Why Needham boys’ volleyball’s consistent success is rooted in Norwood basketball

Two rows up sat a string of former Needham teammates, including three-time champ Raymond Weng , who had more championships than losses. From 2021-23, Dave Powell Jr. and assistant Pat Helmas coached the Rockets to victory in every match. A 77-match winning streak. Eight state final appearances, including each of the last five. Four state championships, with this year’s team 17-4 and in the running for a fifth. It was not a packed house at Needham High for the boys’ volleyball regular-season finale. But the crowd that freckled the bleachers on the Rockets’ side represented what went into the most successful Division 1 program in the past decade-plus. Whether they played on the team, went to PHD Volleyball camps and clinics, had Helmas as a coach at SMASH Volleyball Club, or all three, they’re etched in the history of the program. They watched the match and met up with Powell after. Middle hitter Alex Gundaker (‘23) said he had Helmas write his master’s recommendation. The Norwood crew sat farther up. Graduates, and the man who started the coaching tree: Dave Powell Sr. The elder Powell coached basketball at Norwood High — he was the Globe’s 2001 Coach of the Year — and ran a camp. His son played, before coming back to assist. That’s where Powell Jr. met Helmas, and a lifetime friendship blossomed. Powell Sr. became the volleyball coach at Norwood and enlisted his son — a 2002 Globe All-Scholastic under coach Joe Camozzi — as assistant. Powell Jr. said the freshman, Helmas, was a natural setter. “The special thing is when I was in high school, Dave would text us to play beach volleyball in the next town over,” Helmas said. “It’s not him demanding. It’s a friend asking to do something we enjoy. That’s really the biggest thing where the bond started to build.” Powell Jr. coached Helmas his junior year — Sr. assisted — but knew the next would be his last season at Norwood after his father’s contract was not renewed. Helmas was a two-year captain and Globe All-Scholastic selection. The younger Powell applied for the head coaching position at BC High, and settled for coaching the JV team for a year. In 2010, he jumped at the Needham opening. His overall record is now 366-59. Helmas arrived at Needham High as a teaching assistant in 2012. “We would play a lot of adult volleyball together, we’d play a lot of beach volleyball,” Powell Jr. said. “We remained really good friends. He was best man of my wedding. It’s been a fun ride here.” Helmas said Powell Jr., his “best friend in the world,” is the reason he keeps coming back to the team. They talk every day. “It’s the community Dave worked hard to build,” Helmas said. “Needham volleyball has become this special thing because he puts so much into it. Players, coaches, anybody who steps into the gym, there are high expectations.” Powell Jr. referees NCAA Division 1 basketball games and Helmas coaches SMASH club teams and college volleyball, but their synergy shines in cultivating not just a successful Needham team, but environment. “They do things the right way,” said Wayland coach Phil George. “That’s the most professional, organized, and positively competitive team we’ve played this year. Things got tight and they stayed classy, focused, and resilient. That’s a reflection of their coaching staff, who really work hard to instill those traits with them.” Last week, the Rockets stormed back to avenge early losses to Brookline and Natick, losing just one set in the two matches. What makes the coaching duo so effective? There’s something for everyone. Powell Jr. is a presence of strength, and Helmas describes himself as softer. Players gravitate to what works best for them. “They both know how to push us in their own ways,” said senior hitter Will Rozman. “Coach Powell is hard on us sometimes, but he knows we need it. Coach Pat, he’s there to be very strategic in what he does. They’re both hard on us in their own ways, both in a good way, though.” Added girls’ coach Courtney Todesco, a former boys’ assistant: “They’re so passionate, so driven. The way they view and teach volleyball is some [of the] top coaching in the state, and how they build connections with kids.” The basketball background helps too, as Powell Jr. described blocking to Rozman and fellow baller/outside hitter Matty Cloonan as taking a charge on the hitter. Whatever the athlete’s background or experience, the duo caters the coaching. Hitter, setter, libero. Varsity or not. Multi-sport athlete or volleyballer 24/7. Powell Jr. and Helmas have their players ready. “Every player who comes through the program establishes a strong relationship with [Powell Jr.] that goes beyond Needham High,” Cloonan said. “Seeing support from the alumni is super cool, that they enjoyed the program as much as I do and they want to see the coaches as well.” At the core of it, Powell Jr. said, is the shared passion. “High school sports are a microcosm of life, and we try to teach these life lessons,” he said. “The state titles are great. We’re competitive people. We wouldn’t put so much into this if we weren’t. “But we both just love working with kids.” ▪ The past two seasons, Wayland had to play in the 2 vs. 3 match to reach the final. Not the case this year. After the five-set win in Needham, the Warriors are the No. 1 team in Division 2. (They lost to No. 2 Westfield, 3-1, on April 10.) • Somerville’s biggest wins bookended its 13-7 season. The opener was a five-setter over Cambridge, beating the Falcons for the first time. The finale was a 3-1 result over Malden, reversing the score from their earlier matchup. Along the way, senior Ozzy Marks became the program’s first 1,000-assist setter. “For the first time in a long time, I feel like we have a chance at every game we go into,” said coach Steve Walker. “Ten, twelve years ago, you look at the schedule like ‘That’s a loss, that’s a loss …’ “It’s good because we have hope every day.” AJ Traub can be reached at aj.traub@globe.com. Follow him on X @aj_traub and Instagram @ajt37.