Foxboro sophomore Ava Hill and senior Mallorie Meyer go up for a block in the second set against Greater Lowell Tech. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
FOXBORO, Mass. — Rewind a month ago and the Foxboro volleyball team was sitting at 1-9; hosting a playoff game certainly seemed like a pipe dream.
Ten matches later, Foxboro was on the winning side six times and pushed the Davenport division champions Oliver Ames and perennial powerhouse Canton to five sets in defeat.
And now, the 14th-seeded Warriors walked off their home court with a 3-0 sweep (25-16, 25-22, 25-17) over #19 Greater Lowell Tech.
“I think the turning point [of the season] was the first Oliver Ames game when we took them to five [sets] and I think the girls were shocked at their performance and really started to believe in themselves,” said Foxboro head coach Vicki Santana. “They started having fun with it and we carried that energy into the next games. That’s when we started winning, starting taking teams to five that we never had before. This was really exciting for us.”
Foxboro avenged losses to Mansfield, Sharon, and Stoughton in October. The Warriors also were undefeated against non-league opponents, picking up a pair of wins over Walpole and Braintree. On top of their five-set thriller at OA, the Warriors went on the road and pushed Canton to the brink as well.
“I think their confidence level, they believe they can do anything now,” Santana said. “They are having more fun, they are shaking things off. They have been willing to run some plays, if they make a mistake they are shaking it off easier than before, not getting down on each other or themselves. The whole morale of the team has been brought up.”
After earning a 2-0 lead in the match, Foxboro found itself in an early hole in the third set, falling behind 7-1. While this might have deterred the Warriors at the start of the season, they dug themselves out of the hole with a 9-2 burst.
Mallorie Meyer landed a kill and then Alyssa Cloherty (16 assists, seven digs) took over, finding a hole in the defense with a one-handed dump on the second ball, then finding Juliana Pettigrew for back-to-back kills — the former off a great pass from Shannon McElhiney, and then landed back-to-back aces to tie it at 9-9.
Foxboro fell behind 11-10 but didn’t make many mistakes down the stretch. Good defense put pressure on the visiting Gryphons and a handful of hitting errors plus a solid defensive play by Gianna Dunne gave Foxboro a 16-11 lead.
A nice top from Pettiegew and a good serve from Cloherty pushed Foxboro’s lead to 23-14. Meyer added consecutive kills, the latter from the back row, and a service error from the visitors clinched the win.
“They realized they need to play as hard as they can, it’s not a time to let up after taking the first two sets,” Santana said of digging out of the early deficit. “They fought back and kept that fight going until the end. The passing got better, the hits were stronger. [Greater Lowell Tech’s] competition level was up too, they started blocking us more in the middle and we had to adjust. We really started to have to look for the holes in their defense.”
It was a balanced attack for the hosts throughout the first two sets. Foxboro gained some separation early on in the opening set, a pair of aces from Sami Sloan (seven kills), a kill from Pettigrew, and blocks from Meyers and Ava Kirk presented the Warriors with a 15-7 lead. An ace and another Sloan kill pushed it to 17-9 and the Warriors didn’t look back.
Ava Hill had a strong swing from the right side and Dunne landed an ace to give Foxboro a 25-16 win for a 1-0 advantage.
Sloan carried the momentum into the second set with some early aces from Sydney Lebow and a kill from Sloan as Foxboro built a five-point lead, but Greater Lowell Tech continued to crawl back and tied it 10-10. An ace from Pettigrew kept Foxboro in front, and two great serves in a row from Cloherty gave the Warriors some breathing room. The Gryphons once again closed the gap to make it 20-20 but a big swing from Hill led to a block from Kirk, and Meyer added two aces to give Foxboro a 25-22 win and a 2-0 lead.
“They do a great job moving the ball around,” Santana said. “I’m lucky because I have one of the best setters in the Hock [Alyssa Cloherty], the ball comes out of her hands so perfectly. She has confidence in all of her hitters so she does move it around. And she runs different things with each of them, slides and quick sets to the middle, all of these different things they’ve gotten the confidence to do, they are really working together so well.”
Foxboro volleyball (8-13) awaits the winner of #3 Newburyport (17-3) and #30 Bishop Fenwick (8-13), who play on Friday evening.
