Franklin senior Rachael Taylor attacks the ball in the second set against Barnstable. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
FRANKLIN, Mass. — Right until the end, Franklin refused to give up.
Barnstable moved within a set of winning the Division 1 state quarterfinal with a dominating third set and had all of the momentum on their side with a 2-1 lead, and an early advantage in the fourth set.
Instead, fourth-seeded Franklin erased a four-point deficit with a 5-1 burst to pull even at 12-12. They took their first lead of the fourth set right out of a timeout and never trailed the rest of the way, outscoring the visiting Red Hawks 18-6 to tie the match at 2-2 and force a deciding fifth set. Barnstable, the fifth seed, pulled away after the switch to secure the 3-2 win and advance to the Division 1 state semifinal.
After splitting the first four sets, each winning in dominating fashion and each winning a close game, the fifth started exactly as one would predict between two of the best teams in the state.
The first 14 points were split right down the middle, with neither team leading by more than a point. A kill from Makayla Kuykendall (12 kills, seven digs) helped Mansfield take a lead at 2-1, and a roll shot down the line from the freshman made it 5-4 in favor of the hosts. Junior Grace Lacerda placed a tip perfectly in to make it 6-6, and a blast down the line from junior Taylor Lacerda made it 7-7. A service error gave the Red Hawks the edge, 8-7, at the switch.
Barnstable middle Lindsay Jones dropped in a tip, came up with a block, found a hole in the Franklin defense with a roll, and then added a kill for a 4-0 run that gave the visitors the separation they needed. Franklin fought off a pair of match points, getting a push from Rachael Taylor and an ace from Taylor Lacerda (14 kills, nine digs) to get within four but the Red Hawks closed it out for the win.
“I’m so happy with the way they played,” said Franklin head coach Samantha Redmond. “In that fifth set, when [Barnstable] went on their four-point run right after we switched sides, it could have been very easy for the girls to throw in the towel but they fought until the very last point. I’m so proud of them for that and for just continuing to fight. Losing is never fun, especially at this point in the season, but they played so well. Barnstable did a great job and we played really well too.”
Although Franklin didn’t have the best start to the match, they showed their fight in the opening set. Barnstable, which brought a large group of supporters on the road, raced out to a 7-0 lead to start things off. But the Panthers were able to shake off the nerves and won 12 of the next 17 points, getting key double blocks from Jennifer Soohoo (12 digs) and Taylor (five kills, three blocks), as well as Sasha Tracey and Grace Lacerda. Aces from Kuykendall and senior libero Georgia Harvey followed by a back row kill from Kuykendall tied it 12-12.
It stayed close the rest of the way, a block from Tracey (33 assists, eight digs) closing the gap to 21-19, but Barnstable had some success swinging from the middle and closed it out 25-21.
Franklin looked like a different team in the second set, finding their groove midway through after an even start. Holding a two-point lead at 9-7, the Panthers rattled off a 9-2 run to pull away. Taylor Lacerda dropped in a tip, had a kill from the right side, and added an ace, Taylor had a block and a tip kill, and Kuykendall had a big kill on an outside swing as Franklin established an 18-9 lead.
Barnstable broke the run with two points but Franklin closed it out with a 5-0 run, a kill from Grace Lacerda (three kills, three blocks) in the middle off a set from Tracey, and then three straight strong serves from Soohoo, including two aces.
The third couldn’t have gone much worse for the Panthers. A kill from Grace Lacerda cut into Barnstable’s lead at 7-4 but the Red Hawks went on an 11-0 run with Franklin committing six unforced errors in that stretch. Franklin finally got back on the board but a 7-3 run closed it out, 25-8.
“It didn’t look good after three but I think it was just about reminding them that they did just play that well in the second set and winning the way they did,” Redmond said. “A loss is a loss, doesn’t matter if it’s by two or however many it was in that third, but you can still work your butt off and come back in the next set.
“They played the game they know how to play in the fourth. We were timid in the third. I don’t care if you miss a point when you’re swinging, I’d be more upset if they just played safe. We wanted to hit the ball, we wanted to play our game.”
A kill from Taylor Lacerda preceded a good serve from Kuykendall, and a tip from Taylor brought Franklin even at 12-12 in the fourth. Harvey recorded an ace, Taylor had a kill off the block, and a kill from Soohoo on the right side made it 17-15 in the fourth. A kill from Kuykendall forced a timeout from the visitors at 20-17, but Grace Lacerda came up with a big block on the first point after the break to keep the momentum with the Panthers. Kuykendall had back-to-back aces and the Lacerda twins combined for a double block to end it, 25-17.
Franklin volleyball finishes the season at 16-4 with three of its losses coming to teams in the state semifinals (Barnstable, Lincoln-Sudbury, and King Philip) and the fourth on the road at Attleboro, who made the Round of 8. It was another strong season for the Panthers, who deployed a mostly new lineup this season.
“We didn’t just lose four seniors [from last year], they were four huge seniors that started and played every second of every game,” Redmond said. “We had a lot of young blood getting minutes in this year. They had to go through that growing process, kind of like a growth spurt. It was a bit of a roller coaster, a lot of things happened this year but I think it brought them together and brought them closer. It taught them to work together and to trust one another. You can’t win alone, in volleyball you have to rely on your teammates because you physically can’t do it yourself.”
Franklin junior goes up for an attack in the second set against Acton-Boxborough. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
FRANKLIN, Mass. — When Franklin earned the final point of the match to seal a win, their traditional jubilation was replaced by a sigh of relief.
The Panthers were three points away from completing a sweep of #13 Acton-Boxborough before the visitors rattled off a late run and prolonged the match with a win in the third set.
Franklin played its best volleyball in the fourth set to create its lone double-digit lead of the match. And once again, just three points away from victory, the Revolution came charging back. Acton-Boxborough used an 8-2 run, fighting off five straight match points to get within three points. But a handling error gave Franklin the final point and the Panthers closed out a 3-1 (25-22, 25-19, 24-26, 25-21) win in a Division 1 Round of 16 matchup.
“I think across the board, we could have done better at pretty much everything,” said Franklin head coach Samantha Redmond. ”I think we all felt it, I think we’re all aware of the fact that we could have done better. At this point in the year, we should do better.”
