Field Hockey Division 1
#13 Central Catholic, 0 @ #4 Franklin, 2 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. – Franklin scored just minutes before halftime to jump ahead and tacked on a key insurance goal in the final moments to knock off visiting Central Catholic. After a scoreless first quarter, Franklin freshman Raena Crandall scored with just over two minutes before halftime to give the hosts the lead. Junior Kaitlyn Carney sealed the win by scoring with just under four minutes to play. Head coach Michelle Hess praised the efforts of midfielders Sophia Cuneo and Emily Carney as well as defender Kate O’Rourke for their stellar play. Megan Sullivan had four huge saves to keep the Panthers in front.
Division 2
#15 Notre Dame Academy, 0 @ #2 King Philip, 3 – Final – King Philip booked its spot in the Division 2 Elite 8 with an impressive 3-0 sweep (25-12, 25-12, 25-17). The Warriors had a strong showing from the outside on the offensive end with Ahunna James (12 kills, four digs, two blocks) and Liv Carey (nine kills) leading the way. Emily Sawyer added six kills and a pair of blocks while Samantha Asprelli chipped in with four aces and 10 digs.
#9 Canton, 1 @ #8 Dartmouth, 3 – Final – After a rocky first two sets, Canton kept its season alive with a win in the third and battled hard in the fourth but ultimately fell on the road, 3-1 (13-25, 13-25, 25-21, 19-25). Syd Gallery (seven kills, no errors) and Anna Verille (19 digs) set the tone with their calm presence and confident play. Taylor Reynolds worked tirelessly to run the offense, finishing with 22 assists, Talya DeGraw had a great match with six kills and six digs, and both Amaiah Christian and Katie Dever played well in the middle.
#10 Woburn, 3 @ #7 Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. – Oliver Ames battled back throughout the entire match but couldn’t overcome an early deficit in the fifth set in a tight, competitive battle with Woburn, falling 3-2 (24-26, 25-22, 21-25, 25-23, 10-15). The Tigers trailed 24-18 in the first set before fighting off six straight set points to knot it a 24-24 before the Tanners scored two straight points to take a 1-0 lead. Woburn jumped out to an 18-10 lead in the second set by the comeback kids rattled off a 15-4 run to grab a 25-22 win in the second set and tie it 1-1. After the Tanners retook the lead by winning the third, OA led throughout the fourth to send it to a deciding fifth set. After falling behind 7-1, OA battled back but couldn’t catch the Tanners before the 15-point mark. Senior Hadley Rhodes dished out 34 assists and had four aces, junior Maddie Homer anchored the defense with 37 digs, sophomore Sarah Hilliard played well at the net with 14 kills along with three aces and junior Courtney Raymond finished with 11 kills and two blocks.
Boys Soccer
Attleboro, 0 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – Mansfield ended the regular season on a high note, knocking off Attleboro in a well-played game by two evenly matched sides. The lone goal of the game came in the 9th minute of the game when Danny Rowe finished off a flicked on header by Liam Anastasia. Michael Caridi had the throw-in to get the sequence started. Caridi, Dylan Buchanan, Kevin McCarthy, and Ian Leeds played well defensively in front of Jack Lasbury-Casey, who made nine saves for his eighth shutout of the year.
Milford, 3 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Milford junior Arthur Tome bagged a first half brace as the Scarlet Hawks claimed sole possession of the Kelley-Rex division title with a win over Taunton. Eduardo Santana earned a penalty kick and Tome buried it, and then Santana got an assist to set up Tome for a 2-0 led. Chris Tocci added to the lead with a goal in the second half, finishing off a feed from Nick Ribeiro.
North Attleboro, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final – Oliver Ames finally solved the puzzle that was the North Attleboro defense, scoring the lone goal of the game with less than five minutes left to play. The Rocketeers denied the Tigers throughout the game with a defensive-minded approach but OA freshman Casey Milliken finished off a pass from Antonio Fernandes to help the hosts earn two points in OA’s season finale. North Attleboro will finish its regular season on Saturday against Attleboro in the annual Leach & Garner Cup.
Sharon, 4 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final
Girls Soccer
Mansfield, 1 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final – Mansfield and Attleboro traded first half goals and finished in a draw. With the point, the Bombardiers clinched a return to the postseason for the first time since 2014. Kara Santos opened the scoring, finishing a corner kick from Tarynn Smith midway through the first half. About 11 minutes later, Attleboro equalized to seal a critical point.
Taunton @ Milford, 6:00
Field Hockey
Mansfield, 0 @ Attleboro, 4 – Final
Canton, 0 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final
King Philip, 0 @ Franklin, 2 – Final – After a scoreless first half, Franklin finally broke through a stingy King Philip defense just over a minute into the second half and added a late insurance goal to get the win. The Panthers clinched the Kelley-Rex division title outright with the victory at home. Freshman Raena Crandall scored an unassisted goal 68 seconds into the third quarter while freshman Haley Wernig doubled the lead with less than five minutes to play in the fourth quarter. Sophia Cuneo, Emily Carney, Kaeley Dubriske all played well for the Panthers. KP sophomore Kelly Holmes had an outstanding game, nearly scoring on a pair of occasions. Seniors Margo Riley, Haley Izydorczak, and Lily Brown also played well for the Warriors while junior Haley Bright recorded 10 saves.
Taunton, 2 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Taunton scored once in each half to grab a win on the road over Milford, sweeping the season series with the Hawks. Junior Caelyn O’Leary put the visitors out in front off an assist from senior Kylie Thorpe and the Tigers took that 1-0 lead into the halftime break. Ashley Amaro scored an unassisted goal in the second half to double Taunton’s lead while Em Gannon recorded the shutout in net for the Tigers.
Stoughton, 2 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – Sydney Menz and Mia Allie each scored once as Stoughton went on the road and picked up two points with a victory over the Eagles. Stephanie Costeria and Sarah Horner combined to earn the shutout and win in net for the Black Knights while Jane Hendrixson played well for Sharon.
Volleyball
Mansfield, 1 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final – While it looked like Attleboro was going to make the playoffs based on their latest ranking, the Bombardiers made sure they were headed to the postseason for the first time since 2008 by scoring an upset over Mansfield, 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-11, 25-23). Attleboro earned its ninth win of the season, securing a .500 record which is an automatic qualifier for the playoffs.In the win, Natalie Brojek dished out 29 assists and had a strong showing at the service line with nine aces. Lilly Boedeker (10 digs) and Julia Leonardo (eight digs, 15 kills) anchored the defense for the hosts.