Franklin, 2 @ Newton South, 0 – Final – Franklin scored once in each half to earn a massive road win against a fellow Div. 1 title contender. Olivia Costa opened the scoring in the first half, finishing a feed from Tori Carmignani. Kelly O’Connor scored from a Katie Ewald corner in the second half to secure the points in a hard-fought, physical matchup. Rachel Welch made eight saves for Franklin. Newton South came into Tuesday’s game as the third-ranked team in D1.
Field Hockey
Attleboro, 2 @ Canton, 1 – Final – Attleboro scored its biggest win of the season, going on the road and knocking off Hock powerhouse Canton. Audrey Koen scored in the first quarter to give the Bulldogs the early advantage but Siobhan Landers answered off a corner in the second quarter to bring the Bombardiers level. Landers found the back of the net again in the third and Siany Ortez (12 saves) and the Attleboro defense pitched a second half shutout to close out the win. Alyvia Bessette, Marley Young, and Jordan Mooney each had an assist in the win. “A collective massive team win today,” said Attleboro head coach Jess Pink. “There was no one player that stood out as the defense worked together to secure the win and resist a lot of Canton pressure at the end of the game. The middies fed the offense and came up with some big block tackles to maintain position.”
Franklin, 13 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Franklin’s Kaitlyn Carney recorded a hat trick and both Shaw Downing and Haley Wernig scored a pair of goals in a big win on the road.
King Philip, 2 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – King Philip scored less than a minute into each the first and second quarter and that proved to be enough in a close battle on the road at Mansfield. Sophomore Makenzie McDevitt opened the scoring just 57 seconds into the contest, and KP took a 1-0 lead into the second quarter. This time, it took just 19 seconds for McDevitt to find the back of the net and double the advantage. Mansfield made a game of it when Emma Redding scored at 11:32 of the second quarter, finishing off an assist from Kristina Kipp on a corner. The Warriors applied a lot of pressure in the second to try and add to its lead, but couldn’t solve Mansfield goalie Lily Danehy (18 saves) again.
Milford @ Oliver Ames, 3:45
North Attleboro, 8 @ Sharon, 1 – Final – After scoring twice in the first quarter, North Attleboro exploded for five goals in the second quarter in a big win on the road at Sharon. Ava Spencer scored the opener goal midway through the first quarter and finished the game with a pair of goals and a pair of assists. Caroline Folan and Julia Puccio (one assist) both added two goals while Madison Folan and Ella Luistro each scored once. Olivia LeBlanc scored a fourth quarter goal for Sharon.
Taunton, 0 @ Foxboro, 7 – Final – Following a scoreless first quarter, Foxboro staked a 3-0 lead by halftime and then exploded for four goals in the fourth quarter to secure a big win. Ella Campbell scored a pair of goals just two minutes apart, finishing off a pass from Mary Collins for the first goal of the game three minutes into the second quarter, and then scoring unassisted at 10:24. Mya Waryas added an unassisted goal with just over two minutes to go in the first half to make it 3-0. Paige Curran extended Foxboro’s lead 90 seconds into the final frame and then Collins scored a hat trick in the final 12 minutes with Kaelin Connors, Campbell, and Mia DiNunzio each recording an assist.
Volleyball
Taunton, 3 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – Taunton overcame a one-set deficit by winning three straight to secure a 3-1 (20-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-21) win on the road at Foxboro. The Warriors jumped out to a lead with a win in the first set but the Tigers evened the match at 1-1 and then took a very close third set to gain momentum in the win. Sayla DePinra had a big game for the Tigers with nine kills and one block, Hayley Krockta added eight kills and 12 digs, and Morgan Smith chipped in with five kills and a pair aces. Courtney Martin had a good serving game with nine aces along with eight digs, and Anna Abouzeid had a strong all-around performance with 25 assists, seven digs, six aces, and four kills. For Foxboro, Juliana Pettigrew (15 kills, seven digs) and Ava Kirk (nine kills, three blocks, two aces) paced the offense while Shannon McElhinney (18 digs, seven aces) and Gianna Dunne (11 digs, ace) anchored the Warriors’ defense.
Milford, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – Oliver Ames defended its home court, recording a 3-0 sweep (25-12, 25-19, 25-22) over visiting Milford. Senior Maddie Homer recorded 19 digs, junior Sarah Hilliard notched 13 kills, sophomore Ava Barth had a big day serving with 18 service points, and junior Paula Romero had a strong game for the Tigers.