There wasn’t much separation in the third set, the largest lead at any point was five points early on for the Panthers. After some back and forth, the hosts were able to get a little breathing room on a kill from senior Rachael Taylor to make it 22-19. Out of a timeout, a service error and hitting error shrunk the lead down to one, and a kill put A-B ahead.
A Franklin timeout couldn’t stop the Revolution’s momentum and they added a kill to take a 23-22 lead. Taylor (nine kills, three blocks) used a tip to bring Franklin level, but A-B closed it out with a kill and a net violation to take it 26-24.
That seemed to ignite the hosts, who turned a 6-6 fourth set into a more comfortable lead with an 8-0 burst. Junior Sasha Tracey (40 assists, four blocks) came up with a big block on an outside attack, junior Taylor Lacerda had back-to-back kills, including a perfect line shot, and senior Georgia Harvey (15 digs) dropped in an ace.
Taylor had a kill and then got another point after sending the defense scrambling on a nice tip. Freshman Makayla Kuykendall picked a nice spot deep on the court to cap the run, giving Franklin a 14-6 lead.
A good swing by Kuykendall (14 kills, 12 digs) was popped back up by the A-B defense only to be swatted right back down at the net by the freshman, junior Jennifer Soohoo followed with a strong serve that couldn’t be returned, and junior Grace Lacerda (four kills, five blocks) went up and put down a free ball with a block as Franklin pushed its lead to 20-11.
Lacerda (13 kills, 11 digs) drilled one off of the block and an A-B error presented Franklin with match point. But it was the Revolution that rallied with three kills, an ace, and a strong serve, and suddenly, with a 5-0 burst, the visitors were within three at 24-21. But Franklin snapped the run as A-B had a handling error to end it.
“It’s something that we’ve been trying to focus on, this isn’t the regular season anymore,” Redmond said. “Every team that we’re going to play, deserves to be here. You can’t coast, you need to play and finish things when you have the chance.
“I hope this lights the fire for them. I hope this is eye-opening enough for them that if they don’t want the season to end, and they want to keep playing, they have to go get it.”
Franklin volleyball (16-3) is set to take on #5 Barnstable in a Division 1 state quarterfinal matchup, with the date and time to be announced.
Franklin freshman Makayla Kuykendall (20 kills) attacks the ball in the second set against Attleboro. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
FRANKLIN, Mass. — It’s getting crowded at the top of the Kelley-Rex division standings.
Despite falling behind after an epic opening set, Franklin volleyball rallied for three straight wins to secure a 3-1 victory over Attleboro (33-35, 25-16, 25-19, 25-19), moving the Panthers into a three-way tie in first place along with the Bombardiers and King Philip, who also won on Monday.
All three teams split their respective season series and sit at 13-2 in league play with one match left, none of which are against one another.
The battle between the Panthers and Bombardiers — a clash of two top 10 teams in Division 1 in the latest MIAA rankings, and a rematch of a superb five-set thriller from earlier this season — started with a first set that neither side wanted to lose, as seen by the score.
The teams combined for 68 points in the opening set: the Panthers were a point away from taking it five times and the visitors with four chances to clinch it, all coming past the 25-point threshold.
A kill from Attleboro sophomore Julia Leonardo (29 kills, 21 digs) off of a set from junior Natalie Brojek (34 assists, seven digs, four kills) kept the Bombardiers in it down 25-24.
A perfect line shot from Franklin freshman Makayla Kuykendall (20 kills, 15 digs, three aces) off a set from junior setter Sasha Tracey (48 assists, 10 digs, six kills) denied the visitors at 26-25.
A roll shot from Attleboro sophomore Addie Shelton (seven kills, 14 digs) found a hole in the defense to tie it at 29-29.
A tip from Franklin junior Ryan Sullivan (17 kills, 27 digs, three aces) caught the defense to keep the Panthers alive two points later.
Back-and-forth they went, and not until an ace from Leonardo and then a mis-hit from the Panthers did the Bombardiers finally take the lead with a 35-33 win.
“That first set was so incredible, they worked so hard,” said Franklin head coach Samantha Redmond. “Before the second set I just kept talking to them about the passion they showed, the hard work they put in, and if they could carry that fight into the next set and beyond, they would be okay.”
Okay, indeed.
The Panthers answered with three straight wins: pulling away from the Bombardiers with a big 12-4 run in the middle of the second set, creating separation late in a back-and-forth third set, and doing the same in the fourth to secure the win and give themselves a chance to clinch at least a share of the Kelley-Rex division title on Wednesday.
“We talked about what this match means, but in the sense that we lost the first time in their gym in five sets,” Redmond said. “It was a bit of a redemption story that we could play better than we did that match. It was more about that for us than any rankings or standings.
“The energy we had tonight we so much more positive and the teamwork tonight was great.”
With the Panthers trailing 8-7 in the second set, an ace from Kuykendall, a kill from Taylor Lacerda off of the block, and a perfectly placed tip from Rachael Taylor (eight kills, two blocks, two aces) around the double block put the hosts back in front.
Taylor added another kill, Taylor Lacerda landed an ace, and Kuykendall canceled out a kill from Attleboro sophomore Ellie Shelton with one of her down. Two plays later, Taylor had an ace and the Panthers pushed the lead to 19-12.
Leonardo landed another kill to give Attleboro some hope but a perfectly placed dump on the second ball from Tracey froze the defense and Kuykendall put one down to extend it to 22-14. A perfectly placed line kill from Taylor Lacerda capped the win, 25-16, to make it 1-1.
“Game one is always our toughest, we usually come out slow but we really stressed coming out strong tonight because it’s hard to do on the road, and it’s hard to do it against an amazing team like Franklin,” said Attleboro head coach Mary Katherine Runey. “They responded and were moving their feet and playing awesome. Were they gassed in game two? Absolutely. I just thought game two and three, our passing was way off. We were so excited and tired from the first game, we couldn’t bounce back.
“I always stress that no matter the score, you play the game as a team and I thought that’s what we were lacking tonight. We had difficulty on serve receive and our passing, just didn’t move our feet.”
