FALL RIVER — A year ago, the Durfee boys’ volleyball team was crowned outright Big 3 champions for the first time in 22 seasons.

A Hilltopper repeat will certainly be a challenge, especially after Wednessday night's five-set battle with visiting Brockton Boxers in which Brockton escaped with a thrilling 3-2 win. Brockton won 25-23, 26-28, 18-25, 25-20, 15-12.

 Despite the loss, the Hilltoppers (2-1, 0-1) will be right in the mix as they return an experienced group from last year's 12-8 leam that went 4-0 in league play.

"We have a ton of experience," said Durfee coach Brendan Kelly. "Danny (Keyes), Nilin (Nehra), John Karam, Nicolas Cardoso, Nelson DeCarvalho, Thomas Michael, all these guys have been here before. Andrew Saunders is a first-year setter for us, but he's a junior and has been in the system before and he couldn't do a better job than he's done so far for us. We've got a lot of experience."

Kelly said this early season loss to the Boxers won't dampen any hopes of repeating as league champions.

"Our matches with Brockton are all like this," Kelly said. "Brockton is always good and I like to think we are good, too. New Bedford will be improved, so I think it will be a good battle. We can't get too high or too low after an early season match."

After the visitors eked out a 25-23 win in the first set, Durfee stormed back to take the next two. Brockton responded with the 25-20 win in the fourth set before pulling out the fifth.

Kelly said he wasn't surprised by the back-and-forth match.

"Everytime we play them, it's like this," he said. "Tonight, I didn't think we blocked very well. I think our back row play could have been a little better, but it's April third, it's early. When we attacked, I think we were the better team today.

"We're a veteran team. We're in an early hole in the Big 3, but we'll look to compete."