King Philip, 3 @ Mansfield, 0 – Final – King Philip opened with a dominating first set and never looked back in a sweep on the road at Mansfield, 3-0 (25-8, 25-16, 25-16). Seniors Emily Sawyer (seven aces) and Sami Shore (two aces) paced the offense with nine kills apiece, seniors Ahunna James (nine digs, four kills, three aces) and Olivia O’Neil (four kills, four digs) both had strong all-around games, and junior Ava Kelley anchored the defense with eight digs. Elyssa Buchanan had four kills and a block for the Hornets while Lauren Rubicine (seven digs) and Gabrielle Moore (eight digs) played well defensively for the Hornets.
Boys Cross Country
King Philip, 24 @ Milford, 31 – Final – King Philip’s Nate Sylven took first overall and the Warriors had five of the top eight runners to get a win on the road over Milford. Sylven won in 17:02 while Owen Mackenzie (18:59), Eliot Davis (19:12), and Max Miller (19:13) took fourth, fifth, and sixth overall, respectively for KP. Paxton Hubert (19:34) rounded out the scoring for the visitors, taking eighth overall.
Canton, 38 @ Oliver Ames, 19 – Final – The top harrier for the Bulldogs was Luke Darling, who took fourth overall with a time of 18:59. Also running strong races and career bests for Canton were Austin DiBiasio (20:05) and Maks Alves (20:16), who finished seventh and ninth, respectively.
Sharon @ Foxboro, 3:45
Mansfield, 15 @ Stoughton, 48 – Final – Mansfield took the top five spots on its way to a sweep of Stoughton. Junior Talon Johnson won his fourth race of the season, finishing in 18:00 while sophomore Ben Dury took fourth place in 19:12.
Attleboro, 41 @ Taunton, 17 – Final
Franklin @ North Attleboro, 3:45
Girls Cross Country
King Philip, 21 @ Milford, 34 – Final – King Philip took four of the first five spots, and five of the top seven on its way to a win over the Scarlet Hawks. Sydney Kalil continued her winning ways for Milford but the next four runners to cross were from KP: Kate Buban taking second overall (20:32) followed by Rachel Bailer, Leah Burke, and Keira Evans. Bridget Swezey (seventh) and Kat Precobb also ran well for the Warriors.
Canton, 50 @ Oliver Ames, 15 – Final – Canton’s top runner was Johanna Bouwmeester, running 24:04. She was followed by a strong pack of Bulldogs including Klara Redquest, Tahlia Weaver, Honesty Johnson, Nishka Baduamanda, and Tema Mazonson.
Sharon @ Foxboro, 3:45
Mansfield, 26 @ Stoughton, 30 – Final – Mansfield’s Anna Moore picked up her fourth win of the season as the Hornets secured a close victory over Stoughton. Senior Alexis DiVasta was fourth and sophomore Sierra Wojick took sixth for the Hornets.
Attleboro, 43 @ Taunton, 16 – Final
Franklin, 18 @ North Attleboro, 45 – Final – Franklin’s Alex Batla and Fiona Morrison took the top two spots and rounded out its scoring with five of the top six runners to clinch the Kelley-Rex division title. Batla won in 20:45 with Morrison crossing at 20:46. Vivienne Loukota, Katie Sweeney, and Carli Walbert took fourth, fifth, and sixth overall, respectively, to give the Panthers the win.
Golf
King Philip, 145 @ Stoughton, 177 – Final – King Philip junior Ethan Sullivan fired a medalist round to lead the Warriors to a win on the road over Stoughton at Easton Country Club. Sullivan carded a 35, Gavin Croke and Cam Hasenfus each shot 36 on the day, and freshmen Jason Silva and Evan Regan each carded a 38. For Stoughton, James Spector shot a 40 and Joe Rush finished with a 43.
Oliver Ames, 162 @ Mansfield, 158 – Final – Mansfield earned its biggest win of the season, handing Oliver Ames its first loss of the season and clinching a share of the Davenport division alongside the Tigers. Nate McClean had a great performance at Norton Country Club, firing a 37 to earn medalist honors in the win. Cody Nieratko and Brendan Vokey each finished at 40 for the day and Davon Sanders, who had an eagle on the ninth hole to help clinch the win, finished at 41. Sean Kearns, David Rodgers, and Daniel Paul all shot a 40 for Oliver Ames while Ryan Smith chipped in with a 42.