It was more of the same in the second set, back-and-forth and through the first 32 points, the Panthers and Bombardiers were deadlocked at 16-16 following back-to-back kills from Leonardo, the latter coming off a great pass from Sadie Whitmarsh (21 digs) to keep the ball alive.
“She’s a fantastic player, there’s no doubt about it,” Redmond said of Leonardo, who has been one of the best hitters in the league this season. “After the first game we played them, we’ve practiced a lot just really picking up on spots where she likes to hit too and just focusing in on playing defense in those spots. The second ball might not be right to the spot so just be on your toes and go get it.”
Franklin quickly grabbed the momentum by winning four straight points: another perfectly placed tip around the block from right-side Grace Lacerda (eight kills, two blocks), who took the majority of her swings from the middle, a kill from Tracey, and back-to-back from Kuykendall made it 20-16.
A timeout couldn’t stunt Franklin’s run as they took two more, Kuykendall landed another swing, and after a service error, Taylor finished the set off with a kill to make it 2-1.
“The outsides get a ton of credit, and it’s well deserved, but being able to move that ball around and set the middle, set the right side, and really spread it out to everyone on the court, it keeps the defense on their toes,” Redmond said of getting strong performances from both Taylor and Grace Lacerda.
“We’ve gotten double blocked a lot of times this year so we’ve really worked on finding the open spots, if that double is coming from the outside, to find that spot. We watched it well, if they were bringing it that’s where we wanted to go, if they didn’t bring the double, swing away.”
A pair of aces from Addie Shelton, three straight kills from Leonardo, and a hitting error presented Attleboro its biggest lead of the match, 9-3, to start the fourth set. Franklin chipped away and an ace from Jennifer Soohoo made it 10-10.
An 8-2 burst gave Franklin the lead for good.
Both Kuykendall and Taylor Lacerda had kills in the run, the Bombardiers didn’t help their cause with a pair of unforced errors, and back-to-back aces from Georgia Harvey (four aces, 28 digs) had the Panthers on the verge of the win.
Attleboro showed some great resolve with a big block from Addie Shelton, a couple of attacking errors from the Panthers, and another Leonardo kill closed the deficit to just 19-17. A great dig from Harvey kept the point alive for the Panthers and they won the point, Kuykendall had a huge kill off the block, and Soohoo ended it with an ace.
“In a crazy kind of way, I’m kind of happy this happened because going into the playoffs, it’s a good learning experience for all of us,” Runey said. “Would it have been great to win? Yes, but they should be really proud. Not only was this a big game for us, but this was also a massive game for Franklin and that’s a testament to how well we’ve played and how far we’ve come.”
Franklin volleyball (13-2 Hockomock, 13-3 overall) is back home on Wednesday against Milford while Attleboro (13-2, 15-2) is on the road at North Attleboro. King Philip (13-2, 17-2) is home against Taunton. A win from any of the three teams would clinch a share, and a win from all three would be a share for all three teams.
Ahunna James (11) and her KP teammates celebrate after the final point of their 3-0 win over league title rival Franklin. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
WRENTHAM, Mass. – When the teams met for the first time, just three games into the new season, Franklin earned a three-set sweep on its home court in a match that was much closer than its overall final score (two of the sets went beyond 25 points). King Philip hosted the second meeting on Thursday night at the Wooden Gym and the opening set was just as competitive.
The Warriors were able to pull out the first set this time around, winning it 27-25, and KP carried the momentum into a 3-0 (27-25, 25-16, 25-19) sweep, a 12th straight win, and a split of the season series.
“I think that for us it was huge,” KP coach Kristen Geuss explained. “I think it gave us a little boost of confidence going into the second set. That first set could’ve gone either way, much like the first time we played them. Just having a win gets us going even more and that momentum takes us into the next set.”
KP got off to a strong start in front of the home crowd, taking an 8-3 lead when sophomore setter Madison Asprelli laid out to keep the point alive and Sami Shore finished it with a spike off the blockers. Franklin wasted no time coming right back, with an 8-2 run of its own to take an 11-10 lead. Jennifer Soohoo and Taylor Lacerda had kills and freshman Makayla Kuykendall’s ace put the Panthers in front for the first time.
From that point to the end of the first set, neither team was able to lead by more than three points and the intensity, the energy, the speed, and the quality of play was all at the highest level.
The Warriors came back with a pair of kills from Olivia O’Neil and one from middle hitter Emily Sawyer. Soohoo answered with a nice tip and Lacerda found the court with a big swing. Rachel Taylor caught KP leaning and dropped a bump in for a point, Cate Roberge had a kill, Grace Lacerda got a block and Taylor fired an ace to make it 19-16 for the Panthers.
Shore smashed another shot off the block and put KP back in front with an impressive block right in the center of the net. With the home crowd and the home bench getting excited, Kuykendall stepped up again with a shot through the block to tie it at 21 apiece. Her ace put the Panthers up 23-22, but KP came right back with two points, including a spike from Sawyer.
Grace Lacerda picked out the far corner with an accurate shot to tie it and then found the floor with a nice tip to make it 25-25. Sawyer continued to overpower the Franklin block to put the Warriors in front and when the ball hit the net on the final point of a breathless set, it was KP that was on top.
There was no let off for the Panthers at the start of the second, as KP jumped out to a 7-1 lead behind two kills and a block from Sawyer. Franklin’s energy remained high, but the Panthers were struggling to make accurate passes and the errors early in the set proved costly.
“We made too many mistakes at the start of the second to keep that momentum up,” Redmond admitted. “We finished that first set still feeling good because it was close and high energy and it was really good volleyball, but to start any set against a really great team with a lot of errors kills all the momentum.”
Franklin did put together a run in the middle of the set to close within two at 10-8, Lacerda finished off a long rally and a replayed point with kills. Missy Canning and O’Neil answered back to push the lead back to four and Ahunna James dropped in a powerful serve to keep the lead growing.
After Lacerda’s kill made it 17-13, KP went on an 8-3 run to close out the set. James powered one through the block and Shore had another big block in the middle. Shore would end the second with kills on two of the final three points to put KP on the brink of the win.
