Tag: Jessica Matheson

Thursday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 01/30/20

Today’s games are listed below.

Wrestling
King Philip, 30 @ Franklin, 45 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this meet. Despite having to forfeit three weight classes and starting the match down 12-0, Franklin rolled to a win that clinches the outright league dual meet title. It is the third Kelley-Rex title in the last four years for the Panthers. Drew DiFillipo started the comeback at 120 with a 10-2 win that cut the KP lead to 12-4. Devin Bramson got the hosts within two with a first round pin at 126 pounds and then a forfeit at 132 put the Panthers ahead 16-12. Jackson Kelley wasted little time putting the Warriors in front with a first round pin, but Alex Fracassa put Franklin ahead for good with a 10-2 win at 145. Following a KP forfeit at 152, Dom Sackley added six more points with a first round pin. At 170, Liam Cogavin jumped ahead 7-2 after two periods, but Cole Ricci battled back in the third with a takedown cutting the lead to three and then forcing Cogavin to hold on for the win and three points. Dylan Nawn put Franklin ahead 41-18 with a second round pin at 182, but Shawn Conniff answered back with a first round pin at 195. It was Conniff’s 130th career win and his 100th career pin. He is now two wins shy of the program record. Matt Walker closed out the meet with a 13-2 win at 220 before another forfeit at 285.

Swimming
Hockomock League Dive Championships, 4:00 (@ Massasoit)

Boys Indoor Track
Oliver Ames, 61 vs. Attleboro, 39 – Final – Oliver Ames took first and second in three events and had six more first place finishes, including one relay, to earn a win over Attleboro. Junior Kyle Sarney clocked in at a league-best 9:44.64 to win the 2 Mile and sophomore Owen McMorrow (10:01.38) was second (third best in the Hock), senior Rory McLaughlin (4:40.07) and junior Nathan Reservitz (4:46.44) took first and second in the 1 Mile, and sophomore Ashton Hart (6.92) and junior Jaiden Daly (6.93) were the top two finishers in the 55M to lead OA. Hart also won the long jump (19-07.75), junior Ryan Petrillo was a double-winner, taking first in the high jump (5-10.00) and 55M hurdles (8.41), junior Jimmy Keane won the 1000M (2:49.88) and senior Ryan Hilliard crossed first in the 300M (37.87). Attleboro junior Nathan Seybert won the 600M (1:29.47) with classmate Joey Soucy taking second (1:32.81), and junior Ethan Crosby won the shot put (46-02.00).

Milford, 46 vs. Canton, 54 – Final – Canton swept both the 55M dash and the 300M race, taking first in three other events to earn a win over Milford. Jonathan Chery had another stellar showing, winning both the 55M (league-best 6.61) and the 300M (36.87). Junior Sainvil (6.76) and Cam Sanchez (6.87) took second and third, respectively in the 55M dash while Zachary Goldstein (37.12) and Andrew Butler (40.03) did the same in the 300M. Sophomore Kyle Downing won the 2 Mile (10:36.77), junior Deyontai Dennis took first in the high jump (5-10.00), and senior Nate Quan won the long jump (18-03.75). Milford senior Max Manor was a double winner, taking first in both the 1000M (2:52.70) and the 1 Mile (4:52.56).

Foxboro, 34 vs. North Attleboro, 65 – Final – The Red Rocketeers registered sweeps in both the shot put and the high jump on their way to a win over Foxboro. Emmett Ruote took first in the shot put with a toss of 43-08.25 while Joseph Beckett (39-10.00) and Jack Perriello (37-03.50) were second and third, respectively. Nick Taylor (5-08.00) took first in the high jump with Colby Feid (5-06.00) and Isa Siddiq (5-02.00) following. Kyle Robinson was a double-winner for the Big Red, crossing first in each the 1 Mile (4:59.14) and the 2 Mile (10:40.98) while Jack MacLaughlin earned a first place finish at 1:32.66 in the 600M. Foxboro’s Adam Connolly won both the 55M (7.06) and 300M (37.71), Ryan Proulx crossed first in the 1000M (league-best 2:40.43), Ali Nasri won the 55M hurdles (8.52), and Tyler Hagan set a new PR in a win at the long jump (19-00.00).

