Globe Top 20 boys’ volleyball poll: A Division 2 power is new No. 1
Year after year, Wayland coach Phil George builds the strongest schedule he can manage to get his Warriors postseason-ready. His team proved itself at the elite level, regardless of division.
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Following a season-opening five-set loss to Brookline, Wayland dominated pretty much everything else, navigating through injuries. A win at Needham caps a 12-match streak to finish the regular season — the last 10 against top-25 programs in the state — to earn the Division 2 squad the top spot in the Globe’s Top boys’ volleyball poll.
Now that Natick defeated Brookline, after fighting off a match point in the fifth set, those two and Needham have all split matchups with each other. They’re the top three D1 teams in the MIAA power rankings too. Brookline held off Lexington, 3-2, in a Friday thriller.
Westford delivered Lowell’s only non-Chelmsford loss of the season, then lost two days later at unranked Arlington (13-7). Latin Academy finished on a five-match winning streak including a second straight Boston City League title.
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BC High is just 10-9 entering Friday’s finale, but is 3-0 (including Greater New Bedford and Braintree) since senior Ben Cleary returned. The team is low in the power rankings, but could still be a challenging out in the D1 tournament.
Records based on scores reported to the Globe.
The Globe’s Top 20 boys’ volleyball poll
The Globe poll as of May 23, 2026. Teams were selected by the Globe sports staff.
| No. | Team | Record | Previous |
| 1. | Wayland | 18-2-0 | 4 |
| 2. | Needham | 17-4-0 | 2 |
| 3. | Brookline | 14-2-0 | 3 |
| 4. | Natick | 14-3-0 | 5 |
| 5. | Lexington | 17-3-0 | 1 |
| 6. | Milford | 12-7-0 | 6 |
| 7. | Newton South | 11-6-0 | 7 |
| 8. | Chelmsford | 17-2-0 | 8 |
| 9. | Cambridge | 11-8-0 | 10 |
| 10. | Milton | 13-7-0 | 11 |
| 11. | Newton North | 5-11-0 | 15 |
| 12. | Lowell | 16-3-0 | 12 |
| 13. | Acton-Boxborough | 11-8-0 | 13 |
| 14. | Weymouth | 11-6-0 | 16 |
| 15. | Barnstable | 16-4-0 | 9 |
| 16. | Medfield | 15-4-0 | 19 |
| 17. | Greater New Bedford | 16-3-0 | 18 |
| 18. | Latin Academy | 11-10-0 | – |
| 19. | Westford | 11-6-0 | 20 |
| 20. | O’Bryant | 11-8-0 | 17 |



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