While a lot of attention rightly goes to the team’s hitters. Geuss gave credit to her back line, including Kate O’Neil, Shea Mellman, and libero Ava Kelley, who helped keep plays alive for setters Asprelli and Fiona Bailey to tee up the hitters.
“It’s totally a team effort,” Geuss said. “Our passes were so good this time. Everyone played really, really well. I think it was a total team effort to get the ball to our hitters. It all starts in that back row and they really great today.”
Franklin needed a spark to keep the match alive, but the third set started with another KP run. The Warriors this time pushed the lead to 8-1, with James and Sawyer recording kills and O’Neil providing a block. The Panthers scored three straight on kills by Taylor and Grace Lacerda and and ace from Sasha Tracey, cutting the lead to 12-9.
As she did all match, Shore had the answer. Her well-placed tip fell in for a point and she followed it with yet another block. James added an ace and the lead was back up to six in an instant. Soohoo had a kill and a block to bring the Panthers back again, at 15-13, but Olivia O’Neil and Sawyer had kills to give KP a more comfortable cushion.
Things went back-and-forth down the stretch. James fired a swing to the back row and Taylor Lacerda matched it. James came right back with another accurate hit, Kuykendall went down the line to respond, and Kate O’Neil tipped one off the blockers and out.
Canning would get the final swing for the Warriors, securing a season split for the third straight year.
KP and Franklin have been the class of the Kelley-Rex division for the past decade. One or the other has been league champion for the last nine seasons and the two have shared the crown each of the past three years (with Oliver Ames grabbing a third of the title in 2019). Both coaches noted that the rivalry and the level of volleyball the two teams play against each other will only help prepare for the playoffs to come.
“KP is a fantastic program and it’s great to play them this close to the end,” Redmond said. “They’re high energy, it’s great volleyball, and it’s a lot of fun to watch. It’s stressful, but it’s fun.
Geuss added, “Franklin is so good. They’re always so good. You have to play at your top when you play against them. We have to prepare for moving on and to see a team like Franklin come, it’s great experience for us.”
King Philip (14-1) will come back on Monday night with another title showdown, facing surprise division co-leader Attleboro. Franklin (10-3) will be home on Monday to face Taunton, hoping for an Attleboro upset to possibly share the title again this fall.
Boys Soccer
King Philip, 1 @ Foxboro, 0 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game – King Philip junior Will Bowen scored the winner in the final minutes of the match to give the Warriors two points on the road over Foxboro. Moments after having his one-on-one bid with the keeper denied, Bowen ran onto a service over the top from senior Matt Crago and smashed a shot from in close that Foxboro keeper Ryan Cotter (12 saves) got a piece of but found its way under the bar and in. King Philip’s back line of Thomas Meader, Patrick Sullivan, Ethan Jack Hancock, and Tommy Lomuscio denied the hosts of creating many scoring chances, while Foxboro’s back four of Jack Sullivan, Marco Pacini, Andrew Linnehan, and Alex Penders, as well as defensive center mid John Hollis, all played well. Cotter was strong in net, including a key double save in the 21st minute — diving to his right to save a blast from Meader off a corner, and leaping the opposite way seconds later to deny Crago.
Attleboro, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – Oliver Ames scored a pair of second half goals to secure a key two points against Attleboro in a battle of the top two ranked teams in the Hockomock League. After a scoreless opening 40 minutes, a pair of sophomores linked up to open the scoring for the hosts. Casey Milliken notched his team-leading seventh assist with a through ball to classmate Andrew Martins to give OA a 1-0 lead less than three minutes into the second half. Senior Diego Rivera set up OA’s next goal with a long ball that was deflected in behind the defense with junior Ryan Linhares running onto it. Linhares smashed a terrific one-time shot from just inside the area to double the hosts’ lead. Sophomore Drew Hall recorded his second career shutout while OA head coach John Barata praised senior Hector Bucio and Jake Williams for anchoring the back line. Barata also noted the strong play of sophomores Jackson Mercieri, Luke Churchill, Craig Churchill, and senior Jason Zalis.
Franklin, 3 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – After staking a one-goal lead at halftime, Franklin put away two more in the second to earn an impressive 3-0 decision on the road at Sharon. Sophomore Garrett Scagliarini put the visitors ahead with a goal in the opening half, finishing off an assist from Hansy Jacques. Jacques then got one of his own in the second half to double the Panthers’ advantage, linking up with Andrew O’Neill to make it 2-0. Will Kryzak then recorded an assist for the third straight game, setting up Wyatt Herndon for his first career goal.
Taunton, 3 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final – After earning points in back-to-back games with a pair of draws, Taunton broke into the win column with a 3-2 decision on the road at Mansfield. Junior Javonte Fernandes had a hand in all three goals for the Tigers, assisting on the opening goal and the game-winner, sandwiched around a goal of his own. Senior Az-Anael St. Marc opened Taunton’s scoring off an assist from Fernandes, who then scored himself off an assist from Conal Scully for the Tigers’ second goal. Fernandes returned the favor, hooking up with Scully for the game-winner. Riley Rebello, Ian Robicheau, Quincy Jones-Sylvia, Xavier Mercardo, and Aidden Fitting all had solid play the entire game for the Tigers while goalie Sebastian Darosa had some key saves throughout the match.
North Attleboro, 2 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – North Attleboro scored a pair of second half goals and held off a late push from the hosts to grab two points with a 2-1 win against the Black Knights. Carson Dameron orchestrated the attack with two assists on the day, first setting up Kaden Burns for the opener. Burns took a pass from Dameron and found the far corner to put the Rocketeers ahead 1-0 in the 46th minute. Just over 15 minutes later, a long free kick from Brody Carter was headed by Dameron onto Zach Smahi and he finished for a 2-0 lead. Stoughton scored with just under 10 minutes to go on a free kick goal from Matheus Groberio.
