05/04/202305/04/2023

Thursday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 05/04/23

Today’s games are listed below.

Baseball
Mansfield, 4 @ Canton, 3 – Final – Mansfield won its third straight one-run game, using a pair of runs in the sixth inning to edge out Canton on the road. The Hornets built a 2-0 lead by scoring once in the second (Dylan Saraceno RBI) and once in the third (Matt DeShiro RBI double) but Canton stormed back with three runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead. Owen Lane’s RBI single got the Bulldogs on the board, Shane Kelleher tied the game with an RBI double, and Matt Hart’s RBI ground out put the hosts ahead 3-2. It stayed that way until the sixth when Jake Maydak smacked an RBI triple to score DeShiro to make it 3-3, and Maydak came home the next at-bat on an RBI ground out from Brian Butler. Maydak got the win on the mound, scattering six hits and two talks for three runs, striking out six in six innings, and DeShiro slammed the door with a scoreless seventh inning. Kyle Redquest pitched well for the Bulldogs, striking out eight with four runs allowed on eight hits and one walk in seven innings.

Oliver Ames, 1 @ Foxboro, 8 – Final – Locked in a two-run game through four innings, Foxboro exploded for five runs in the fifth to pull away from visiting Oliver Ames. The Warriors scored once in the first and twice more in the third to take a 3-1 lead. Senior Ryan LeClair had a big day at the dish going 2-for-2 with two walks, two RBI, and three runs, and came through with a big hit to ignite Foxboro’s big fifth inning. LeClair drove in Aidan Stow (HBP) and Tyler Prescott (single) to make it 5-1. Ben Angelini, Ryan O’Leary, and Mike Marcucella followed with two-out RBIs to extend Foxboro’s lead. Sophomore Nolan Gordon had an impressive showing on the mound, allowing just one run (unearned) on three hits and a walk. He also recorded seven strikeouts in five innings while O’Leary tossed two scoreless innings in relief.

Milford, 0 @ Franklin, 10 – Final (6 inn.) – Locked in a one-run game through 4.5 innings, Franklin’s offense roared to life with a six-run fifth inning followed by three more in the sixth to earn a big win over Milford. The Panthers scored in the first when Eisig Chin reached on an error and Ryan Gerety (walk) scored but the Hawks escaped a bases-loaded situation with no outs to limit the damage. The game stayed 1-0 for the next three innings and Alfred Mucciarone escaped a bases loaded jam for the Hawks, inducing a ground ball to second baseman Luke Sidwell, who started a 4-6-2 double play to end the threat and the inning. Chin ignited the offense again in the fifth with a lead off double, Henry Digiorgio followed with a single and the Panthers’ offense rolled from there. Ethan DePaolo had a big day for Franklin, going 2-for-4 with a double, three RBI, and two runs scored. Ben Jarosz also had a double, an RBI, and two runs for Franklin. Mucciarone got the win, allowed just one hit and one walk, striking out nine in six scoreless innings.

Taunton, 1 @ King Philip, 4 – Final – Behind some early offense and strong pitching, King Philip picked up its biggest win of the year by knocking off visiting Taunton, 4-1. The Warriors plated three runs in the second inning to take an early lead that they never surrendered. Tommy Martorano singled in Rudy Gately (leadoff walk), Leo Dowling squeezed in Aiden Astorino (single) from third, and Brendan Sencaj had a two-out RBI to extend the lead to 3-0. That was enough run support for Gately, who only allowed four hits and two walks, and just one run in the sixth inning while striking out four in a complete game. Gately helped his own cause with an RBI single in the fifth; Taunton got on the board on a sacrifice fly from Ryan MacDougall, scoring Brayden Cali (leadoff walk).

Sharon @ Stoughton – Postponed to TBD.

Softball
Attleboro, 0 @ North Attleboro, 4 – Final – Kelly Colleran tossed a no-hitter, walking two batters, and facing just two over the minimum o lift North to a win over its rival. Colleran also had a pair of hits, scored a run, and drove in one. Maddie Bailey drove in a pair for the Rocketeers. Emily Tucker had a pair of hits, while Molly Willey and Emma Hanwell each had one. Willey contributed to the no-hitter with three assists from third base.

Canton, 8 @ Mansfield, 9 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game.

Franklin @ Milford – Postponed to Wednesday, 5/24 at 3:45.

Sharon, 4 @ Stoughton, 5 – Final – Stoughton rallied for three runs in the bottom of the sixth to avoid an upset bid from visiting Sharon. The Eagles jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first before Stoughton got right back in it with two runs in the bottom half. Sharon tacked on an insurance run in the third and it stayed that way until the Black Knights were able to push across three runs to take the lead for good. In the bottom of the sixth, Camryn Whitman had a one-out single and Kerry Driscoll reached on a fielder’s choice; both came into score after a single and error off the bat of Caitlin Driscoll. Angelina Barry’s squeeze bunt brought Driscoll home for the go-ahead run. Manasa Josyula tossed a complete game for Sharon, striking out five and helped the cause offensively with an RBI. Sam Dunham, Ayanna Vega, and Danika McNamara each had an RBI for the Eagles.

