The Bellingham Blackhawks boys’ volleyball team earned the No. 16 seed in the Division 2 state tournament and will host No. 17 Doherty Memorial this Friday at 5 p.m. Both teams enjoyed similar regular‐season success, making this one of the most evenly matched first‐round contests. Bellingham finished strong, going 8–2 over its last ten matches and defeating quality opponents like Westwood and Dighton‐Rehoboth. Their only losses came to top programs such as Nipmuc. Doherty Memorial enters with an impressive eight‐match win streak, but faced a slightly softer schedule overall. The Highlanders excel in middle‐block speed, while the Blackhawks rely on balanced attacks from multiple hitters and a back row that consistently salvages tricky serves. Each side will need to maintain high energy and focus, as one swing could decide the match. Given the parity, this battle could easily stretch to a fifth set. Bellingham’s advantage lies in its recent experience against higher‐ranked teams, which has strengthened their mental toughness. The key will be finding a rhythm and exploiting transition openings. If the Blackhawks can harness home‐court momentum and execute under duress, they’ll be well‐positioned to advance to the Round of 16 in what promises to be a classic, back‐and‐forth duel.
