AJ Traub

2 weeks ago | bostonglobe.com | AJ Traub

Every match has gone to five sets so far for Wayland, but each opponent has been a top team and the Warriors have come out of it 2-2. With Wayland beating Lexington, Lexington beating St. John’s (Shrewsbury), St. John’s beating St. John’s Prep, and St. John’s Prep beating Wayland, it’s clear the crowd behind the top four teams will be jockeying for position throughout the season. Greater New Bedford moves into the top 20 with a 2-0 start. Records based on scores reported to the Globe.

2 weeks ago | bostonglobe.com | AJ Traub |Alexa Podalsky

“When I came in here, the team was extremely separated,” said Kundel, now a junior captain. “[Now], everyone’s a part of the team, everybody’s a full group, a whole family, and that’s what I kind of love.”In the offseason, the 6-foot-3-inch outside hitter made time for team bonding opportunities between football practices and traveling to Taiwan with the Chinese Honor Society by hosting dinners and playing volleyball in the backyard. It turned the program around.

3 weeks ago | bostonglobe.com | AJ Traub

Halfway through the third period of his championship match Sunday at the high school nationals, Alex Bajoras went to his corner and said “Get my banner ready at Smitty’s.”The St. John’s Prep senior heavyweight had not won a postseason tournament besides two Division 1 North sectional titles, finishing runner-up at states, All-States, and New England’s as a junior and senior.

3 weeks ago | bostonglobe.com | AJ Traub

The Warriors, are followed by BSC rivals Natick, Needham, and defending Division 1 champion Newton North. It won’t be long before the Bay State behemoths begin facing off, and every matchup could be a thriller. After falling a set short of winning the Division 2 tournament, the Finn Bell-led Wayland Warriors, ranked sixth, come in as a team that can compete with some of the state’s best. No. 16 Latin Academy and No. 17 Greater Lowell make up a second tier of Division 2 teams, along with O’Bryant.

3 weeks ago | bostonglobe.com | AJ Traub

“My first year playing volleyball, it was crazy the level of my brother’s school vs. mine,” said Ugoji. “Fast forward three years later, I’m at that position. We’re able to compete with that team. I think it’s crazy. I love it. It’s amazing.”Latin Academy rose from the 29th seed in the 2022 MIAA tournament to No. 19, then last year skyrocketed to the sixth seed. The Dragons open this year ranked No. 16 in the Globe’s Top 20 poll.