Canton, 3 @ Foxboro, 0 – Final – Canton capped off its league schedule with a sweep on the road over Foxboro, taking a 3-0 verdict (25-14, 25-15, 25-18). It was another great team effort for the Bulldogs, led by Amaiah Christian with three kills, two blocks, two digs, and an ace. Jess Vo played great defense in her first varsity start while Zoe Scibelli also had a great defensive match.
North Attleboro, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – Oliver Ames entered Thursday’s match already having earned no less than a share of the Davenport division title, but the Tigers didn’t want to share. OA won the title outright for the first time with a 3-0 sweep (25-20, 25-15, 25-18) of North Attleboro, avenging a loss to the Rocketeers from earlier this season. Sophomore Sarah Hilliard put down 18 kills and added 16 digs in the win, senior Hadley Rhodes recorded 26 assists, senior Kelli Crowley added four blocks, and senior Amanda Barth chipped in with seven aces.
Today’s games are listed below. We will update with any changes when we receive them.
Field Hockey
King Philip @ Attleboro – Postponed to Friday, 10/29 at 3:30.
Sharon @ Canton – Postponed to Wednesday, 10/27 at 7:00.
Taunton @ Mansfield – Postponed to Wednesday, 10/27 at 6:45.
North Attleboro @ Stoughton – Postponed to Saturday, 10/30 at 9:00.
Volleyball
King Philip, 3 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – King Philip fended off a challenge from Attleboro in the opening set and went on two win two more to get a 3-0 win (25-23, 25-17, 25-8) on the road, clinching at least a share of the Kelley-Rex division title before its showdown with Franklin on Thursday. Samantha Asprelli served 11 straight points in the final set to clinch the win while Sami Shore (10 kills), Ahunna James (nine kills), and Emily Sawyer (seven kills) paced the Warrior offense. Julia Leonardo led the way for Attleboro with 10 kills.
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – After splitting the first two sets, Oliver Ames won two straight tight sets to close out the win on the road over Foxboro, 3-1 (25-5, 20-25, 25-23, 25-22). Senior Hadley Rhodes dished out 27 assists while Maddie Homer recorded 27 digs for the Tigers. Sophomores Sarah Hilliard (18 kills) and Claire O’Rourke (10 kills, seven aces) paced the offense while junior Megan MacDonald had a strong defensive performance.
Sharon, 0 @ Canton, 3 – Final – Canton honored its seniors and that group led the Bulldogs to a win over visiting Sharon, 3-0 (25-11, 25-13,25-16). All nine seniors contributed to the win led by Syd Gallery with seven kills and a block while Katie Dever, Amaiah Christian and Talya DeGraw each added four kills. Kelly MacDonald, Ella Lewis, Anna Verille and Jess Vo played well on defense. Taylor Reynolds distributed the well, adding 25 assists.
Milford, 0 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Franklin took care of business against visiting Milford, setting up a league title showdown with King Philip on Thursday. The Panthers won three straight (25-17, 25-20, 25-12) to sweep the Hawks. Taylor Lacerda had a strong showing with eight kills, five digs, and four aces. Franklin will host KP on Thursday and have a chance to earn a share of the division title with a win.
Taunton, 0 @ Mansfield, 3 – Final – Mansfield strengthened its playoff rating with a 3-0 sweep (25-19, 25-20, 25-9) win over visiting Taunton on Senior Night. Calysta Robyn recorded five aces and a kill while Christina Lydon dished out 11 assists for the hosts. Julia Kelly (10 kills) and Nicole Santos (four kills, three aces, two blocks) also played well in the win.
Canton, 4 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Holding just a one goal lead at halftime, Canton found the back of the net three time after the break to pull away from Stoughton for a win on the road. Senior Lily Carlino put the Bulldogs on the board, a 1-0 advantage that Canton took into half. Senior Payton McDonough, junior Ellie Bohane, and sophomore Payton England each scored in the second to give Canton a 4-0 win.
North Attleboro, 1 @ Foxboro, 4 – Final
Franklin, 7 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Franklin’s Kaitlyn Carney scored a first quarter hat trick and the Panthers never looked back in a win over Taunton. Haley Wernig opened the scoring less than a minute in and Carney followed with three straight before the first 15 minutes expired. That score held over the next two quarters before Ella Mahoney scored in the fourth and Shaw Downing (who also had three assists) scored back-to-back goals to get to 7-0. Payten Crandall had an assist for the Panthers.
Mansfield, 0 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – Three different Warriors scored and King Philip picked up its 11th win of the year with a 3-0 decision at home over Mansfield. Senior captain Molly Piller scored her first career goal off an assist from Kelly Homes while sophomore Mara Boldy (from Holmes) and freshman Makenzie McDevitt (from Sydney O’Shea) also scored for KP.
Sharon, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 5 – Final – Georgia Costello scored a hat trick and Ava Costello had three assists as Oliver Ames picked up a win at home over Sharon. Julia Maclaine opened the scoring in the first quarter (from Ava Costell) and Georgia Costello followed with back-to-back goals, one in the second and one in the third. Erin Cottam (from Georgia Costello) stretched the lead to 4-0 before Georgia Costello completed the hat trick in the fourth. Sharon goalie Natalie Kessler had a very strong performance in net. Also playing well for OA were Lily Gaskill, Lauren Mularczyk, and Emilee Welch.
Canton, 3 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – It was a total team effort from the Bulldogs in a win over neighboring Stoughton, earning a 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-14) sweep of the Black Knights. Jess Wright led Canton with 13 kills and three aces while Amaiah Christian, Fatima Sidibay and Katie Dever were all strong in the middle, combining for 11 kills and a pair of blocks. Sally Hoban was perfect in her serving debut with three aces. Kelly MacDonald, Ella Lewis, Zoe Scibelli and Jess Vo were strong in the backcourt for the Bulldogs.
Franklin, 3 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Franklin made it three straight wins by taking down Taunton, winning all three in straight sets, this time a 25-16, 25-13, 25-23 victory over the Tigers. Sophomore Taylor Lacerda had a strong all-around game with nine kills, nine digs, and three aces for the Panthers. For Taunton, Mikayla Cleary had a strong game with nine kills and a pair of blocks while Dani Lofgren (nine digs), Emily Machado (six digs), and Jess Foley (six digs) anchored the defense.