Milford, 3 @ Canton, 2 – Final – Canton came back from a two-goal deficit two pull level with a half hour left in the game, but Milford regained the lead and held on for an important two points on the road at Canton. Andre Baiano smashed a thunderous volley off a pass from Eduardo Santana to give the Hawks the lead, and Nick Ribeiro doubled the advantage with his second free kick goal in as many games. The free kick was earned after some great work from freshman Danny Da Silva. Canton came back and leveled the match with two goals in a seven-minute span. First, freshman Vlad Francoeur squeezed one in past the keeper to cut the deficit in half and Carson Eagles buried a rebound chance from in close to make it 2-2. Milford found the winner with 10 minutes to go as Ribeiro played Santana through and he finished past the keeper to make it 3-2.
Girls Soccer
Oliver Ames, 2 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – For the second straight game, Oliver Ames scored once in each half and earned a shutout win. Jolie Diaz opened the scoring for the visitors, intercepting a ball at midfield and going on to convert a breakaway chance, beating the keeper on the near side for a 1-0 lead. OA doubled its lead late in the second half as Emma Gavin volleyed a second chance off a restart with 12 minutes left with the assist going to Sophia Byron. Mary Cross had a great game in the midfield for the Tigers while Janiya Matier made four saves for the shutout.
Canton, 6 @ Milford, 1 – Final – Canton scored three times in the opening 25 minutes of the game to take control and keep its unbeaten start to the season alive. Lauren Shatkin, Emma Cahill, and Emily McCabe each scored in the first half. For McCabe, it was her league-leading 10th goal of the season. Caira McKinney, Gisella Berardi, and Mekhala Costello added second half goals for the Bulldogs, who tried not to let the tempo slip despite being in a busy stretch of the season. Georgia Campbell, Cahill, McCabe, Costello, and Shatkin each had an assist. Dani Atherton scored Milford’s lone goal.
Foxboro, 1 @ King Philip, 4 – Final – The game was scoreless at the half, but Ella Pisani scored four times after the break to lead King Philip to a big win. Pisani opened the scoring off a corner just a minute into the second half, assisted by an Addisyn Lamothe-Vaughn corner. Four minutes later, Pisani again finished off a corner, this time with Danielle Gresham picking up the assist. She completed her hat trick by finishing off a pass from Ailish McGowen. With 13 minutes to play, Pisani got behind the defense and capped off her night by lifting a shot over the keeper. Makayla Thompson had the assist on the final goal. Erin Foley had the Foxboro goal that cut the lead to 3-1.
Sharon, 0 @ Franklin, 5 – Final – Olivia Costa scored a pair of goals to lift Franklin to a home win that moves the Panthers a half-game ahead in the division. Kelly O’Connor and Tori Carmignani each scored once and each assisted on another goal. Norah Anderson’s header capped the scoring for the Panthers, who also got a pair of assists from Anya Zub and an assist from Katie Ewald. Sharon faced the Kelley-Rex leaders without a pair of starters and struggled to get the attack going against Franklin’s defense. Jordanna Morris and Sally Brouhard both had strong games in defense for the Eagles.
Mansfield, 4 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Mansfield scored four times in the opening half to take home an away win against the Tigers. Freshmen Alexandra and Maddie Fernandes each scored their first varsity goals. Bridget Hanley and Meghan McCann also found the back of the net for Mansfield. Alexis O’Keefe had a pair of assists, while freshmen Lauren Signoriello and Olivia Dunham each had one helper. Olivia Salisbury picked up the clean sheet. Eighth-grader Ashlyn Herbert had another good performance in net for the Tigers, making nine saves. Mia Torres, Jenna Pereira, and Christina Da Costa also played well in the loss.
Stoughton, 0 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – Sydney O’Connor headed in a Kaitlyn Joyce cross with five minutes to go before halftime and that was enough for North to pull out its first league win of the season.
Volleyball
Sharon, 0 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Franklin continued to roll against league opponents, this time with an impressive 3-0 sweep (25-14, 25-14, 25-11) of visiting Sharon. Juniors Grace Lacerda and Taylor Lacerda (five aces) paced the offense with 12 kills apiece.
Golf
Attleboro, 156 @ North Attleboro, 143 – Final – North Attleboro’s Jake Gaskin had a great day on the links, carding a two-under-par round of 33 that included an eagle, to lead the Rocketeers to a win over rival Attleboro on the middle course at Heather Hill. Gaskin finished with a 33, sinking an eagle putt on the third hole. Tyson Laviano came in one-over at 36 while Dillon Harding, Ishan Kohli, and Zach Corsetti all shot a 37 on the day. Leo Lombardo fired an even par round of 35 to lead the Bombardiers, Ryan hill added a 38, Bradley Lehtonen finished at 41, and Bradley Martin rounded out Attleboro’s scoring with a 42.
Milford, 165 @ Foxboro, 175 – Final – Milford junior Anthony LaPierre continued his strong week, shooting a match medalist round to lead the Scarlet Hawks to victory over the Warriors at Foxboro Country Club. LaPierre was the lone golfer to break 40 on the day, recording a medalist round of 37. Nate Lawrence added a 40 in the win while both Zach Hipolito and Jacob Hipolito shot 44 for the day. Louis Carangelo, who had a birdie, led Foxboro with a 42, Patrick Callahan (three pars) added a 43, and both Zac Georgantas and Reese Curreri came into the clubhouse with a 45.
Franklin, 149 @ Sharon, 172 – Final
Stoughton, 186 @ Canton, 156 – Final – Canton sophomore Huck McCready fired a medalist round of 35 to help the Bulldogs bring down Stoughton at Blue Hill Country Club, snapping a four-match skid. Brendan Tourgee added a 38 in the win, Joey Ryan shot a 41, and both Charlie Vaughan and Teddy Shuman finished at 42 for the day. For Stoughton, Mason Page had a team-low round of 42.
The Franklin volleyball team poses for a picture after beating King Philip in the Hockomock Cup Final. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
FRANKLIN, Mass. – After splitting two regular season matchups and sharing the Kelley-Rex division title for the second year in a row, it was fitting that the final game of the volleyball season would see Franklin and King Philip battle it out, not just for the bragging rights, or to win the season series, but also to being home the first Hockomock Cup title.