Taunton, 175 @ Franklin, 150 – Final – Franklin won its final division match of the season to finish tied in first, clinching a share of the Kelley-Rex division crown along with King Philip. Jack Hagerty had a pair of birdies and finished with a medalist round of 36 to lead the Panthers. Matt Cacciapaglia (two birdies), Brendan Collins (one birdie), and CJ Steel (one birdie) each came in with a 38 for Franklin. Logan Letourneau led the way for Taunton with a 41.
Sharon, 164 @ Milford, 150 – Final – Milford returned home after a five-match road trip and secured a win at Hopedale Country Club, taking down visiting Sharon. Junior Anthony LaPierre fired a two-under par round of 33 to lead the way for the Hawks, earning match medalist honors. Jacob Hipolito added a 38 and Nate Lawrence finished with a 39 in the win. Sharon’s Dylan Cummings shot a team-low round of 39.
Girls Soccer
Foxboro, 2 @ Walpole, 2 – Final – After allowing a late goal on Monday in a draw against North, Foxboro scored in the final minute on Tuesday to earn a point on the road at Walpole. Lauren Miley got Foxboro’s first goal, finishing a free kick from Erin Foley. With less than a minute to play, Neve Taylor scored off a Lindsey Resnick pass (the same combo from Monday’s game) to rescue a result for the Warriors. Keeper Allie Sougaris had another strong game for Foxboro.
Field Hockey
Mansfield, 6 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – Mansfield built a big lead early with four goals in the first quarter, then tacked on two more in the final quarter to secure a win over Sharon. Lola Varricchione opened the scoring for the Hornets, Kristina Kipp scored back-to-back goals, and Ella Palanza capped Mansfield’s first quarter scoring to make it 4-0. Danni Cuzzi and Rose Maher each scored once in the fourth quarter while Ava Adams finished the game with two assists.
Volleyball
Foxboro, 3 vs. Walpole, 0 – Final – After a tough five-set loss on Monday, Foxboro bounced back with a clean sweep on Tuesday, taking down Walpole, 3-0 (27-25, 25-23, 25-17). Alyssa Cloherty dished out 28 assists and added six digs and four aces, Ava Kirk had a big day with nine kills, and Mallorie Meyer finished with 13 digs, five kills, four aces, and two blocks.
Boys Cross Country
North Attleboro, 39 @ Taunton, 19 – Final – For the second straight race, Taunton’s Brayden Cali (17:17) and Andrew Cali (17:25) took the top two spots, and Jack Pawlowski took third as the Tigers ran away with a win over North Attleboro. Aiden Zamora (sixth) and Daris Alves (seventh) rounded out the scoring for the Tigers. William Atwood was North’s top runner, clocking in at 18:22 for fourth overall while Brady King (18:25) was fifth.
Canton, 38 @ Sharon, 20 – Final – Canton’s top runner was Sam Vail (third overall), who ran a career best of 18:28 over the 5K course at Ward’s Berry Farm. Luke Darling (18:42) and Austin DiBiasio (20:06) also ran career best times for the Bulldogs.
Stoughton, 49 @ Foxboro, 15 – Final
Oliver Ames, 19 @ Mansfield, 38 – Final
Milford, 20 @ Franklin, 43 – Final – Milford’s Sydney Kalil took first place by nearly a minute but Franklin followed with 11 straight runners to get the win over the Scarlet Hawks. Ashley Tighe and Abigail Baker were Franklin’s top two runners, taking second and third overall, respectively. Alex Batla, Fiona Morrison, and Carli Walbert rounded out the scoring for Franklin with fourth, fifth, and sixth place finishes.
Girls Cross Country
North Attleboro, 31 @ Taunton, 26 – Final – Taunton used a one-two finish to collect a close win over visiting North Attleboro. Emersyn DePonte crossed the finish line in 20:04 to take first and Colby Dunham followed at 20:13 for second overall.