Mansfield, 0 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – King Philip won its 16th straight match to start the season and kept its spot atop the Kelley-Rex division with a 3-0 sweep (25-19, 25-17, 25-22) of Mansfield. Ahunna James (eight kills), Sami Shore (eight kills, four aces), and Emily Sawyer (six kills) paced the offensive attack for the Warriors. Sofia Riedel (five digs, three aces) and Samantha Asprelli (five digs) anchored the KP defense. For Mansfield, Julia Kelly had five kills and three aces, Nicole Santos added four aces, three kills, and three blocks, and Elyssa Buchanan chipped in with four kills and three digs to lead the offense. Christina Lydon and Izzy Flint each dished out nine assists, Lexie Scibilia finished with three blocks a pair of aces, and a block, and Jackie Zelic notched four digs.
Sharon, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – A day after rallying for a comeback win over Bridgewater-Raynham, Oliver Ames took care of business in straight sets with a 3-0 (25-12, 25-22, 25-14) over visiting Sharon. Junior Brianna Monteiro had a strong all-around game in the Tigers’ win. Maddie Homer notched 20 digs, Hadley Rhodes finished with 17 kills and five aces, and Shannon Willard chipped in with 10 assists and a pair of aces.
Cross-Country
North Attleboro @ Attleboro, 3:45
Canton @ Medfield, 3:45
Stoughton, 0 @ Franklin, 10 – Final – Highlighted by a five-goal outburst in the second quarter, Franklin continued to roll with another big win. Sydney Rogan scored the lone goal of the first quarter in the 10th minute before Kaitlyn Carney scored two in a row in the second to make it 3-0. Payten Crandall sandwiched a pair of goals around one from Raena Crandall while Emily Carney, Kendall Jones, and Ella Mahoney all had first half assists. Ella Aldred scored twice in the second half while Kaitlyn Carney and Emily Carney each scored once. Shaw Downing and Jill Finerty recorded second half assists. Megan Sullivan and Chloe Strassner combined for the shutout in net.
Oliver Ames, 2 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – King Philip carried a 3-0 lead into the final minutes of the game and held off a comeback bid from the visiting Tigers. Senior Margo Riley and freshman Makenzie McDevitt scored in the first half to help the Warriors build a 2-0 advantage by the halftime break. Riley tacked on another goal to push the KP lead to 3-0; McDevitt, Sydney O’Shea, and Christina Gifun all had an assist in the win. KP received strong defensive play from seniors Morgan Cunningham and Haley Izydorczak. OA’s Lauren Mularzcyk scored her first career goal to jumpstart the Tigers, who got a goal from Erin Cottam with five seconds to play. Both Ava Costello (assist) and Julia Maclaine had strong performances for OA.
North Attleboro, 2 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game – North Attleboro’s Julia Puccio scored a pair of second half goals to help the Rocketeers record a close win on the road at Taunton. After a scoreless first half, Puccio and Taunton’s Kaysie DeMoura traded goals in the third quarter. Caroline Folan help set up the game-winner, which saw Puccio fire a nice backhand shot while in traffic in front for the game-winner. Sophomore Gracie Leary made a pair of key kick saves in the final moments to help preserve the win. Em Gannon recorded nine saves for the Tigers.
Volleyball
Sharon, 0 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final – Natalie Brojek dished out 23 assists and Attleboro picked up a 3-0 (25-11, 25-25, 29-27) win at home for its seventh victory of the season, the most in over a decade. Brojek added four aces in the win, freshman Julia Leonardo was a force at the net with 16 kills, and Lilly Boedeker anchored the defense with nine digs.
Foxboro, 0 @ Milford, 3 – Final
Canton, 1 @ Mansfield, 3 – Final – After splitting the first two games, Mansfield went on to win the final two sets to secure a 3-1 win (25-23, 22-25, 25-11, 25-20) over the visiting Bulldogs. Julia Kelly paced the offense with 15 kills, Nicole Santos added 10 kills and had a strong showing from the service line with six aces, and Lexie Scibilia added six kills in the win. Christina Lydon (20 assists) and Izzy Flint (17 assists) ran the offense for the Hornets. Anne Verille had another stellar showing for Canton with outstanding defense and aggressive serving while Fatima Sidibay and Amaiah Christian played well in the middle, combining for nine kills and four blocks.
Stoughton, 0 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – It was a day to remember for Franklin senior Cailyn Mackintosh, who recorded the 1,000th assist of her career and had a strong all-around game to lead the Panthers to a dominant sweep, 3-0 (25-7, 25-6, 25-7). Mackintosh finished with 24 assists along with seven digs, five kills, and four assists for the undefeated Panthers.
Oliver Ames, 0 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – King Philip prevailed in a tight second set that went down to the wire and went on to complete the sweep, 3-0 (25-17, 26-24, 25-11) of Oliver Ames. Stella Bailey had a big day at the service line with 14 service points, including five aces, while Samantha Asprelli added four more aces to go along with five digs. Sami Shore chipped in with four aces as well to go with eight kills and three digs while Ahunna James recorded a pair of aces and seven kills for the undefeated Warriors. For OA, sophomore Sarah Hilliard had a strong showing with 14 kills to pace the Tiger offense. Senior Hadley Rhodes added 20 assists and junior Maddie Homer finished with 15 digs and 18 serve receptions.
North Attleboro, 2 @ Taunton, 3 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game – Taunton saw its 1-0 lead disappear as North rallied to grab all the momentum with back-to-back close wins in the second and third sets, but the Tigers bounced back to win two straight sets and the match, 3-2 (25-21, 24-26, 24-26, 25-22, 15-12). Taunton had a balanced attack on offense led by Hayley Krockta (12 kills, six digs, four aces), Mikayla Cleary (11 kills, five blocks, two aces), and Angie Lynch (nine kills) while Aislinn Campbell had a big game at the net with seven blocks and six kills. Anna Abouzeid put the offense in motion with 25 assists as well as two kills and two aces while Jess Foley, Dani Lofgren, and Mia Fernandes all played well defensively with eight digs apiece.
Boys Cross-Country
Attleboro, 31 @ Mansfield, 26 – Final – Mansfield took five of the top eight spots to earn a close win at home over Attleboro. Senior Collin Stevens paced the Hornet pack with a team-best time of 17:42 for second overall. Senior Chris Leonard (18:17) took fourth, sophomore Talon Johnson added key points with a fifth place finish (18:24), senior Riley Tremblay took seventh (18:55), and junior Clark Mackin rounded out the Mansfield scoring at 18:59 for eighth overall.
