LOWELL >> Backed down to the ropes Thursday night, the Lowell boys volleyball team proved its youth doesn’t lack resilience and composure.

In yet another Merrimack Valley Conference rock-fight, the No. 12 Red Raiders (9-1) twice held off match-point during extra time of a chaotic, must-win fourth set, to eventually rally past No. 14 Methuen and pull out a 3-2 (27-25, 20-25, 25-27, 30-28, 15-13) win.

The top-two finishers from last year’s MVC title race didn’t disappoint in their first meeting of this season, and the reigning-champion Rangers (7-3) looked set for their eighth straight win with two match-point opportunities.

Instead, Lowell — which looked like a rebuilding group on paper in the preseason — is the winner of eight straight and remains unbeaten in conference play.

Junior setter Vitou Seng posted a career-high 61 assists, primarily connecting with sophomore Aundre Rivera (25 kills) and senior Ian Mao (17 kills). Sophomore libero Logan Uy had 69 digs in an otherwise well-rounded performance.

“I think we’re playing with house money … we’re so young,” said Red Raiders head coach Paul McCarthy. “These kids were all playing JVs, this is their first year with any varsity experience. We’re just enjoying the show. … It’s a testament to our setter and some of our younger leaders that kept the keys together when things weren’t going our way.”

“It’s just guys wanting to prove themselves,” added assistant coach Brandon Seng. “These guys are hungry to show their (ability). What they want and what they can do. They’re writing their own story.”

It seemed no lead was safe throughout, evident by just one set decided by more than two points and the 15 extra points the teams played.

Methuen responded to a bit of a slow start by forcing extra points with a 7-2 run in the first set and maintained its rhythm for much of the next three. Setter Shawn LaDuke (54 assists) spread the wealth to Andrew Cox (19 kills), Cole Tourkantonis (14 kills) and Lucas Giard (11 kills, two blocks) to take over portions of each, while middle hitters Adrian Blake (10 kills, five blocks) and Elijah Jean provided major complementary boosts.

The result was a comfortable, 25-20 win in the second set, and a scrap-it-out win in the third that Cox and Rivera traded blows in before a Blake block helped Methuen take a 2-1 match lead.

Lowell’s depth showed up in a big way in the fourth for a 21-17 lead, only for the Rangers’ put on a 5-0 run to eventually force a 24-24 tie. Blake’s block gave them a 25-24 lead, which was met by a Mao kill to knot it back up. Blake’s kill then made it 26-25, but a pair of hitting errors flipped the lead into a deficit and a couple side-outs followed.

It wasn’t until a pair of Rivera kills that Lowell finally edged out a 30-28 heart-stopper.

“I always tell them to never give up,” Vitou Seng said. “No matter what the score is, always try our best. I always tell my teammates to keep playing, no matter what.”

Seng’s play anchored the whole comeback, which saw him distribute 11 assists and notch a kill in the fifth set — which Methuen nearly forced extra points in.

“He knows how to stay calm,” said Brandon Seng. “Whatever he does, the kids follow. Whatever he says, the kids listen. He’s just the main guy.”

Having a wealth of hitting options made it easier on the junior, as Gianni Rodriguez had four of his 10 kills in the set. Rivera had four, Mao had three, and Bobby Pappas’ kill delivered the win.

“I trust everybody, I set the ball to everyone,” Vitou Seng said. “I can trust anyone.”