lead to head to a fifth set against Souhegan High School, her team needed to push through the final 15 points and did just that in beating the rival Sabers 3-2, taking the final set 15-13.

“We were all exhausted, but we had to keep moving forward,” she said.

Neither team gave an edge in the final set. Down 12-8, the Sabers went on a 5-0 run to go up 13-12 and force the Spartans to call their final timeout.

Fans from both teams screamed with each point at the Milford gymnasium. “Here we go Sabers” chants followed “Let’s go Milford” from the student section. Nobody wanted to lose to their neighboring rival.

Sophomore Harper Anderson scored the kill for Milford out of the timeout and two clean serves put the pressure on the Sabers. The Spartans took the next two points to take the set and win the match on Senior Night.

The win extends Milford’s winning to six games. Its last loss was to the Sabers, 3-1, back on Oct. 1.

“I think last time we saw them we faltered on playing like we can. Today we showed we are a much stronger team than showed up last time,” Monico said.

The Sabers set the tone in the first set, going out to a 19-8 lead. Milford closed the deficit to seven before Souhegan’s Mailey Siska recorded a kill and ace on back-to-back points. The Sabers took the first set 25-17.

“We came out strong. The key to that set was our energy and our fight. Our serving was also great. We were picking good spots with the ball,” Souhegan head coach Carla Boyer said.

Siska, who moved to the outside hitter position this season, had seven kills and a pair of aces on the night.

Set Two was book ended by a pair of rallies that saw the ball cross over the net at least six times. A close set took a turning point when Milford, down 14-13, scored six consecutive points to take the lead. The Anderson and senior Savannah Watson ignited the burst with multiple kills. Milford won the second set 25-19.

Watson led the Spartans with 16 kills while Anderson chipped in with nine of her own to go along with five aces. Setter Kassie Cupin had 26 assists as well as five kills.

After winning the third set 25-17, Milford looked to put things away in Set Four, taking an early 9-6 lead. Souhegan kept pushing and after tying the game at 14, went on a 5-0 run. The Sabers defense didn’t budge thanks to a front row block for a score and successful digs on two spikes from Watson within the same rally.

Souhegan used that momentum to take the fourth set 25-22 and bring the entire stands to their feet for the final set.

“It is like that every time we play Milford,” Boyer said. “There is energy back and forth with everyone, whether we are here or at Souhegan. A lot of these girls play club together so they know each other.”

Maddie Pettus led Souhegan with nine kills with Chase Harms behind her recording eight.

The Spartans, 13-2, end the regular season at home on Friday against Manchester West. Souhegan, 10-6, will head to Winnisquam on Friday. Both games are set for 6 p.m.