Rockets Playoffs: Girls Volleyball Sweeps, Field Hockey Falls, Soccer Brackets Set
October 31, 2025 **Updated November 1 and 3, 2025**
• Field hockey’s season is over, but girls volleyball won and both soccer teams will be starting their postseasons soon.
The 2025 fall playoffs are underway and while Needham girls volleyball won their first game, the season for field hockey is unfortunately over. The boys and girls soccer teams found out their seedings and will open play next week.
On Halloween night, Needham varsity field hockey hoped to get the 2025 fall playoffs started on the right foot. The Rockets, ranked #24 in the MIAA Division 1 bracket, visited #9 Acton-Boxborough in the Round of 32 and fell 1-0 in a hard fought battle on a blustery fall afternoon.
Sophomore goalie Jackie Lancaster played a fantastic game in the Rockets net, only allowing one goal to the Revolution, with about 3 and a half minutes left in the third quarter by senior Liesel Kaufmann.
But the Rockets struggled on offense and despite some great pressure in the second half, couldn’t find the back of the net. Needham finished the season at 5-12-2.
Despite just two losses this season, the Needham girls volleyball team was ranked at just #10 in the MIAA Division 1 bracket, meaning their Round of 32 opener vs. #23 Haverhill would likely be their only game at the A Gym this postseason. The Rockets, coming in with a record of 15-2, made the most of it, sweeping in three sets, 25-21, 25-7 and 25-14.
At the start of the first set, however, it was the Hillies that took control, with an 8-4 lead. But the Rockets battled back, led by senior Julia Burns, who had three kills and two blocks to pace the Rockets. Junior Sam Sullivan had the hot hands in the second set, picking up five of her six kills on the game as Needham expanded a 10-4 lead to 17-4 before Haverhill ended the run.
The Rockets kept the pressure on and only allowed the Hillies three more points in the set, paving the way for another big run in the third, as a 3-2 Haverhill lead early quickly became 17-9 for Needham. Senior Captain Sadie Stants led the Rockets with six of her team high twelve kills in the third (two in the first, four in the second, six in the third) and also added four aces.
Senior setter Isabella Lee also had four aces for Needham, while Burns finished with eight kills, second on the team. Sullivan had six, while Lee and Senior Captain Coco Cusick each had five. The Rockets advanced to the Round of 16, where they visited #7 Winchester, Monday, November 3rd. Unfortunately, the Rockets were swept in three sets by the Red and Black. We’ll have highlights of that game this Thursday on The Needham Channel News.
The two Needham soccer teams received their final rankings and first matchups for the postseason on Saturday, November 1st. The girls earned the #1 seed and will host #33 Andover. The boys fell down to the #4 seed, where they will host #29 Bishop Feehan. Both Needham teams will be playing on Thursday, November 6th, with the Girls at 4pm and the Boys at 6.
After their win, Mike Levin spoke to three members of the Needham girls volleyball team, which you can see in the video boxes below, courtesy of our Needham Channel Instagram:
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