North Attleboro @ Canton – Postponed to Thursday, 10/7 at 3:45.
Stoughton, 34 @ Foxboro, 21 – Final – Senior Nick Olson crossed first and Foxboro took five of the top seven spots in a win at Payson Road against Stoughton. Olson won the race in 17:27, junior Brooks Stone took third overall (19:32), and junior Stephen Haney (19:37) was fourth. Senior Jared Ciora and junior Cooper Hassman rounded out the scoring for the hosts by taking sixth and seventh, respectively.
Franklin, 36 @ King Philip, 21 – Final
Taunton, 22 @ Milford, 38 – Final – Taunton continued its strong start to the season, improving to 4-0 with a win on the road over Milford. The Tigers took five of the top seven spots, including three of the first four, to get the win. Brayden Cali was the top runner for Taunton, taking second overall in 17:08. Sam Dennis clocked in at 17:12 for third while Andrew Cali took fourth overall (17:18). Ryan Strawbridge (17:25) and Cam Dorr (18:26) rounded out the scoring for the Tigers.
Sharon, 39 @ Oliver Ames, 20
Girls Cross-Country
Attleboro, 48 @ Mansfield, 15 – Final – The first five runners to cross the finish line were all members of the Mansfield Hornets, who knocked off Attleboro on a 5K course at the Plymouth Street Soccer Complex. Sophomore Anna Moore led the charge for the hosts, who had eight of the top 10 overall runners in the race. Moore clocked in at 21:48 for the win, senior Meghan Johnston took second (22:09), senior Alanna Conley crossed third (23:43),senior Sophia Allen was fourth (23:55), and junior Devin Anderson rounded out the scoring with a fifth place finish (25:02). Freshman Emily Quaglia was the top runner for Attleboro, crossing the finish line in a time of 25:59 for seventh overall.
North Attleboro @ Canton – Postponed to Thursday, 10/7 at 3:45.
Stoughton, 31 @ Foxboro, 24 – Final – Foxboro swept the top three spots all within a 30-second time span and that was enough to lead the Warriors to a win over the visiting Black Knights. Junior Casey Dahl won the race in 22:03 while classmates Aine Fitzpatrick (22:09) and Mabel Linck (22:30) rounded out the top three. Juniors Kyla Palmer and Sarah Howard took eighth and 10th, respectively, for the Warriors.
Franklin @ King Philip, 3:45
Taunton, 22 @ Milford, 38 – Final – Taunton freshman Emersyn Deponte set a new program record with her third dual meet win of the season and all five of the scorers for the Tigers clocked in a new personal records in a win over Milford. Deponte won the race in 20:27 with classmate Colby Dunham taking third overall just three seconds later. Kiley Quinlan (22:06) was fourth, Phylicia Dias (22:30) took fifth, and Jakhai Nicholson (24:36) earned ninth for the Tigers.
Sharon, 39 @ Oliver Ames, 22 – Final
Golf
Franklin, 169 @ Mansfield, 164 – Final – Mansfield kept its division title hopes alive with a close win over Franklin, splitting the season series with the Panthers. Senior Cian Goulet fired a team-low round of 38 to help the Hornets get the win at Norton Country Club. Seniors Ryan Doherty (41), Hunter Tang (42), and Jordan Tavares (43) rounded out the scoring for the hosts.
Milford, 174 @ Taunton, 190 – Final – Jacob Hipolito and Anthony LaPierre each shot 42 to lead the Hawks to a win on the road over Taunton. Nate Lawrence added a round of 45 in the win and Tommy Donato added a 46 for Milford. Loran Corcoran and Nathan Fernandes both shot 46 to pace the Tigers.
Sharon, 163 @ King Philip, 154 – Final – King Philip avoided an upset bid from Sharon to grab its 10th win of the season, staying undefeated on the year. Mike Matheson birded the fifth hole on his way to a match medalist round of 36 to lead the way for KP. Jared Curran birdied both the first and fifth holes to finish at 38 while both Pat Reardon and Ethan Sullivan shot a 40. Sharon’s Nathan Daley also birded the fifth hole and had a team-low round of 38. Eric Carter added a 40 for the Eagles and Owen Kevorkian shot a 42.
Canton, 156 @ Foxboro, 160 – Final – Foxboro nearly pulled off the upset of the season on the Front 9 at Foxborough Country Club but Canton came away with a close win to keep its lead in the Davenport division. Canton’s Will Gefteas and Mekhala Costello each shot a 38 on the day, sharing match medalist honors with Foxboro’s Dylan Pothier. Charlie Cohen and Nate MacDonald each added a 40 in the win. Jack Rounds shot a 39 for the Warriors and Louie Carangelo added a round of 40.
North Attleboro, 170 @ Oliver Ames, 155 – Final – Senior Jo Jo Gaultier fired an even par round of 35 as Oliver Ames picked up its eighth win of the season by beating North Attleboro at Thorny Lea Golf Club in Brockton. Jake Kaplan, David Rodgers, and Sean Kearns all shot 40 to round out the scoring for the hosts.
KP junior Emily Sawyer had a career-high 16 kills to power the Warriors to a sweep of Canton and a ninth straight win to start the season. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
CANTON, Mass. – On Wednesday night at the Masciarelli Gym, in a battle of division leaders and a rematch of last year’s Hock Cup semifinal, King Philip showed not only why its gone the opening nine matches unbeaten and why its in the running for a sixth league title in eight years, but also that it could be a strong contender in the Div. 2 state tournament.
Behind a dominant display at the net by junior hitters Emily Sawyer, Ahunna James, and Sami Shore, the Warriors swept Canton 3-0 (25-14, 25-19, 25-16) to continue its perfect start to the season. KP has lost only one of the 28 sets it has played in nine matches.
“That’s good and bad,” KP coach Kristen Geuss said. “We need to keep working hard. If we want to keep this going, then we need to work hard and I think they know it, I think they get it. I’m hoping that they continue to put the work in at practice and continue to get good results.”
Sawyer (16 kills and three blocks) set the tone from the opening point of the match. Listed at 6-foot-3, she towered over the Bulldogs and smashed home the first two points to put KP in front. Canton answered right back with a tip by Fatima Sidibay and a block and a kill from Jess Wright. James (eight kills) started to find the range on the outside with a pair of kills, including one that ended a long rally. A Shore kill and a pair of aces from James put KP up 10-5.