Franklin, 63 vs. King Philip, 36 – Final – Senior Jacob Cummings and junior Shane Bissanti each took home a pair of individual wins and the Panthers won three more events, plus both relays, to earn a win over King Philip. Cummings won both the long jump (19-09.25) and the 300M (37.98) while Bissanti crossed first in the 55M hurdles (9.44) and won the high jump (5-04.00). Alec Hanley (1:27.53) and Camden Harrington (1:27.95) went 1-2 in the 600M while Griffin Sieczkiewicz (10:47.01) and Joseph Zercie (10:49.74) did the same in the 2 Mile race. KP’s Mike Griffin and Franklin’s Tyler Brogan put on another show in the 1 Mile Race with Griffin (4:18.22) edging out Brogan (school-record 4:18.95), with KP’s Michael Norberg (4:24.56) taking third, the three clocking in the best three times among Hock runners on the night.

Stoughton, 52 vs. Sharon, 48 – Final – Stoughton won one of two relays and got key points from each the shot put, high jump, and long jump to edge out Sharon in a battle of unbeatens and win the Davenport division title. The Black Knights took first and second in both the high jump (Elisha Claude, 6-06.00 and Nathaniel Peters, 5-10.00) and the long jump (Claude, 21-06.25 and David Peters (21-02.25) while taking first and third in the shot put (Mark Edge, 46-11.25 and Jaden McCall, 39-07.00) to earn a close win. David Peters also won the 300M (36.40, PR) and the 55M hurdles (7.40, PR), Nathaniel Peters took first in the 600M (1:24.47), and Anthony Pizzano earned key points with a second place finish in the 55M hurdles (8.00). Sharon’s Patrick McManus won the 55M (6.70, PR), juniors Jordan Saks (2:48.33, PR) and Mark Starovoytov (2:48.79) took first and second in the 1000M, Starovoytov (4:58.73), Siddarth Reddy (5:00.98), and Bradley Weiss (5:02.67) swept the 1 Mile, and the Eagles swept the 2 Mile with Reddy (10:44.52) taking first, James Kong (10:59.69) crossing second, and Weiss (11:20.40) taking third.

Mansfield, 78 vs. Taunton, 22 – Final – The Hornets took first in all but one event to cruise to a win over Taunton and the 2020 Kelley-Rex division championship. Senior Andrew Williams continued his dominance, taking first in the 55M hurdles (8.36), the high jump (6-00.00), and the long jump (20-06.75). Mansfield swept the long jump with Jake Wall (20-02.50) and Joe Cappelletti (19-04.75) rounding out the top three as well as the 55M hurdles as Dylan Buchanan (8.61) and Chris Verros (9.03, PR) took second and third. Wall took first in the 55M dash (6.91, PR), Jack Rivard won the 300M (36.89), Peter Oldow placed first in the 600M (1:29.12), Mike Mullahy clocked in at 2:43.66 to win the 1000M, sophomore Chris Leonard set a new PR at 4:55.79 to win the 1 Mile (by 0:00.01 over Taunton’s Nolan Tavares), and Nico Holmes won the shot put (41-06.00). Taunton junior Ty Cali ran a PR in the 2 Mile, taking first in 9:56.61.