Canton, 44 @ Sharon, 18 – Final – Sophomore Tahlia Weaver was Canton’s top runner, taking third overall and finishing in 22:59. Johanna Bouwmeester (23:46) and Klara Redquest (24:12), who placed eighth and 10th respectively, also had strong races for the Bulldogs.
Stoughton, 36 @ Foxboro, 21 – Final
Oliver Ames, 18 @ Mansfield, 45 – Final
Milford @ Franklin, 3:45
Golf
Milford, 160 @ Franklin, 142 – Final – Franklin bounced back from a loss on Monday by taking down division foe Milford at Franklin Country Club on Tuesday. CJ Steel had third birdies and Tyler O’Brien had two, each finishing at 35 for the day to earn medalist honors. Brendan Collins (three birdies) and Jack Hagerty (two birdies) both finished at 36 to round out the scoring for the Panthers. Anthony LaPierre and David Fleming each shot a 39 for the Hawks while Jacob Hipilito, Tyler Caldon, and Eric Farrell each shot a 41.
Oliver Ames, 154 @ Canton, 163 – Final – Oliver Ames stayed atop the standings in the Davenport division, securing a win on the road over Canton at Blue Hill Country Club. Battling the wind and rain, as well as the Bulldogs, the Tigers had a strong showing. Senior Michael McGinnis and sophomore Braden Shapiro each shot a 38 on the day to share medalist honors for OA, while juniors Lucas Riley and Ryan Smith each finished with a 39. Canton’s Huck McCready had a team-best round of 40 while Brendan Tourgee, Joey Ryan, and Gavin McMahon each shot a 41.
North Attleboro, 161 @ Taunton, 183 – Final – North Attleboro senior Jake Gaskin had a great performance, battling the elements to card a medalist round of 36 to lead the Rocketeers to a win on the road over Taunton at Segregansett Country Club. Sophomore Tyson Laviano added a 40 in the win, Ishan Kohli added a 41, and Jordan Paradis rounded out the scoring for the visitors with a 44. Taunton sophomore Alex Dias had a strong showing, shooting a team-low round of 42.
Franklin will be looking for another league title this fall. Check out our team-by-team breakdown of the upcoming Hockomock League volleyball season. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2021 Record: 9-10 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32 Coach: Mary Katherine Runey
For the first time in more than a decade, Attleboro got the taste of playoff volleyball and the Bombardiers have younger players stepping into leadership positions that will give them a solid foundation for another tournament run. There is excitement around the program and opening the new gym has added another layer to the fall.
One of the reasons for the energy in the team is sophomore outside hitter Julia Leonardo, who jumped in as a freshman and became one of the most dynamic hitters in the league. Junior setter Natalie Brojek has been an all-around standout for the past two seasons and makes the team click. Senior Tigin Bombardier will give Attleboro experience in the middle.
Those are the only three returning players from last year, but there are several new faces that could make an instant impact. Sophomores Addison and Ellie Shelton are new hitters that will give depth on the outside. Juniors Sadie Whitmarsh and Julia Mondello will provide defensive solidity to the back line.
“The level of success we achieved last season certainly changed the tone of our entire program, and I believe our future is bright,” said Attleboro coach Mary Katherine Runey. “As a young team, we have spent the past two weeks learning how to play together and in the next few weeks, we will need to learn how to win together. As we progress through the season, our goal is to minimize errors in order to efficiently run our offense and showcase the talent within our team.”
2021 Record: 15-7 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 16 Coach: Pat Cawley
Canton has established itself as one of the perennial powers year in and year out, and one thing that comes with that territory is graduating a handful of talented seniors each year. Last year was no exception, but Hall of Fame coach Pat Cawley has shown time and time again she will have a competitive squad that’s much better by the end of the season than the start.
The Bulldogs graduated all but two starters, bringing back juniors Jess Wright at outside hitter and Fatima Sidibay at middle blocker. Cawley will be leaning heavily on them for their guidance of a young and inexperienced squad. Wright isn’t just one of the best outside hitters, she can play just about anywhere on the court and showed tremendous growth throughout last season. After showing off some great blocking skills last year, the Dogs will look for some more offensive production on swings from the middle from Sidibay. Senior captain Liana Lamparelli and sophomore Sally Hoban will provide depth offensively.