Boys Lacrosse
King Philip, 9 @ Bridgewater-Raynham, 4 – Final – King Philip notched a good non-league win over Bridgewater-Raynham behind a strong defensive effort and a good performance in net from James Boldy. Boldy made 12 saves in the win, helping KP stake a 6-3 win at halftime; the Warriors went on to outscore the hosts 3-1 the rest of the way. Donovan DeVellis had a seven-point performance to pace KP, netting four goals along with three assists while Hayden Schmitz added four points with a pair of goals and assists. Noah Minkwitz chipped in with two goals and one helper, Mason Thompson scored once, and Tommy Kilroy notched three assists in the win.

Oliver Ames, 13 @ Boston Latin, 8 – Final – Oliver Ames picked up its second win in as many days, taking a non-league decision over Boston Latin. A day after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime, OA’s Ben Reardon stayed hot on the offensive end with five goals. Ryan Jaco and Shaun Teehan each had a hat trick in the win, Alex McAndrew chipped in with a pair of goals, and Noah Isleib collected 12 saves for the Tigers.

Girls Lacrosse
Milford, 14 @ Oliver Ames, 12 – Final – Milford opened the scoring to the game and never trailed the rest of the way, keeping the lead over the Tigers until the end. A balanced scoring attack helped the visiting Scarlet Hawks stake a 9-7 lead at halftime; Emily Croteau led the way with five goals and TJ Downing added a hat trick in the win. Alexa Landry and Ava Lebel both chipped in with a pair of goals, and Erin Michelson, Yasmin Martinez, and Jordan Douglas each scored once. Caitlyn Bangert made six saves in the win.

Boys Tennis
North Attleboro, 3 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final – In an epic rivalry battle, North Attleboro got all three wins from matches that went three sets to secure a close win over Attleboro. Senior Brody Carter prevailed from a terrific first singles duel with a 7-6 (5_, 4-6, 6-3 win, Quinn DiFiore overcame a one-set deficit at third singles for a 5-7, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4) marathon win, and the team of Brody Gaulin and Carson Dameron rallied back to take a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 win at first doubles. Attleboro’s Tyler Rocchio earned a 6-2, 6-2 win at second singles, and the Bombardiers’ second doubles team of Noem Cook and Clay Tyler dropped just one game in a 6-1, 6-0 verdict.

Canton, 1 @ Mansfield, 4 – Final – Mansfield took a pair of wins from both singles and doubles action to secure a win over visiting Canton. Junior Nikhil Nain took a 6-2, 6-4 win at second singles and junior Iniyan Karruppusami added a 6-3, 6-0 third singles victory. The Hornets’ first doubles pairing of Jake Weiner and Josh Weiner won in straight sets (6-2, 6-3), and the all-freshmen second doubles team of Justin Curtis and Kingston Carey snagged a 7-5, 6-2 win for the Hornets. Canton junior Max Kupferman had another impressive showing, taking home a 6-3, 6-1 win at first singles.

King Philip, 2 @ Taunton, 3 – Final – A doubles sweep plus a win at third singles lifted Taunton to a win at home over visiting King Philip. Heitor Sens continued his impressive campaign with a 6-2, 6-1 win at third singles, the team of Collin Lofgren and Derek Desseault added a 6-2, 6-4 first doubles victory, and the team of Rowan Kimmer and Kenny Dias prevailed from second doubles with a 6-2, 6-4 win. KP’s Luke Bailer won 6-4, 6-3 at first singles and Arjun Kollu emerged from second singles with a 6-3, 6-0 win.

Foxboro @ Oliver Ames – – Postponed to TBD.
Milford @ Franklin – Postponed to TBD.
Sharon @ Stoughton – Postponed to Friday, 5/5 at 3:45.

Girls Tennis
Attleboro, 2 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final – By taking a pair of wins in single action and one more from doubles, North Attleboro edged out rival Attleboro with a 3-2 decision. Lauren Hunt continued her impressive season for the Rocketeers, rolling to a 6-0, 6-0 win at first singles while Megan Atwood dropped just a pair of games in a 6-1, 6-1 second singles victory. North Attleboro added a third win from Liz Silva and Audrey Noreck, who clinched a 6-1, 6-2 first doubles win. Attleboro’s Aaron Sodhani earned a 6-2, 6-4 win at third singles while the sophomore team of Katie Lortos and Julia Leonardo added a 6-3, 6-3 win for the Bombardiers.

Taunton, 0 @ King Philip, 5 – Final – King Philip senior Caroline Freese capped off a three-hour battle with a comeback win in three sets, helping the Warriors complete a sweep over Taunton. Freese rallied from a one-set deficit to win two in a row, taking the win at third singles 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5). Ahunna James added another impressive result with a 6-0, 6-0 first singles verdict, junior Shea Mellman prevailed from a good battle at second singles with a 6-4, 6-2 win, the team of seniors Carlie Burns and Priya Riar added a 6-3, 6-4 first doubles win, and senior Lauren Casper and sophomore Jaelyn Dang overcame a one-set deficit for a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 decision at second doubles.

