Snapshots: Newton North girls volleyball team ends season short of MIAA title

Franklin vs Newton North, November 15, 2025

Sasha Saliva (13) makes an acrobatic play on the ball. The number 2 seed in the MIAA girls volleyball tournament, Newton North dropped the first set of the final to an energized Franklin team. (c) Burt Granofsky/Newton Beacon

Newton North’s quest for a fourth straight MIAA Division 1 girls volleyball title ended on Saturday night, as the reigning champs fell to upstart Franklin in a thrilling 5-set contest at Billerica Memorial High School. After dropping the first set, North rallied to take the next two, before Franklin staved off a furious North comeback in the fourth set to pull even at 2-2. With fans from both schools screaming and cheering on their teams, Franklin raced ahead in the final set, again holding off a late North charge to take the title.

Here are some photos from Saturday’s match.

Nora Hamel (18) sends the ball over the Franklin defense. (c) Burt Granofsky/Newton Beacon

The gymnasium at Billerica Memorial HS was packed on Saturday night, with fans treated to a 5 set thriller between Newton North and Franklin for the MIAA Division 1 championship. (c) Burt Granofsky/Newton Beacon

Alayna O’Connell (1) sets the ball during the first set. (c) Burt Granofsky/Newton Beacon

Newton North players and fans cheer after the Tigers took the second set against Franklin. (c) Burt Granofsky/Newton Beacon

Newton North HS principal Henry Turner consoles players after they were defeated by Franklin in the finals of the MIAA Division 1 girls volleyball tournament. (c) Burt Granofsky/Newton Beacon

Newton North students cheered on their team during the fourth set of the MIAA Division 1 girls volleyball finals against Franklin. (c) Burt Granofsky/Newton Beacon