“We are strong at the net,” said Geuss, “which is great for our setters (Stella Bailey and Kiera Hagen) because they have so many options and not just having to set up one or two people. Having the options makes them more comfortable.”
Right from the opening set a pattern emerged. Both teams were excellent defensively, keeping rallies going on both sides of the net, but when it came time for the decisive swing KP’s attackers were more consistent in finding the open space.
“I’m very proud of the way my team played,” said Canton coach Pat Cawley. “We’re a scrappy defensive team and when we could get a good swing I think we tested their defense. Free balls, tips, they were all over them. We have to hit the ball.”
With Sawyer able to overpower Canton’s defense either on the outside or in the middle, the Warriors started to pull away in the first. Three straight Sawyer kills pushed the lead to 19-8, then James stepped in with a pair and scored a third point with a well-placed bump. Shore and then Olivia Carey closed out the first with kills and KP took the lead in the match.
The second set was far more even, as Canton started to turn its strong play on the back row into points at the net. Again Sawyer put KP up 2-0 with back-to-back kills, but then Wright got a couple of good swings and Talya DeGraw found an opening with a tip. After a Sydney Gallery kill on the outside, the set was tied at 8-8.
KP would rattle off seven of the next eight points and seemed poised to pull away, but the Bulldogs kept scrapping and answered right back with a run of their own, tying the second at 16 apiece. James put KP back in front with a block and Shore smashed a hit off the blocker to regain the advantage.
Canton showed off its defense again, with freshman Zoe Scibelli laying out to keep the play alive and Anna Verille finding a point with a bump inside the line. Momentum for the hosts was short-lived as Shore got a point at the net and then the service line and Sawyer rose up to bury the final point of the second.
“We’re a young team,” Cawley explained. “We had a really slow start, losing our first two [matches], and we changed our lineup making Anna Verille our libero. She’s amazing. Taylor Reynolds, my setter, I can’t say enough about her.”
She added, “We didn’t play well in the first set, but the next two sets I think we gave it everything we had and we’ve got 12 matches left and I think we’re getting better every day. I couldn’t be happier coaching this team, every day we see improvement.”
Trailing by two sets, the Bulldogs came out with extra fight in the third. Amaiah Christian got her first kill, Gallery’s block led to an error, and DeGraw fired in an ace to grab a 10-7 lead. KP has dropped only one set all season (last time out against Milford) and the Warriors were able to stay focused and come right back. Carey’s kill tying the set up at 10-10.
Down by three, Sawyer gave KP a spark when her third attempt at a kill finally eluded the Canton defense. Bailey added an ace and the set was tied again. Bailey (19 service points) would go on a run at the service line, turning a three-point deficit (13-10) into a five-point lead. She had two aces and Sawyer had a pair of blocks in the run.
James would put the final touches on the third set, with two kills and an accurate tip down the line helping the Warriors over the line in a match that felt closer than the final score.
“Canton is always very competitive,” said Geuss. “We have to play our best no matter what against Canton because they never give up. They are scrappy, they are fast, and that was great competition for us.”
Cawley was effusive in her praise for the Warriors. She said, “KP is a legitimate team. I could see them going all the way in D2. They have height, they have strength, they’re a great team. Both middles are legitimate and obviously Ahunna James is amazing.”
King Philip (9-0) will put its perfect record on the line on Friday against a much-improved Attleboro team. Canton (5-3) will try to bounce back on the road against Sharon.
Boys Soccer
Milford, 1 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – Milford scored 10 minutes into the second half and that was enough to earn two points on the road against Attleboro. Arthur Tome netted the long goal of the game, finishing off a pass from David Desa to put the Hawks ahead. Lucas Fernandes earned his first career shutout in net in his first start, forced into action due to injury.
Canton, 8 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – Canton junior Jake McCabe scored twice and had two assists as the Bulldogs snapped a short two-game skid in emphatic fashion. Jacob Crugnale added a pair of goals and an assist in the win while Charlie McKinney, Caden Mirliani, Zack Dowling, and Drew Garrett each scored once.
North Attleboro, 0 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – Foxboro scored just minutes into the first half and Derek Axon notched the shutout in net for the Warriors. A blocked shot fell to the feet of sophomore John Hollis, who took a touch and ripped a blast on the bounce from 25-yards out that went just under the bar to put the Warriors on the board.
Franklin, 0 @ Taunton, 2 – Final – Taunton junior Riley Rebello set up the game-winning goal in the first half and scored the insurance tally in the second as the Tigers improved to 4-0 on the season, matching their best start since joining the Hockomock League. Rebello set up freshman Ian Robicheau to put the Tigers ahead in the 33rd minute. Rebello put the game away with a nice shot from outside the area in the 63rd minute.
Mansfield, 1 @ King Philip, 0 – Final – Mansfield defender Ian Leeds made the play of the game, coming up with a clearance to preserve the win for the Hornets. The Warriors nearly got on the board but Leeds was there to keep it out and help the Hornets get their fourth shutout of the season. Liam Anastasia took a pass from Danny Rowe and went in alone on goal and finished for the lone goal of the game.
Sharon, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 6 – Final – After being shutout by Franklin last week in their first loss of the season, Oliver Ames bounced back in big way with a 6-1 win over visiting Sharon. The Eagles cut the deficit in half early in the second half to make it 2-1 but Clide Neau scored three straight for a hat trick as the Tigers pulled away. Mathias Taylor and Michael Haikal scored goals in the first half as OA staked a 2-0 lead at the break. Senior John Dobbin tacked on a sixth goal for OA off an assist from Christian Haikal.
Girls Soccer
Attleboro, 5 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Kacey Parker scored a pair of goals to help Attleboro pick up a second straight win in what head coach Steve Santos called a “solid team performance.” Jamie Davies opened the scoring in the first half, finishing an assist from Bethany Alves. Parker got her first of the day, from an Emily Dunlea assist, to make it 2-0 heading into halftime. The Bombardiers added three goals after the break to pull away. Zoe Johnson-Kiff scored off an Allison Rebelo assist, Parker doubled her tally this time from an Emily Khang helper, and then Kahlan Gray wrapped up the scoring from an Aly Santoro assist.