Defensively, Canton is looking at sophomore defensive specialist Zoe Scibelli, who saw meaningful minutes in the back row a year ago. Haley Duhaime, Liz Beale, Neveah Osborne, and Riley Costa round out the senior class and will contribute valuable minutes for Canton this year.
“We have many moving parts at this point but the young, inexperienced group is willing to work hard and anxious to learn,” Cawley said. “Three setters and several defensive players are vying for time on the court. The growth potential is exponential and it will be fun to watch the progression. The extremely competitive Hock will help accelerate the learning curve!”
2021 Record: 4-17 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 3 Round of 32 Coach: Vicki Santana
With 11 seniors returning to the roster this year, Foxboro is looking to have a bounce-back year and return to the state tournament with an improved rating in the MIAA’s statewide system.
The Warriors have key pieces back at all spots on the court and head coach Vicki Santana is optimistic about the season after a strong showing so far this preseason. Sami Sloan led the squad with 111 kills last season and is back as one of the outside hitters along with Juliana Pettigrew (88 kills) and Ava Hill. Foxboro also has both of its middles back with Mallorie Meyer, a Hock all star a year ago with 80 kills and 46 aces, and Ava Kirk both returning.
Defensively, the Warriors have their libero back in the lineup in senior Shannon McElhinney, who had 157 digs last year and was a Hock honorable mention selection.
“All of these players bring a love for the sport and determination to win,” Santana said. “We only graduated two seniors last year so we are hoping that with most of the team being returning varsity players we will have a very competitive season. So far the team has been playing great at our preseason scrimmages so hopefully, we carry that energy into our first game vs Milford!”
2021 Record: 18-2 (Kelley-Rex co-champion) 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Final Four Coach: Samantha Redmond
Although Franklin only graduated a small number of seniors from last year’s team that made the Division 1 state semifinals, the Panthers lost a lot of production.
Gone are Caitlyn Mackintosh, last year’s HockomockSports Player of the Year, Lindsey Tarantola, a league all star that led the league in blocks, and Brigid Earley, one of the top middles in the Hock. But this isn’t the first time the Panthers have lost a talented senior class, multiple all stars, or even an MVP – and they’ve always found a way to come back and compete as a top team in the league.
Three-year starter Taylor Lacerda returns to pace the offense, leading the Panthers in kills a year ago as a sophomore with 155. She’s the lone six rotation returner in the group so head coach Samantha Redmond – who picked up a boost on the bench with the addition of former head coach Kelsey Weymouth as an assistant – will be looking for new faces to step into key roles at the net.
There will be some changes along the backline as senior Meghan Linkkila will move from the libero position to take over as the setter, and classmate and fellow captain Georgia Harvey, who was a defensive specialist last year, will take on the libero role.
“Franklin volleyball is really excited to continue our hard work this year,” Redmond said. “We lost a strong four seniors last year but we are confident that this new class of players will bring a lot of diversity to our offense and defense. We look forward to proving ourselves in the Hockomock once again!”
2021 Record: 22-2 (Kelley-Rex co-champion) 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Final Four Coach: Kristen Geuss
King Philip has shared the Kelley-Rex title for the past three seasons and with a senior-laden roster, the Warriors look ready to make a push for another division crown. After a run to the Div. 2 state semifinal. KP has the experience and the depth at the net to be a threat for another deep tournament run.
The Warriors will be strong up front. Senior middle Emily Sawyer made her varsity debut as a junior and immediately became one of the best hitters in the league. The Sacred Heart-commit is an impact player on both sides of the net. Senior Sami Shore gives KP the most dynamic middle pairing in the league and can dominate a match. If teams try to bottle up the middle of the net, then senior Ahunna James can take over on the outside, giving KP great attacking balance. Seniors Olivia O’Neil and Missy Canning add depth at hitter and senior setter Kiera Hagen will run the offense this year.
In addition to the seniors, KP can count on junior right-side Kate O’Neil and juniors Ryann O’Sullivan, Emily Zappala, and Fiona Bailey on the outside. On the back line, juniors Shea Mellman, Ava Kelley, and Meghan Sullivan provide strong defensive play. Sophomore setter Madison Asprelli is a newcomer who could step into a bigger role over the course of the season.
“We are working hard to build on our success from last year,” said KP coach Kristen Geuss. “We have good chemistry and the girls are looking forward to the season.”