Mansfield @ Canton – Postponed to TBD.
Oliver Ames @ Foxboro – Postponed to TBD.
Franklin @ Milford – Postponed to TBD.
Stoughton @ Sharon – Postponed to Friday, 5/5 at 3:45.

Boys Volleyball
Milford, 3 @ Taunton, 1 – Final

11/02/2022

Stoughton Surges Past Holyoke With Strong Set Starts

Stoughton volleyball — Stoughton sophomore Reagan Lewis goes up for an attack in the first set against Holyoke. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

STOUGHTON, Mass. — For the first two sets of Wednesday’s Division 2 preliminary round, the Stoughton volleyball team couldn’t find its footing, and the Black Knights couldn’t get out of their own way.

But in the last two sets, Stoughton couldn’t do anything wrong.

Buoyed by incredible starts to the third and fourth sets, the 27th-seeded Black Knights earned a 3-1 (25-17, 17-25, 25-6, 25-9) win over #38 Holyoke to advance in the state tournament.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Although Stoughton got a win in the first set, they didn’t make it easy on themselves. A kill from sophomore Reagan Lewis (18 kills) pushed the hosts’ lead to eight at 16-8 but mistakes and unforced errors saw that lead shrink to three before Stoughton closed it out with a 5-0 run.

The unforced errors and passing mistakes carried over to the second set, and even with Stoughton staying close with the visiting Purple Knights for the majority of the set, Holyoke middle Rhina Cortes Rodriguez proved to be too much and the visitors finished the set with an 11-1 run to even the match.

That clearly served as a wake-up call for Stoughton. Of the next 65 points between the final two sets, the Black Knights won 50 of them.

“We talk about it all the time, it feels like we have to get down a little before we really turn it on,” said Stoughton head coach Felicia Baptista. “But they are really driven by being the underdogs so after they won that second set, we kind of woke up and just started communicating better.

“I felt like we were playing down for the first two sets and letting them feed off of our errors. Once we cleaned up those mistakes, we got it going.”

It all started with the serving of sophomore Angelina Barry. who had three aces and two more serves that weren’t returned to set the tone. Lewis added three early kills and a 9-0 start prompted a timeout from Holyoke.

Lewis had a team-high 18 kills, filling in as an outside hitter for the Knights, who were without their starting two outsides in juniors Maya Ashu and Annalia Eschleman.

“She’s been awesome for us because she can play anywhere in the front row,” Baptista said. “We can put her in the middle, we can put her at the outside. And tonight she really stepped up as an underclassman when we needed her most with our two starting outsides out hurt.”

But the break couldn’t deter Barry and the Black Knights. Lewis had back-to-back kills off sets from Ella Holden, senior Jessie Queeney followed a kill with a big block at the net, Barry landed another ace, and Queeney dropped in a roll shot to push the run to 16-0 to start the third set.

A hitting mistake out of Holyoke’s second time finally ended Stoughton’s run but Lewis restored momentum for the hosts with a pair of kills, the latter coming off a pass from senior Patrik Oliveira and a set from freshman Natalia Borges, who then landed three straight aces to close out the third, 25-6.

It was unlikely that Stoughton could have a better start to the fourth set than it did in the third with a 16-0 run, but the Black Knights managed to top it.

This time it was Holden at the helm, serving Stoughton to an incredible 20-0 run to essentially run away with the win. Holden had three aces early on, a pair of other strong serves batted around before being knocked out, Queeney had a block kill, and Lewis had two kills for a quick 11-0 run.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Oliveira landed a back row kill, Holden dropped in another ace, and even a pass from Queeney found a hole in the defense to make it 17-0. Back-to-back cross court kills from Queeney and Lewis made it 20-0 before a hitting error got the Purple Knights on the board. Despite a little run from the visitors, senior Mia Marangos got a big block on a free ball and junior Alyssa Edwards smashed a kill for the final point to clinch the match.

“This is huge to host and win a playoff game,” Baptista said. “We always have a big program and I feel like it’s continuing to grow because we’re doing more youth programs so to be able to host this game and have the community out supporting is huge to help continue to grow.”

Stoughton volleyball (9-10) is set to travel to #6 Melrose on Friday with a 6:30 start for an MIAA Division 2 First Round matchup.

09/10/202109/10/2021

2021 Hockomock League Volleyball Preview

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2021 Hockomock Volleyball Preview

Attleboro

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.”

2021 Hockomock Volleyball Preview

Canton

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!”

Foxboro

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.”

2021 Hockomock Volleyball Preview

Franklin

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.

King Philip

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!”

2021 Hockomock Volleyball Preview

Mansfield

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.

Milford

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.

2021 Hockomock Volleyball Preview

North Attleboro

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.”

2021 Hockomock Volleyball Preview

Oliver Ames

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!”

Sharon

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.”

Stoughton

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.”

2021 Hockomock Volleyball Preview Photo

Taunton

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.