With every new set on Friday night, Brookline looked more and more like the state’s consensus No. 1 boys volleyball team. The Warriors’ struggles to receive Needham’s serves ended midway through the second set. Their tendency to fall behind early and give the Rockets too much of a lead stopped being a problem in the third set.

By the fourth set, the Warriors looked like the team they’ve been all season, and the Division 1 trophy was theirs for the taking.

Senior outside hitter Kristaps Vaivars led the way with 27 kills, and Brookline secured its first title since 1992 with a 20-25, 27-25, 25-22, 25-15 over the No. 3 Rockets on Friday at Xaverian Brothers High School.

“This is something I’ve worked for for my whole high school career,” Vaivars said. “For it to finally come true in my senior year, my last couple days here, it’s amazing.”

Trailing 18-15 in the second set, the Warriors (23-1) looked in danger of squandering their best chance to win it all in years. They’d yet to lead by even a single point, and looked unsure against a Needham team that had been to four straight state finals, winning three.

Junior Amir Tomer (10 kills, 2 blocks) got Brookline back in the set, sandwiching two kills around a block to tie it 18-18. Needham still served twice with a chance to win it, but served out of bounds both times. One more kill from Tomer and a combined block from setter Alec Smagula (4 kills, 2.5 blocks, 47 assists) and middle Luka Gallucci (1 kill, 4 blocks, 1 ace) gave Brookline a comeback win.

“This is so incredible,” Gallucci said. “It’s so incredible to be part of our high school’s history. I’m so excited for that year to go up on the wall. Every time we go into that gym for any reason, we’ll know that we’re the ones who did that.”

With momentum back on their side, Brookline took control. Two big kills from Conor Christopher (8 kills) helped give the Warriors a six-point lead midway through the third set, and Vaivars wrapped it up with back-to-back spikes. Equally able to score from the back and front rows, Vaivars tallied eight kills in the third set.

“I knew we had to win that third set,” Vaivars said. “I knew the ball was coming to me. I knew what I had to do.”

Vaivars might’ve led the way, but Brookline won on its versatility. Six different Warriors recorded at least one kill in the match, and the team used that range to build an insurmountable lead in the clinching fourth set.

Down 5-6, Vaivars and Smagula each recorded a kill and Smagula and Liam Raybould (4 kills, 4.5 blocks, 1 ace) combined on a block to finish a seven-point run. Later, Raybould, Tomer and Vaivars all scored in a five-point run that made it 20-9 and sent the packed Brookline fan section into a frenzy.

“We have the most weapons in the state,” said Smagula. “I can set the ball anywhere, front row, back row, and there’s going to be someone who can put it down.”

Vaivars brought home the final point, crushing his hit off Needham’s block and out of bounds. The win brought a stellar end to the inaugural season for head coach Lexi De la Cruz, a professional volleyball player in Puerto Rico and New England who also coaches with SMASH Volleyball, one of New England’s premier travel clubs.

“I knew that we had a target, I knew that everyone expected us to be here,” De la Cruz said. “We put in a lot of work in practice, and it showed off today. This team earned it. It wasn’t given.”

The title was not only Brookline’s first since 1992, but the culmination of almost a decade of getting close without r winning it all. The Warriors have qualified for every postseason since 2018, but Bay State Conference rivals like Newton North and Needham had previously always been there to end their season: Needham in the 2021 South sectional finals, 2022 Round of 16 and 2024 quarterfinals; and Newton North in the 2023 semifinals.

This time Brookline wouldn’t be denied, surviving first-set losses and then winning three sets in a row against both Newton North in the semis before the final win against Needham.

“I’ve been dreaming about this since I was in sixth grade watching my brother play, so it definitely feels amazing,” Smagula said. “There are so many people I could thank. So many people go into this. Not just people inside the program – people in the Brookline community, parents, players, coaches. It means a lot for the town of Brookline.”

Students, parents and even volleyball alumni packed the Xaverian Brothers gymnasium, their cheers becoming louder and louder as Brookline got stronger with each subsequent set. The student fan section, all wearing white Brookline shirts, screamed and cheered with each new point, at times completely drowning out the competing cheers from Needham’s black-attitred student section.

“Two years ago I came to the playoffs. They made it to the top four, and I was really proud of them,” said Robert Loo, a former BHS volleyball player and coach. “For this time to do this is monumental, because it’s been (more than) 30 years.”

Last seasonal scraps for the Modena water polo, there present with i Playoff for promotion in Serie B, as far as the Penta Modena, and even in A2 as regards the women’s team: a difficult task for Gavioli’s girls, who must beat Calenzano tomorrow evening at 20pm at Dogali, to then reach the national finals of the women’s B league as third in the group, next weekend in Avezzano.

All to be discovered, but with a leading role, the men’s playoff of the Penta Modena, who will be at the Fiammetta swimming pool in Certaldo at 19pm for the first leg against Certaldo Sports Centre, second in the Marche group of C, with the best attack and an average of almost 16 goals scored per game. On the other hand, Penta boasts the best defense in the category, with less than 6 goals conceded per game: it will be a very tactical match, in which the Modena team will have to make the most of their greater experience, without ever losing concentration, because Certaldo, at its second consecutive participation in the playoffs, last year forced the very strong Rn Bologna to earn promotion to B on penalties.

