There’s no better time of year for volleyball like this. Kingswood went into Coe-Brown on Saturday night and walked out with a five-set win, the kind that makes your heart race even if you don’t have a dog in the fight.

A week ago, these two went five with Coe-Brown taking it. Tonight, it flipped. Kingswood came out swinging, fearless from the start, and took the opener 31–29 in a set that felt like it might never end. Coe-Brown fired right back with a 25–4 rout in the second — the kind of response you expect from a top seed — but Kingswood didn’t back down. They just regrouped and went back to work.

The next three sets were everything playoff volleyball should be: loud, scrappy, and emotional. Both teams traded runs, but Kingswood kept finding a way to win the points that mattered most, closing it 15–12 in the fifth.

Caelynn Blattenberger, Alexis MacBrien, and Opal Grupp were steady all night. Blattenberger’s hustle and composure set the tone, MacBrien swung like she had nothing to lose, and Grupp came up clutch when it mattered most. It wasn’t perfect volleyball, but it was gutsy — and that’s what made it great.

Credit to Coe-Brown. They’ve been one of the most disciplined, consistent programs all season, and they didn’t go quietly. But Kingswood looked different — confident, connected, and ready for the moment.

There’s probably a little collective exhale across the bracket tonight. Coe-Brown’s gone earlier than most expected, and the field just opened up. Kingswood earned every bit of this one, and now the test gets tougher: Somersworth awaits in Thursday’s semifinal.

Kennidy Asche brings you all the play-by-play, while Ian Schofield brings you all the highlights and the post-game interview/celebration with the entire team.

Our coverage is brought to you by our friends and partners at Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, the Coe-Brown Volleyball Boosters, and the Kingswood Volleyball Boosters!