After jumping in front by winning the opening two sets, Franklin was nearly forced to a decisive fifth set but the Panthers rallied in the fourth, winning six of the final seven points, capped off by a cross-court spike by senior Ally Bonnet-Eymard that snuck inside the line, to seal a 3-1 (25-15, 25-21, 21-25, 25-21) victory.
“The girls never took a single day for granted,” said Franklin coach Samantha Elliott. “They have been 100 percent committed to play, so for them this wasn’t just the first Hock Cup, this was their championship and they’ve been working that way all season.”
KP coach Kristen Geuss was proud of her team’s fight back after a rough opening set and the way the Warriors fought throughout a final that everyone was grateful to see happen.
“I think we played very well,” she said. “To have the opportunity to even play an extra week in this whole thing, it gave us more games and let the girls come out and have fun for another week. We had a great season and they’re a great bunch of girls.”
Franklin took control of the opening set right from the first point. In a reverse of Wednesday’s semifinal against Canton, KP struggled out of the gate and the Panthers put together a 9-0 run to break things open and take a 19-6 lead.
Emma Chase (10 kills) had a block and then a kill on back-to-back points, Bonnet-Eymard (game-high 22 kills) fired a shot past the dive of KP libero Emma Brooks, Taylor Lacerda (seven kills) fired an ace, and then Bonnet-Eymard ended the run with a hit right on the line.
KP tried to build some momentum heading to the second. Giovanna Fruci and Sami Shore each had kills before Bonnet-Eymard picked the corner with an accurate swing. Nicole Coughlan and Ahunna James both got on the board as well with good hits, but the final swing hit the net and Franklin took the quick 1-0 lead.
“I had the confidence that we could come back,” said Geuss. “We have in the past. I thought we could dig deep and we did. The second and third games were much better obviously than the first and I thought they played really well.”
The Warriors did seem to carry some energy over into the second set and a Lily Carlow ace and a block and a kill by James put the visitors up 11-5. Brooks had a point from the back row and James added another of her five kills in the set to keep the lead at five points, but Franklin’s depth along the front line started to pay dividends.
Grace Lacerda, Chase, and Taylor Lacerda recorded three straight points and an angled Chase drive got Franklin back level. After the Panthers took the lead, Coughlan had two straight kills, including one at the end of a long rally that put KP back in front 19-18. Bonnet-Eymard answered with a pinpoint tip and a blast off the blocker.
“That’s the best thing about us, it’s not just Ally,” Elliott said. “Ally is a force to be reckoned with but it’s always every other girl on my team. (Setter) Cailyn [Mackintosh] has the ability to give it to anyone because people watch Ally so if you can give it to someone else it’s going to work out in your favor.”
“She has worked so hard to be as accurate and consistent and connect with every single one of our hitters that we wouldn’t be where we are without her drive and her leadership,” Elliott said about Mackintosh, who finished with 49 assists.
With Franklin up 23-21, Bonnet-Eymard again found space down the line off the dive of Carlow and a shot into the net had the Panthers just a set away from the win.
The last time these teams met, it went to five sets before KP pulled out the win. So, Franklin knew there was still work to be done. The Panthers jumped out to a 14-11 lead in the fourth following a Mackintosh push that eluded the KP defense.
KP responded with four straight points to get in front. With the score tied again at 17-17, KP managed to string together a few points. Fruci started it with a spike and then Coughlan was able to follow with back-to-back points. The senior, who managed to score from both outside positions as well as the middle, had eight kills in the third set alone.
“Nicole makes everything look easy, and it’s not,” Geuss said about Coughlan. “I don’t know how she does it but she makes everything look easy. She will be missed.”
After Bonnet-Eymard got one back for Franklin, Coughlan added two more kills. With the score 24-21, James, just a sophomore, showed off her skills on the outside with a powerful angled drive that secured a fourth set.
The fourth was back-and-forth with neither team able to build larger than a four-point lead. Coughlan and James continued to find any gap in the Franklin defense and the KP back row continued to keep almost every play alive, forcing the Panthers into long rallies.
KP looked like it might be on its way to a decisive fifth set when it rattled off five straight points and took a 12-8 lead. Bonnet-Eymard had the answer with back-to-back kills, the second smashed off the KP block and out. A kill from Lindsey Tarantola tied things up and then an ace by Meghan Linkkila put Franklin in front 13-12.
Shore got KP back within one at 17-16 but Chase came right back with a hit from the middle. James had a pair of kills, including one right off the line to put the Warriors up 19-18, then Carlow’s tough serve got away from the Panthers. Chase and Bonnet-Eymard came right back with kills and tied the set at 20-20.
After a Franklin point, James blasted another kill that tied the game at 21-21, but King Philip (11-2) had an uncharacteristic defensive lapse to put Franklin in front to stay. Brigid Earley followed with a big block, a shot went wide, and then Bonnet-Eymard lined up one last swing, angled across the court into an open spot, handing Franklin (12-1) the win and the cup.
“We knew that the first set was not normal, that we were going to have to work hard for every single point because KP is a fantastic team,” Elliott explained. “Just telling the girls to believe in themselves and to forget what this is and to have fun for their last game to play with each other that they’d be okay, and they were.”
Canton players celebrate the final point that earned the Bulldogs a 3-1 win over Westboro and the D2 Central title in 2019. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
There is a new level of excitement in the gymnasium at Attleboro High as Mary Katherine Runey takes over as the varsity coach for the Bombardiers.
Attleboro has a mix of returners with experience and new faces to the varsity level, and Runey believes her squad has a tremendous amount of potential. It all starts with senior Ana Leonardo, a four-year starter at the setter position for the Bombardiers. Attleboro has plenty of depth at the setter position with freshman Natalie Brojek joining the mix right away. Leonardo and Brojek will have some experienced hitters to work with including senior opposite Krista Greening, senior middle Kosi Igbobi, and junior outside Delia Barthel. Junior captain Lilly Boedeker brings a lot of energy and experience to the defensive end as the libero, anchoring the Bombardiers’ back row.
“Our program is very excited to be back on the court,” Runey said. “We have a great mix of returning players as well as athletes new to the varsity level. I believe our team has a tremendous amount of potential, and I cannot wait to see what we accomplish this year. Ana and Natalie will certainly bring an intensity to our offense and Lilly matches that defensively.”