Foxboro, 2 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – The Warriors made it four straight wins with a win at North. Brooke Berreira had the eventual game-winner with three minutes left in the first half, scoring off a pass from Erin Foley. Grace Riley added a second in the closing minute, finishing a Kailee McCabe corner to seal the win. Summer Doherty had a strong game in the North defense trying to mark McCabe and keep the league’s leading scorer quiet. Haley Sinacola also had a good game in a reworked North defense. Brayden Rice, Lily Adams, Brooke Sullivan, and Casey Butanowicz played well in the North midfield.
Taunton, 0 @ Franklin, 7 – Final – After being held scoreless in the first half, Franklin exploded for seven goals after the break. Anya Zub scored four times, including one from the penalty spot, Stella Regan added a brace, and Selene Hammad scored once for the Panthers, who remain just one point back of KP in the division standings. Izzy Arnold, Lily Deforge, Anna Grasso, Avery Greco, and Tori Carmignani each had an assist for the Panthers.
Stoughton, 0 @ Canton, 7 – Final – Canton couldn’t find a breakthrough in the first half, heading into the break scoreless, but the Bulldogs scored seven times in the final 40 minutes, including a hat trick for Gabriella Herivaux, to pick up their first win of the season. Stoughton coach Hermes Lima was thrilled with his young team’s fight in the first half on both ends of the field. Lauren Mitchell and Emma Tran had string games in the heart of the Stoughton defense and Mia Rivera was excellent in goal. Sofia Issa played well in midfield, with Shayla Ford creating a few scoring chances along with Sivannah Marcy.
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – OA scored twice in the final five minutes to finally break the game open and secure the two points. Senior Lauren Sellmayer headed in a pair of corner kicks from Katie Gibson while Camryn O’Connor found the back of the net once. Halle Kander and Allison Evin had strong games for OA while Emily Meyers notched her first shutout of the season. Autumn Simon had a big game in the Sharon goal to keep the Tigers at bay for most of the afternoon. Amber Marcus-Blank, Jordanna Morris, and Samantha Connors also played well for the Eagles.
Field Hockey
Attleboro, 1 vs. Bishop Feehan, 3 – Final – Sarah McMahon scored the lone goal for the Bombardiers in a loss against visiting Bishop Feehan. Livie Hillman and Jordan Croteau had the assists to set up the goal.
Volleyball
Canton, 3 @ Brockton, 0 – Final – Canton’s Taylor Reynolds set the offense in motion as the Bulldogs landed a knockout of the visiting Boxers with a 3-0 sweep. Reynolds had 25 assists to go along with a pair of aces, Liz Beal added four kills in her first start, Amaiah Christian also added four kills, and both Katie Dever and Ella Lewis provided a spark off the bench.
Oliver Ames, 3 vs. Bridgewater-Raynham, 0 – Final – Oliver Ames senior Reese Blass had a strong all-around game to lead the Tigers to a 3-0 sweep (25-13, 25-18, 25-13) over visiting Bridgewater-Raynham. Blass had a total of 15 service points to go alone with five kills and a pair or blocks in the win. Hadley Rhodes added 15 assists and seven kills, Shannon Willard added 10 assists, and sophomore Claire O’Rourke chipped in with seven kills.
Golf
Sharon, 162 @ North Attleboro, 149 – Final – Jake Gaskin fired a two-under par round and North Attleboro carded its lowest score of the season to knock off visiting Sharon. Gaskin, who birdied three, four, and five, came into the clubhouse with a round of 33 on the south course at Heather Hill. Dylan Harding added a round of 37, Tyson Laviano finished with a 38, and Rohan Kohli chipped in with a 41. Sharon’s Nathan Daley was the match medalist with an three-under round of 32, after sinking birdies on two, three, and four.
Mansfield, 160 @ King Philip,160 – Final – In a battle of two of the top teams in the Kelley-Rex division, King Philip emerged with a close win over Mansfield. King Philip’s Mike Matheson shared medalist honors with Mansfield’s Cian Goulet, each coming in with a round of 36. Pat Reardon shot a 39 for the Warriors while both Jared Curran and Ethan Sullivan shot a 40. Hunter Tang added a 39 for the Hornets.
Franklin, 164 @ Milford, 173 – Final – CJ Steel continued his strong start to the season, earning match medalist honors with a low-round of 38 to lead the Panthers on the road at Hopedale Country Club. Ben Paterson added a round of 41 for Franklin. Anthony LaPierre carded a 40 for the hosts while Jacob Hipolito added a 42 for the Hawks.
Stoughton, 182 @ Oliver Ames, 155 – Final – Senior Carter Allbritton shot a match medalist round of 35 to lead Oliver Ames to a win at Pine Oaks over visiting Stoughton. Sophomore David Rodgers carded a 38 in the win, senior Jake Kaplan added a 39, and senior Brendan Connelly chipped in with. 40 for OA.
Junior Ahunna James, pictured against OA in the Fall 2 season, will try and help KP repeat as division champs. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2020 (Fall II) Record: 1-11 Coach: Mary Katherine Runey
There is a lot of excitement surrounding the program as the Bombardiers are set to take the court for their second season, but first full season, under head coach Mary Katherine Runey.
The Bombardiers boast a large senior class featuring a lot of returning players along with a handful of juniors and even some freshmen ready to make an immediate impact on the court this Fall. It all starts with senior captains Lilly Boedeker, Marissa Conroy, and Summer Pereira, who will provide key leadership both on and off the court. Boedeker is the anchor of the defense as the libero while Pereira is making the switch to the right side to provide key blocking plus another offensive option.
Options will be vital for sophomore setter Natalie Brojek, who is back for her second season on the team as the setter. Seniors Delia Barthel, Holly Berg, Kate Petrosso, and Gabby Bolduc are all returning players and are joined in the roster by classmates Corina Lugo, Celina Lugo, Ellie Amaral, and juniors Brianna Frissora and Tigin Bombardier. Petrosso and Frissora will take care of business at the net as middle hitters while freshman Julia Leonardo could see time right away as an outside hitter.
“As a program, we are certainly looking to continue to build and grow,” Runey said. “Last year, we had to learn to play together and figure out which pieces of the puzzle work together. This year, we continue to work hard to minimize errors, control the pace of the game, and learn how to win. I believe that hard work will pay off this season.”
2020 (Fall II) Record: 10-2 Coach: Pat Cawley
Canton made it 13 league titles in the past 14 seasons when it edged Sharon to the Davenport title a year ago. This season, the Bulldogs will have a lot of new faces, as only five players return from 2020’s abbreviated campaign, but there still remains a lot of enthusiasm for a new season and the potential to rebuild for yet another title challenge.
