Facing the defending Division 2 champion in the 2025 semifinals, Wayland coach Phil George gave Alex Pearlman his first varsity start.
After the team worked on Pearlman’s blocking prior to the match, the freshman delivered eight rejections (along with four kills) as the Warriors reached the final for the second year in a row.
But it’s 2026, and Wayland is still chasing its first title.
Pearlman, a 6-foot, 4-inch football wide receiver who dropped basketball to put his time into SMASH Volleyball Club, will provide a swing that can clear 11 feet. Add two-time Globe Player of the Year Finn Bell in his senior campaign, and this could be the winning formula.
The Warriors took defending D1 champ Brookline to five sets to open this season, and Pearlman had 20 kills to Bell’s 22.
“Having those guys on the pins should make our offense more diverse and potent,” said George.
“It looks like we have two Finns.”
It’s hardly a unique experience for a high school student to give volleyball a shot and find a love for the game. That was the case for Jake Pearlman two years ago.
“By the end of the season, I was pretty sure that I enjoyed it a lot more than other sports,” said the 6-foot-7-inch hitter. “Eventually, when I came back last year to play for varsity, it was basically my whole world.”
He brought Zach O’Donnell with him to that tryout. Though Jake is competing for varsity time in a crowded hitter group, George identified the 6-3 O’Donnell as having the intangibles of a setter, where he quarterbacked the squad last season and returns as a junior.
If all this height sounds unusual for a D2 team — Bell and senior starting middle Dylan Engelhardt are 6-4 — that’s something Wayland is hoping will overwhelm opponents.
“It’s definitely an advantage for us, and I think it’s helpful in speeding up our offense too,” O’Donnell said. “For shorter players on other teams, it’s more of a struggle because we can play with the ball at a higher level.
“For example, my set could be more flat, reaching the pin a little quicker. Our taller players, like Jake, Alex, or Finn, can reach that ball quicker and that gives us a really big advantage.”
Alex initially did not want to join the team. He wanted the spring season off, but his mother, Jennifer, pushed him to join his brother, and he “loved it ever since.” A standout performance in his first varsity start in that semifinal win was just scratching the surface of what he can do.
“It’s kind of a fever dream,” he recalled. “Being new to varsity . . . a big position to fill. When I got out there and started going, I didn’t want to let the momentum fall off, so I kept getting blocks, blocks, kills, kills. That’s what I did the whole game.”
The athletic sophomore is working on refining his game to be a weapon on the outside, rotating with Bell.
Qualities that make Bell the star he is — the relentless ability to swing several times on the same point, the vision to find open spots to place a ball, and the precision to place a powerful hit or serve from the back — all appear in the cards for Pearlman as he gains experience.
“He’s the most athletic kid, super young, super talented,” Bell said. “I love watching him go through club and get way better. It was really awesome.
“Having another kid rotate front row when I go back, he can put the ball away whenever and wherever he wants. He really elevates and hits the ball super high.”
Bell can attack from anywhere, and he pumped out 384 kills two years ago and another 414 last year as he spearheaded the Warriors’ runs to back-to-back finals. Wayland had only made it to the championship once before (2017). It only took Bell until May 9 of his junior year to break the school record for kills (875 by Jack Fletcher ‘17).
He is Wayland’s greatest. There’s not much left to add to his legacy. Just that elusive state title.
“Our main goal is to win the championship this year,” said Alex Pearlman. “We’ve almost had it the last two years, and a lot of past guys, like Liam Frenzel, Cooper Szeremeta, Joey Burke, put in a lot of work, and they couldn’t get it.
“I want to help fulfill their dream of winning a state championship, even though they’re not here winning with us.”
Set points
• A few of the postseason heroes on Needham’s finals squad are back, but Dave Powell isn’t locking players into roles yet.
After all, it wasn’t until May 16 last year that Will Rozman emerged as a strong varsity option at outside.
Matty Cloonan emerged as the top outside when the team needed someone to step up last year, and Tyler Goldberg earned playing time at libero late, but was turning heads in the postseason. These three are back as seniors, but will need to earn their roles again.
“I like a lot of parts about our team,” Powell said. “We have some pieces and are trying to fill in the other pieces.”
• It looks to be an atypical season in Newton.
North graduated Simon Vardeh (Harvard), and does not have many pieces left from its championship run two years ago. Seniors Peter Reale and Amaris Cotto return as hitters/blockers, and sophomore Aaron Stein is expected to be the lead outside.
“It’s a rebuilding year after losing the best player in the state, but it’s a strong team,” said coach Nile Fox. “I’m excited to see what we can do.”
Meanwhile, Newton South retains a lot of its core, while adding Weston transfer Baylor Mandell. The sophomore is a weapon from anywhere on the court, and could be the element that makes the Lions a championship contender. A few are injured to start the season, but it plays into coach Lucas Coffeen’s changing lineups.
“To me, it’s about how we end up, and it’s worth experimenting to find a mix of variables,” he said.
Matches to watch
Saturday, Agawam at No. 3 Needham, 11 a.m. — The defending Division 2 champion battles a team that has made the D1 title match five years in a row.
Saturday, Westfield at No. 8 Newton North, 11 a.m. — Another D2 power visits a Division 1 tournament regular as they look to establish their identities in 2026.
Saturday, No. 1 Brookline at No. 4 Newton South, 11:30 a.m. — Yet another enticing Saturday matchup features two deep rosters run by the SMASH Volleyball director (Coffeen) and one of his coaches (Lexi De La Cruz).
Tuesday, No. 5 Natick at No. 6 Lexington, 5:30 p.m. — Versatile hitter Nic Sanchez de Rojas and the Minutemen host stellar setter Luke Dratch and the Redhawks.
AJ Traub can be reached at aj.traub@globe.com. Follow him on X @aj_traub and Instagram @ajt37.