2021 Record: 9-8 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32 Coach: Tara DeGirolamo
Making the switch to the Davenport division this season, Mansfield is looking to ride a mix of veterans and new players to some success on the court this year.
Second-year head coach Tara DeGirolamo is excited for the season to get underway as she tries to fit all the right pieces together for her squad. Junior Elyssa Buchanan burst onto the scene as an attacking option last year and will be one of the Hornets’ go-to hitters on the outside along with senior Ella Mahoney. In the middle, Lexie Scibilia will be looking to build on her big season last year (48 blocks) along with senior Lily Campbell.
There are a lot of options at setter with senior captain Isabella Flint (132 assists) back as one of the primary ball handlers with junior Kiera Fitzpatrick and freshman Tessa Blaqueir both in the mix as well. The setters will also have options on the right side with senior captain Lilly Verheggan and junior Anna Goulet taking swings from the opposite side, with senior Savannah Carey and juniors Sophia Capaolupo and Elena O’Keefe providing depth.
Defensively, DeGirolamo will lean on senior libero Jackie Zelic to anchor the defense along with junior defensive specialists Lauren Rubicine and Jocelyn Gibson.
“Our setters have great court awareness and mesh very well with our diverse group of hitters,” DeGirolamo said. “We’re excited for the season.”
2021 Record: 8-11 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32 Coach: Tammy Webber
Between a handful of varsity returners and a group of eager new faces ready to make their mark, Milford is looking to challenge in the Kelley-Rex and book a spot in the state tournament.
The heart of the Hawks will be in the middle of the lineup with the team’s leader in kills from a year ago Aliza Syed back to anchor both the offense and the defense. She had a breakout season with 187 kills, 61 aces, and 34 blocks, which were all first on the team. She will be flanked by junior Maeve Driscoll on the outside, who jumps into the starting lineup this year and will play in the back row as well. Senior Molly Hartman provides depth at the outside hitter spot.
“[Aliza] will be counted on to carry us in those categories once again this season,” said Milford head coach Tammy Webber. “She is strong and athletic with a tough serve and can hit with power.”
Milford also returns its starting setter in senior captain Emily Croteau, who finished inside the top five in the league in assists last season. Having a year of experience under her belt, the Hawks will lean on her confidence and skill to spread the ball around and run the offense. Senior defensive specialist Carley Haley will anchor the backline.
2021 Record: 9-10 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32 Coach: Rachel Gould
After making a push for a playoff spot last season, North Attleboro will make a change on the sidelines as Rachel Gould takes over this fall. The Rocketeers will also be returning to the ultra-competitive Kelley-Rex division and with five varsity players back in the lineup North will be looking to fight for another tournament spot.
The senior class will need to provide leadership for the new faces in this year’s squad. Senior Avery Bitar will give the team a defensive solidity as the libero. Senior Grace Dirschel is the returning setter from last season and senior Sarah Kayata is another strong backline player that should help North keep points alive.
Up front, seniors Haley Carr and Mariah Barbosa are returning middle hitters that can step in and swing and also make an impact on the block. Freshman Lincoln Abramaitys will get the chance to shine right from the start as the team’s main outside hitter. Abramaitys is the only underclassman on the roster this year.
“I have a great group of hard-working talented athletes and I think we are going to have a competitive season this year,” Gould explained.
2021 Record: 16-5 (Davenport champion) 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 16 Coach: Chelsea Cunningham
Oliver Ames is ready to get on the court and defend its Davenport division title.
The Tigers know they’ll be challenged by perennial powerhouse Canton, division newcomer Mansfield, a veteran-filled Foxboro squad, and the rest of the division, and they’ll have to overcome the graduation of the versatile Hadley Rhodes, but OA has some top talent returning at almost every position.
Senior Maddie Homer is back for yet another season as the libero to anchor the back line. An All-State selection a year ago, Homer will be joined by junior Rachel Fleischman, another returner, in the back row to give the Tigers an experienced defensive duo.
Offensively, there will be more familiar faces taking swings at the net. Senior captain Courtney Raymond (56 kills, 18 blocks) is back in the middle as one of OA’s primary attackers and she’ll be complemented by a pair of terrific outside hitters in junior Sarah Hilliard (272 kills) and Claire O’Rourke (156 kills). Sophomore Addyson Smock bolsters the middle block while sophomore Clare Kavoulis and junior Paula Romero provide some depth.