Senior Sydney Gallery returns as the team’s middle hitter after a solid season contributing off the bench. Gallery has improved and seen her playing time increase each season and will now be one of Canton’s primary weapons. Seniors Anna Verille and Tayla DeGraw will add to the attack on the outside. Both saw significant minutes as juniors and can also provide points from the service line. Sophomore Jess Wright is a newcomer that could make an instant impact on the outside as well. Senior setter Taylor Reynolds is back to run the Bulldogs offense and put the hitters in the right spots. She is also a strong presence on the back row defensively. Seniors Amaiah Christian, Katie Dever, Ella Lewis, Kelly McDonald, and Jess Vo will all see the floor and add depth to the Canton roster.
“What we lack in experience, we make up in work ethic and desire,” said Canton coach Pat Cawley. “This year’s team is motivated and anxious to keep the strong Canton volleyball tradition going! Led by a great group of seniors, the entire team has the same goal – to play at the highest level possible and to be the best they can be!”
2020 (Fall II) Record: 3-9 Coach: Vicki Santana
This will be a season of transition for the Warriors, who return only five players from last year’s team. Despite graduating 10 seniors and only featuring two seniors on this year’s roster, Foxboro is excited about the potential of its younger players and looking to grow as a team over the course of the new season.
Juniors Sami Sloan and Mallorie Meyer will both step into bigger roles after gaining some varsity experience as sophomores last year. They are part of a big junior class (eight players) that will be counted on to carry the Warriors this fall. Both Sloan and Meyer have been working not only on their hitting but also the defensive part of the game to be able to help in the back as well as the front row. Junior Alyssa Cloherty will be the setter and classmate Shannon McElhinney will take over as the libero and both have shown capable of making smart decisions with the ball on the back row.
“I am seeing a lot of talent and can’t wait to see how the team performs,” said Foxboro coach Vicki Santana. “Our focus is to build team chemistry for the team to be successful. As long as the players are ready to put in the work this fall, I am anticipating a successful year.”
2020 (Fall II) Record: 12-1 Coach: Samantha Elliott
Franklin has won at least a share of the past three Kelley-Rex titles and last year also claimed the first-ever Hock Cup. Even while graduating important players, like leading hitter Ally Bonnet-Eymard, the Panthers continue to build squads that look ready to compete for the title every season.
The strength for the Panthers is at setter. Senior Cailyn Mackintosh is a three-year starter and one of the best passers in the league. Her ability to spread the ball around and hit spots opens up the floor for the offense and makes Franklin hard to match up against. Sophomore Taylor Lacerda will be one of Mackintosh’s top targets this year following a strong freshman season on the outside. Senior Lindsey Tarantola will be the main threat in the middle and senior Brigid Earley will be back at opposite. Defensively, the Panthers will count on senior Meghan Linkkila, who will be moving from defensive specialist to libero this season, to control the back row.
“I have high expectations for these players but more importantly they have high expectations for themselves,” said second-year Franklin coach Samantha Elliott. “This team is striving to continue proving themselves and working hard to be the best they can be, and hopefully, that is another Hockomock title.
2020 (Fall II) Record: 11-2 Coach: Kristen Geuss
When you look at the class that graduated from last season, the Warriors certainly lost a lot of talent from a team that won a share of the Kelley-Rex division title. But this is a program that doesn’t have many rebuilding seasons, they simply reload.
The Warriors have several returning players that will play a significant role this season. Senior captain Stella Bailey will take over as the primary setter, and she’s a confident player that can run the offense very well (136 assists last season). Bailey will have two very good options to work with in senior captain Liv Carey and junior captain Ahunna James. Not only is James one of the most lethal hitters in the league (124 kills last season), she’s a very good defender (104 digs) and server (94.6 serve percentage) as well.
King Philip will lean heavily on a pair of seniors to lead the way defensively in the back row with Samantha Asprelli taking over as libero and classmates Sofia Reidel and Gianna DeLorenzo as defensive specialist options. The graduation of the team’s top hitter and blocker Nicole Coughlan leaves a big void at the net but junior Sami Shore gained some key experience last year as she prepares to give the Warriors a boost at the net. Junior Emily Sawyer is a new addition that has been promising in the preseason as a middle while senior Molly O’Brien has played well on the right side. Juniors Kiera Hagen, Missy Canning, and Olivia O’Neil as well as sophomores Kate O’Neil and Shea Mellman are all battling for time on the court.
“I am very pleased with how prepared the players have come back from last season, they have been working very hard at practice,” Geuss said. “I think we will be strong on both offense and defense. The players are ready to go and are looking forward to a more normal season!”
2020 (Fall II) Record: 6-6 Coach: Tara DeGirolamo
For the second season in a row, Mansfield will have a new coach. The Hornets are turning to JV coach Tara DeGirolamo this fall and hoping that a mix of experienced returning players and some new faces can help them pose a challenge to defending league champs Franklin and King Philip.
Mansfield will run its offense through senior hitter Julia Kelly. A three-year-starter, Kelly is a versatile layer who rarely takes a rotation off and gives the Hornets a lift on both attack and defense. The middle should be a big threat as well with senior Nicole Santos and junior Alexandra Scibilia giving the Hornets good net presence. Senior Christina Lydon and junior Isabella Flint will be back at the setter position and senior Nora Buckley adds to the attack on the right side. Sophomores Elyssa Buchanan and Anna Goulet and junior Lily Verheggen will be new hitters to add depth for the Hornets. Defensively, senior Lauren Knight will lead the back row with senior Calysta Robyn and junior Jackie Zelic able to step in and provide defensive cover as well.
“The Hornet volleyball team has a great group of veteran and new players rounding out the roster this season,” said DeGirolamo.
2020 (Fall II) Record: 4-8 Coach: Tammy Webber
Volleyball is back in the fall and the Scarlet Hawks are hoping to make it back to the postseason with a strong core of players on the roster.
Despite only four seniors on the roster, head coach Tammy Webber has a lot of experience on the squad after a lot of the players experienced the varsity level for the first time during the Spring. One player who has been around for a long time is senior outside hitter Sarah Brogioli, an All-Hockomock selection from last season. Not only is she one of the top hitters in the league, but she is also a top defensive option for the Hawks. A big advantage for Brogioli and the rest of the Hawk hitters is having junior Emily Croteau back at setter. Croteau emerged as the team’s top setter during the Fall 2 season so she knows the pace of the varsity level and has some options to distribute too.