2019 Record: 22-3 (Davenport Division Champions) 2019 Finish: Division 2 State Champions Coach: Pat Cawley
The 2019 season was a banner year for the Bulldogs, claiming the Davenport division, the D2 Central sectional crown, and the program’s first ever D2 State Championship.
The returners have been eager to defend their championships, and after waiting just a little bit longer, the Bulldogs have their chance to at least battle for another Hock title. There’s an obvious void in the lineup with the graduation of HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Taylor Harris, one of the most feared hitters in the entire state. But longtime head coach Pat Cawley has an arsenal of weapons at her disposal that makes Canton the team to beat again this year. Senior middle Liz Bickett gets it done both offensively and defensively at the net and is a reliable option in the back row. Senior outside hitter Angie Elias is a reliable option at the net as well as senior middle Shannon Malloy. Senior Jackie Morrissey stepped into the setter role last year and really improved as the season went on while classmate Olivia Chinsen, a captain, is another option at setter after returning from injury. Seniors Nikki Desjardins (libero) and Stephanie Trendell will anchor the Bulldogs’ defense in the back row.
“We are excited and grateful to be back on the court,” Cawley said. “Although we have big shoes to fill at the outside hitter positions, we return several experienced players at middle blocker, setter, and defense. Senior captain Olivia Chinsen and junior Sydney Gallery are back from season-ending injuries and will help make us a stronger team. We are concentrating on building better chemistry and communication, always striving to be the best we can be!”
2019 Record: 11-10 2019 Finish: Reached D2 Central First Round Coach: Vicki Santana
In head coach Vicki Santana’s first year in charge, the Warriors won 11 games and reached the postseason and Foxboro will hope to build on that momentum this season with 10 seniors on the roster.
Defensively, the Warriors should be tough. Kelsey Treweek returns at libero along with defensive specialists Pam Nelson and Grace Fortune. Nelson and Treweek were among the league leaders in digs in the 2019 season. Leading hitter Grace Boudreau graduated, but Santana is counting on several players to provide points with versatile hitters Emma Keefe and Shannon McDonald in the starting lineup. Underclassmen Sami Sloan and Mallorie Meyer will add depth at the net and have the potential to provide an instant impact
“Tryouts and practice were a little bit of a challenge to make sure we are following the Covid guidelines while still having fun and being competitive,” Santana said. “The girls have been so great and are staying positive through all of this. They are taking all of the guidelines seriously because they are so happy to be back in the gym!”
Franklin is coming off back-to-back Kelley-Rex division titles and is in search of their third straight this season, but will be doing so under new guidance. Sam Elliott takes over as head coach of the Panthers after Kelsey Weymouth moved on to the collegiate level after two successful years at the helm.
Elliott is familiar with the program after serving as an assistant last season and she knows she has the pieces to make a push to hang another division title banner in this abbreviated season. Senior captain Ally Bonnet-Eymard enters her fourth year with the team and is among the most dangerous hitters in the league (205 kills) from the left side. She’ll be flanked by senior Emma Chase, who is back for her second straight year starting at middle and gives Franklin a weapon both offensively and defensively. Junior Cailyn Mackintosh really impressed in her first season last year and will be the starting setter while Jill Benoit returns as the starting libero. Elliott is also looking for some younger faces to push for time including sophomore Meghan Linkkila and freshmen Taylor Lacerda and Grace Lacerda.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to play this year, with six seniors it is important that they were able to have their final season,” Elliott said. “As a program we are excited to compete and improve, our group is a mix of returners and new players so it will be fun watching them all come together.”
There will be a lot of familiar faces on the court this season for King Philip, who is looking to ride a strong senior class and an experienced group of players to a second straight Kelley-Rex crown.
Head coach Kristen Guess has weapons all over the court, starting with her three senior captains. Middle Nicole Coughlan has been a force at the net for the past two years and will be one of the toughest players to stop this year. Fellow captains Emma Brooks and Lily Carlow, who both have a lot of experience at the varsity level will anchor the Warriors’ defense from the back row. Senior Giovanna Fruci will be one of KP’s top options at the net as well as sophomore Ahunna James, who had some impressive swings in limited action last year. Guess is looking for seniors Paige Kannally and Camryn Buckley to step up and help with blocking at the net while senior Lauren Peterson will set the entire team in motion from the setter position. Junior Stella Bailey and sophomore Sami Shore have played well in preseason and should be in the mix as well.
“This the most experienced team I have coached, we have depth on the team with strong newcomers,” Guess said.
We are excited to have a season and are ready to play.”
2019 Record: 8-11 2019 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Mark Ledwich
Longtime head coach Melissa Heeden stepped down over the offseason so the Hornets enter this season under the guidance of their new head coach Mark Ledwich. Ledwich is familiar with volleyball in the area as the director of the sport at Mass Premier Courts and brings experience from the collegiate level to the job.
Ledwich has an experienced group to work with during his first year with six players back from last year’s team, most of which saw either starting or at least valuable minutes at the varsity level. The Hornets will have a variety of weapons on the offensive end with its top four attackers back from last year. Junior Julia Kelly (124 kills) led the squad in kills as a sophomore and will be one of the most dangerous hitters in the league this year while Alina Nowakowski, Olivia McGrath, and Kacey Veiking all provide legitimate threats at the net. All four will start the Hornet defense will their blocking with Veiking (35 blocks) among the top returners in that category.
“Our focus this season is on error management and when to stretch a point,” Ledwich said. “We have a lot of heavy hands this year, so knowing when to utilize them in each situation has been a huge focus of the pre-season. With the consistent height we have available in the front row this season we are spending a lot of time discussing approach paths of opposing attackers and how we should funnel each attack to best utilize our attacking strengths.”
2019 Record: 10-10 2019 Finish: Reached D2 Central First Round Coach: Tammy Webber
The Hawks have reached the postseason in each of the past two seasons, and while there isn’t a state tournament this year, Milford is aiming to attain the success that comes with a playoff berth.