Luke Selmi, coach of the Modena team, announces the full lineup, while in Certaldo particular attention is given to the left-handed Martini, to the marker Nesi, while the presence of Carnesecchi, a very interesting prospect for Florentia in A1, is not certain. The return match is scheduled for Saturday 21st at 20 pm in Modena, and in the event of a draw, the goal difference will count.

Mark Cavazzoni

EUGENE, Ore. — Long Beach State’s Claudine Raud-Gumiel delivered a balanced performance Friday as the heptathlon began on Day 3 of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field.

Raud-Gumiel opened strong in the 100-meter hurdles, clocking a time of 13.66 seconds to finish eighth in the field. She continued to build on her opening event with a solid high jump series, clearing 5 feet, 5 1/4 inches and 5 feet, 6 1/2 inches before making 5 feet, 7 3/4 inches on her final attempt. She narrowly missed equaling her personal best, failing to clear the next height in three attempts, but still finished 12th in the event.

In the shot put, Raud-Gumiel posted a top mark of 33 feet, 11 1/2 inches on her third and final attempt, good for 23rd place. She wrapped up Day 1 of the heptathlon with a time of 24.99 seconds in the 200 meters, finishing 18th in the event.

With four of the seven events complete, Raud-Gumiel has accumulated 3,309 points and sits in 21st place heading into Day 2 of competition.

Action resumes Saturday at 3:30 p.m. PT with the long jump. Fans can stream the heptathlon live on ESPN+, with additional broadcast coverage beginning at 6 p.m. PT on ESPN2.

Raud-Gumiel’s Day 1 Breakdown:

~#LongBeachBuilt~

Like many professional travel writers I know, I’m always on the hunt for the perfect one-piece swimsuit. I’m talking about one that’s both flattering and functional for the many active adventures on any given trip’s itineraries. Just any old flimsy suit won’t do: I need it to stand up to cliff dives and cannonballs, beach volleyball and cold plunges at the spa. In short, it’s got to perform.

As you can imagine, swimsuits that live up to these standards are hard to come by. But after testing my fair share out on many active assignments—from Arctic plunges in Norway to cruises in the Caribbean—I’m happy to report that I’ve finally found a new favorite, a rare Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants-esque bathing suit that’s perfect for every trip you could think of: the Patagonia Cross Shore One-piece Swimsuit. 

Patagonia Cross Shore One-piece Swimsuit

Let me start by saying that I’m not easy to please when it comes to fit. I’m four months postpartum, so I’m navigating new curves, and I have to say, this one-piece suit left me feeling gorgeous and confident. From the first time I tried it on, I found the sporty V-neck cut with stabilizing, adjustable straps to be both flattering and secure. Plus, the top’s removable pads and the bottom’s moderate coverage provided just the right amount of support I needed. The secret here is Patagonia’s durable spandex jersey blend that stretches with give, hugging in all the right places.

I loved how the swimsuit initially fit during the first try-on, but I’m never sold on the first impression. Every one-piece I own goes through what I like to call the “cannonball test.” It’s basically what you’d expect: I cannonball into a body of water (I’ve done this everywhere from the Aegean Sea to the icy waters of Alaska) and if the suit stays firmly in place, it passes the test. Not only did the Patagonia Cross Shore One-piece Swimsuit stay put on a recent jump into a Florida pool, but I stayed comfortable the entire time. It’s no wonder, since Patagonia made the suit for adventurous water activities, like surfing.

Patagonia Cross Shore One-piece Swimsuit

But best of all, I’m convinced that the Patagonia Cross Shore swimsuit can be worn anywhere, anytime. I can easily slide a maxi skirt or flowy linen pants over them to create a beach-to-bar or spa-to-restaurant look in an instant, just like I did in Montréal at Bota Bota spa. I only wish I’d had it earlier for surfing in Hawaii!

Its flattering, versatile look isn’t too showy, so it blends in whether you’re dipping into a waterfall off the beaten path or living it up at a five-star resort. I’m already planning to pack it for trips to the Four Seasons Punta Mita in Mexico and to Provence later this summer. I can already picture myself cycling to the pool in it with flowy pants on top, wind in my hair. And as for the price, I find the cost to be well worth it for the quality, especially given the amount of future wear I expect to get out of the suit.

Patagonia Cross Shore One-piece Swimsuit

Bottom line? The Patagonia Cross Shore One-piece Swimsuit is the one and only swimsuit I’m packing for every trip this summer thanks to its stretch, versatility, flattering fit, and, above all, functionality. So far, it’s stood up to splashing in pools, cold plunges, and beach volleyball matches at home, but I’m confident it’ll take me a lot further, too. 

I suggest you grab one (or one of the highly-rated, similar one-pieces below) so you can make a splash this summer, without losing your suit. Keep scrolling for more budget-friendly options, starting at $30 at Amazon.

More One-piece Swimsuits to Shop: 

Cupshe Women’s V-neck One-piece Swimsuit

Baleaf Women’s Athletic One-piece Swimsuit

B2prity Women’s Front Cross One-piece Swimsuit

La Blanca Women’s Island Goddess One-piece Swimsuit

Charmo Women’s Ruched One-piece Swimsuit

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