Beyond Brogioli, Croteau will have two experience middles to work with. Senior Lexi Starks is a good two-way player, providing the Hawks with some good swings on offense and key blocks defensively. She can also rotate all the way through the lineup, playing defensively in the back row. Junior middle Aliza Syed had a really strong sophomore season and can be really hard to stop when she gets into a groove; she’s also a strong server for the Hawks. Carley Haley, Jess Douglas, and Molly Hartman will anchor the back row for Milford.
“With the players we have returning, we are hoping to challenge the top teams in the league,” Webber said.
2020 (Fall II) Record: 2-9-1 Coach: Courtney Lambrese
It has been four seasons since North Attleboro ended Canton’s reign atop the Davenport division. Last year, the Rocketeers were rebuilding after graduating a big senior class and there were some growing pains but first-year coach Courtney Lambrese has eight seniors returning and will hope that experience can carry North to a much better 2021.
North will look to be aggressive on offense, utilizing the strength of senior outside hitters Amira Boory and Sara Carter. Senior Madelyn Corsetti will give the Rocketeers another look in the middle, adding some balance to the attack. All three move well at the net and should also be effective in the block. Senior Katherine McHoul will be the setter and is joined in the back row by senior defensive specialists Ava Dunlevy and Julianne Chen. It is a defensive unit that Lambrese praised for its ability to read the hitter and be aggressive getting to the ball.
“This will be my fourth season with the program, I am looking forward to taking on a new role as the varsity coach with the group of athletes we have,” said Lambrese. “Overall, I’m excited for the talent and drive this team expresses and to see their successes this season.”
2020 (Fall II) Record: 8-4 Coach: Chelsea Cunningham
Head coach Chelsea Cunningham always has high expectations for her Tigers, and this year is no different. OA boasts some key returners on the court while Cunningham is excited to integrate some new faces into the lineup after the void left by graduation.
Anytime you can bring back your starting setter, you’re already at an advantage and the Tigers have one of the better ones in the Hock in senior captain Hadley Rhodes. She learned a lot last year and can spread the ball out to the weapons the Tigers have. Rhodes can also get involved in the attack as a solid option at opposite hitter. Another key piece to the puzzle will be junior Maddie Homer, who is a three-year starter and the team’s libero. Homer’s veteran presence will help solidify the back row for OA.
Senior captain Shannon Willard will be in the mix as a setter as well while junior Courtney Raymond is poised for a breakout season as a middle hitter after gaining valuable experience during the Fall 2 season. Sophomore Sarah Hilliard learned what the varsity level is all about and is back as one of the main hitting options for OA.
“Returning to more ‘normal’ practice in athletics is exciting enough as it is and being able to continue working with such wonderful student-athletes makes it even better,” Cunningham said. “This group is full of new faces and they all bring something unique to the team. This season, some of our main goals include playing “our” game, always being ready to compete, and making every moment count. I am privileged to coach another season for such an amazing, supportive, and competitive program and cannot wait to see what’s in store for us!”
2020 (Fall II) Record: 9-3 Coach: Bill Schustek
Sharon is coming off one of the best seasons in program history. The Eagles won nine times last season, picked up a very rare win against perennial power Canton, and finished just a game behind the Bulldogs, narrowly missing out on the program’s first league title. Graduation will have taken its toll, with Sharon losing its top hitters from last year, but first-year coach Bill Schustek will be hoping the momentum can carry over into 2021.
Although the Eagles lost the top four players from last season, they do return eight players with varsity experience. On the front row, seniors Simone Dunbar and Erin Schustek will be the primary weapons. Dunbar will be a threat in the middle, along with classmate Savannah Gray, and Schustek will be on the outside with help from junior Tess Letendre. Senior Trinity Payne is another strong player at the net, either in the middle or on the right side. Emily Rubenstein is in her third year as the starting libero and is the leader of the back row.
“Without a dominant hitter, we will need to be a defensive and ball control focused team to have success this year,” said Schustek. “Our goal for the season is to qualify for the state tournament.”
2020 (Fall II) Record: 3-8-1 Coach: Felicia Baptista
With key players back in key positions, Stoughton is looking to bounce back after a down year during the abbreviated Fall II season. Kiara Scardina, Patrik Oliveira, and Vanessa Philemond give the Black Knights a solid core of veterans to build around for the 2021 season.
The Davenport is wide open this season with most teams graduating the majority of their lineup from a season ago. That means every team is in the mix and whoever is playing best down the stretch might be the one to take it. Scardina, a junior captain, got a lot of experience as a sophomore last year and will anchor the back row. Oliveira took over as setter last year and now has a good amount of playing time under his belt and will be ready to set the Stoughton offense in motion. Philemond will be one of the go-to options for Oliveira from her middle hitter spot, and she will also help set the tone defensively with her blocking.
Head coach Felicia Baptista, in her second overall season but first full Fall season, will be looking for some of the younger players to step up this year, including sophomore outside hitter Annalia Eschleman, sophomore outside hitter Maya Ashu, and freshman Angelina Barry, who will see some time as a defensive specialist.
“The fall 2021 season is one we are ready for,” Baptista said. “We are so happy that this season could go back to normal and start the fall season on time. Our program has worked hard all summer to make sure they were ready for August preseason this year. We have a large team this year and each one of them brings something different to the team which makes us that much stronger.”
2020 (Fall II) Record: 3-9 Coach: Toby Chaperon
Taunton won two of its first three matches in Fall II but only won once for the remainder of the season, as the Tigers went through the teeth of a loaded Kelley-Rex division. Taunton will have nine seniors on this year’s roster, many of which saw significant playing time last year, so there is hope that the Tigers can build on the experience of 2020 and be more consistent this fall.
The middle should be a strength for Taunton this season. Senior Mikayla Cleary and junior Hayley Krockta give the Tigers good size and athleticism both while attacking and defending. Senior Angie Lynch is a supreme athlete and has shown flashes of being a major weapon on the outside as she learns the nuances of the game and that position. Senior Dani Lofgren will be the libero. A good passer, Lofgren is another player that is growing into her role. Senior Jess Foley will help out defensively on the back row. Junior Anna Abouzeid is the new setter for the Tigers. Taunton coach Toby Chaperon said Abouzeid is athletic and has a good volleyball IQ and they are working on refining her play in the setter position.