“There is something special about this group,” said OA head coach Chelsea Cunningham. “The talent speaks for itself, they’re putting in the work, and they are eager to compete. These girls know everything is “earned not given” – which happens to be our program’s motto this season. With that, they know there’s a lot of work to do to make this the best season yet. If they commit to one another and the goals we set from the start, there’s no doubt in my mind that they’ll do just that.”
2021 Record: 6-14 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32 Coach: Andrea Lovett
It has been two straight impressive seasons for the Sharon volleyball program. Two years ago, during Fall II, the Eagles nearly won a league title and would’ve booked a playoff spot if a tournament was held. Last season, Sharon not only reached the state tournament but also won its first-round match against Revere. With a brand new gym and five seniors on the roster, Sharon will be hoping the momentum carries over to this fall.
Sharon will be counting on the development of its senior hitters. Amanda Brown will be the main target on the outside, while Olivia Nau has been impressive on the right side. The middle should be tough on both sides of the net with junior Jasmine Davis stepping up as both a blocker and hitter and senior Sam Dunham adding depth after her move up from the JV team. Junior Sonja Gray will be the main setter for the team again this season with help from classmate Masha Dolienkova.
The Eagles also have experience on the back line and players with athleticism to keep points alive. Senior Emily Coplan and junior Sophia Pandey will share the libero duties and sophomore Sasha Nierenberg and senior Evelina Kravets will support them as defensive specialists.
“Possibly the most important aspect of this team is their love of the game combined with a great work ethic and the tenacity to stay in the game regardless of the score,” said Sharon coach Andrea Lovett, who returns to the sidelines after being an assistant in 2021. “These kids simply love volleyball and it shows on the court.”
2021 Record: 1-15 2021 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Felicia Baptista
Stoughton is coming off a difficult 2021 season. The Black Knights picked up just one win last fall, but they have several new faces that could step in and get the program heading back into tournament contention. It may be a smaller roster this season, but head coach Felicia Baptista believes the talent and attitude are right to get things kicked off.
Junior Maya Ashu will be one of the primary attacking threats for Stoughton this season. She will be a critical spot in the front row and has developed into a strong hitter. Junior hitter Annalia Eschleman is also back and will give Stoughton more athleticism. Senior Patrik Oliveira has been a standout on the back row and gives the Black Knights all-around play with his quickness and versatility.
Other players that could step into the starting lineup for Stoughton this season are sophomore Reagan Lewis and junior Alyssa Edwards. Both are strong athletes that will give the Black Knights more control of the middle of the net.
“This year our team is much smaller and much more prepared than in past seasons,” said Baptista. “They have been putting in lots of work this year and it shows right from day one.”
2021 Record: 8-14 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32 Coach: Toby Chaperon
Taunton boasts a strong group of seniors, and with the addition of some underclassmen and new additions to the program, the Tigers are looking for an improved campaign in 2022.
Senior middle Hayley Krockta will be a force at the net this season but can play at all spots on the court. She will be one of the best servers on the team and can step right in and pass like a defensive specialist. She’ll be swinging at sets off the fingertips of classmate Anna Abouzied, another returner for the Tigers. Abouzied is a terrific passer in the back row and will also run the offense as the setter.
“Hayley will be a force at the net this year,” said Taunton head coach Toby Chaperon. “And Anna can do it all too, she has the ability to hit and pass very well. We’re looking forward to having a good year.”
Senior Mia Fernandes will provide a boost of energy from the back row as the libero, flying all over the court to keep the play alive, and will be joined by classmate Megan Rose as a defensive specialist. Sayla DePina, another senior, will look to give Taunton some swings from the right side and set the block on opposing outside hitters. Rylie Roderick will add some depth at the net and at the service line for Taunton while head coach Toby Chaperon will look to incorporate transfers Morgan Fitzgerald (opposite/DS) and Julia Mitton (setter).
Juniors Jaden Sabina, Janelle Garcia, and Morgan Smith will all get some swings at the net while classmates Caroline Pietnik, Randi MacLeod, and Courtney Martin provide solid depth. Sophomore Adrianna Amaral has impressed early on this season and will get some swings at middle hitter while eighth grader Sadie Herry will be in the mix as a defensive specialist.