Making the switch to the Kelley-Rex will be challenging, but one the Hawks are ready for. With a strong mix of returning players with varsity experience and some new players looking to make a splash, Milford could surprise some teams along the way. Elise Fauerbach returns for her senior season after missing significant time last year due to an injury. Fauerbach will patrol the right side, giving the Hawks a good option defensively with her size, and has a high volleyball IQ. Milford has two key defensive players back with senior Eva Parson (106 digs), who took on the role of libero last season but is in the mix to step into the full rotation, even getting swings as an outside hitter. Junior Sarah Brogioli can play just about anywhere on the court, a reliable option in the back row (106 digs) while also capable of stepping up to the net and connecting on some big swings (96 kills). Lexi Stark is an athletic option at middle that can move side-to-side to help with blocking in all three spots at the net. Sophomore Emily Crouteau is penciled into the setter role to start the year while Aliza Syed will be an option at the net for the Hawks.
2019 Record: 13-6 2019 Finish: Reached D1 South First Round Coach: Kim Marshall
North Attleboro has been one of the biggest challengers to Canton’s reign atop the Davenport division in recent years, and the Rocketeers are going to be right back in the mix again during this Fall 2 season.
Head coach Kim Marshall has four returning seniors that all have valuable experience at the varsity level and then a strong junior class with consists of eight players ready to make a splash at the varsity level. Senior Joanna Collins-Bilyeu is one of the most experienced players in the league and will be a cornerstone at the net for the Rocketeers after putting down 67 kills a year ago. She will be joined by classmates Annie Grunewald and Jasmine Anderson along the net to give North a formidable attacking trio. Belle Clarkin will anchor the back row that features some new faces so the Rocketeers will be learning as the season goes on. Junior Katherine McHoul is stepping in to take over at the setter position to run the offense.
“I am really excited for this season to start, I just wish it wasn’t so short,” said Marshall. “I am very fortunate, again, to get a wonderful group of student-athletes who continually work so hard, support each other and are so much fun to be around.”
2019 Record: 18-5 2019 Finish: Reached D1 South Final Coach: Chelsea Cunningham
Oliver Ames made a run to the Div. 1 South final in 2019 and pushed perennial power Barnstable to a decisive fifth set and, after moving to the Davenport division this season, the Tigers have the potential to give defending state champ Canton a serious challenge for the league title.
Senior Caroline Flynn will be one of the team’s primary attackers on the outside and will get help from classmate Jordan Bennett, who is recovering from an injury but can play multiple positions along the front line. Senior Tori Harney is back after missing all of last season with an injury and will compete for a starting role as a middle hitter. Senior Sarah Morley will transition from defensive specialist to libero this year with senior Allie Zwerle providing leadership in the DS role. Junior Hadley Rhodes will step in as the setter this season, replacing the program’s all-time leader in assists, Allie Kemp, while sophomore Maddie Homer will add athleticism on the back row.
“This team has so much potential to build off of the best season this program has had to date- and we have work to do,” said OA coach Chelsea Cunningham. “With this season being so short, we are hoping to make every moment count in the gym. From bonding with everyone on the team, to mixing up the lineups, and everyone being ready to compete- it’s exciting to FINALLY play after the long wait.”
2019 Record: 6-13 2019 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Andrea Lovett
The foundation of the Sharon volleyball this season will be its senior class, a strong group of experienced players hungry to make some noise in the Davenport division this season.
The Eagles have four returning seniors in Brynne Aidlin-Perlman, Yvette Nau, Leah Fandel, and Sarah Fandel; all four can play in a variety of roles for Sharon. Aidlin-Perlman is a leader both on and off the court and provides the Eagles with solid defense plus a strong swing from the outside hitter position. Nau is back for another year as the team’s setter and will quarterback the offense, having all three of her classmates as good options at the net. Sara Fandel put a lot of work in during the offseason and has improved greatly at the net and provides the Eagles with a reliable defensive option in the back row while Leah Fandel is a two-way threat at the net from the middle position.
“We have four returning seniors that provide a very solid base for a talented team,” said Sharon head coach Andrea Lovett. “The team is rounded out with talented juniors who will be taking us into next year. Sharon expects to be a threat in our “Hock Bubble” this season.”
2019 Record: 2-14 2019 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Felicia Baptista
The Black Knights are looking to bounce back in a big way during the Fall 2 season. Felicia Baptista is moving up from subvarsity to take over the varsity squad.
Baptista will have a lot of new faces that are new to the varsity level so she plans to rely heavily on her two returners, especially in the early going. That means senior Shanice Landrum and senior Camille Firmin will be key leaders both on and off the court this year as Stoughton looks to battle for the Davenport division crown. Landrum led the team in kills last season with 86 and was one of the best blockers in the Hockomock League with 63. Firmin should see an expanded role at the net as the Knights look to integrate new faces into its lineup under Baptista.
“Even though it is a big building season for us, our team dynamic seems like we have been playing together for years,” Baptista said. “Every day I see big improvements with communication on the court and our defense is looking solid. This year is unique for us because we do have a few boys on our roster and, not only do they bring talent, but they add a light and fun atmosphere to the gym.”
With a large group of experienced players returning this season, the Tigers are eager to put last season behind them and make a splash this year.
Taunton has 10 seniors in total, with nine of them returning players from last season along with one returning junior, so experience will be a strength for this year’s squad. The Tigers will be looking to turn their experience at the varsity level into success on the court in the abbreviated Fall 2 season. Senior captain Jaelyn Fernandez will put the offense into motion from the setter spot and will have some weapons to work with along the net. The Tigers have all three of their top attackers back from a year ago, including senior captain and outside hitter Ella Dunderdale, who led the Tigers in kills last season with 89 kills. Senior Sonya Fernandez (83 kills) and junior Mikayla Cleary (63 kills) will also give the Tigers options from the middle and opposite spots. Seniors Makena Travers, Kailara Andrade, and Fabiana Pereira will anchor the back row for the Tigers. With experience in multiple spots, depth will be key for Taunton this year.
“We are just looking forward to the competition but as we know in the Kelley-Rex you have to be focused and be ready to bring it every night as every team is tough,” said Taunton head coach Toby Chaperon. “We are just hoping we can rise to the challenge each and every match and hope that our execution is sharp.”