Girls Indoor Track
Oliver Ames, 47 vs. Attleboro, 53 – Final – Attleboro swept the 55M hurdles and took first and second in both the 300M and 1 Mile races to earn its first win of the season. Junior Meghan Panzer set a new PR, clocking in at 9.68 to win the 55M hurdles with sophomore Angela Cooney (10.00, PR) and junior Eleanor Graber (11.18) taking second and third, respectively. Junior Diana Blouin clocked in at 5:43.55 to win the 1 Mile while classmate Kelly Neuendorf took second in 5:51.96. Junior Cassondra Stuger crossed first in the 300M (43.49) and senior Jessica Matheson took second, setting a new PR (47.30). Neuendorf also earned key points by winning the 2 Mile (12:11.48) while Stuger took second in the 55M dash (7.97). Oliver Ames’ Madison Perry won a pair of events, taking first in the 55M dash (7.76) and the long jump (14-11.00).

Milford, 68 vs. Canton, 30 – Final – The Scarlet Hawks swept the 300M race and took first place in seven more races plus one relay to pick up a win over Canton. Sophomore Sarah Flanagan clocked in at 43.30 to take first place with classmate Maren Halpin (46.92) and senior Juliana France (48.09) crossing next. Flanagan also won the 55M dash (league-best 7.48), Sara Comisky won both the 1000M (3:34.36) and the 1 Mile (6:04.03), Kerry O’Connor placed first in both the long jump (16-02.25) and the 600M (1:40.58), Sarah Brogioli was a double-winner with first place finishes in each the 55M hurdles (9.27) and high jump (4-08.00), and freshman Sydney Kalil took first in the 2 Mile (13.29.57). Milford’s 4×400 relay team of O’Connor, Bella Gonzalez, Flanagan, and Halpin broke the school record by seven seconds, clocking in at 4:10.57. Canton’s Bronwyn Mahoney won the shot put (33-10.00) while the 4×200 team of Mia Walsh, Morgan Quinn, Leah Murphy, and Kiley Hanlon won in 1:57.59.

Foxboro, 25 vs. North Attleboro, 66 – Final – By sweeping both the high jump and 55M hurdles, and taking first and second in each the shot put and long jump, North Attleboro earned a win over Foxboro. Olivia Etienvre won the high jump with a leap of 5-02.00 with Ari Preacher (4-10.00) and Cassidy Becker (4-10.00) rounding out the top three while the same three swept the 55M hurdles in the same order, Etienvre winning in 9.07. Etienvre (16-06.50) and Becker (15-11.50) went 1-2 in the long jump while Alivia Byrne (30-01.00) and Arianna Newth (27-01.00) did the same in the shot put. Foxboro junior Emma Dahl took first in the 600M (1:45.67, PR) and freshman Emilia Lacy won the 1 Mile (6:03.88, PR).

Franklin, 42 vs. King Philip, 58 – Final – Franklin swept a pair of events but King Philip showed off its depth, taking wins in both relays and six other events to get the win. Junior Sofia DelVecchio won the 55M dash (7.66), junior Allison Beltramini took first in the 300M (45.03), juniors Isabelle Crocker (3:18.29) and Charlotte Majer (3:19.87) went first and second in the 1000M, sophomore Maya Evans won the 2 Mile (12:32.69), junior Milan Simmons (9.42) and senior Victoria Priestley (9.53) went 1-2 in the 55M hurdles, and seniors Sarah Vigevani (30-01.00) and Bailee Ziolkowski (29-10.00) took the top two spots in the shot put. Franklin swept the long jump with sophomore Jillian Fenerty (14-11.00) taking first and sophomore Ava Fraulo (14-10.50) and junior Katelyn Guidi (14-03.00) following as well as the 600M race, won by senior Samantha Powderly (1:45.84) and Sydney Hawkins (1:48.31) and Riley Fitzpatrick (1:50.06) rounding out the top three.

Stoughton, 40 vs. Sharon, 60 – Final – Sharon won eight events plus one relay to earn a win over Stoughton and clinch the Davenport division crown. Elizabeth Lee and Jada Johnson each won a pair of events for the Eagles, with Lee taking first in the 55M hurdles (8.65) and the 300M (44.95) while Johnson won both the high jump (5-02.00) and the long jump (17-04.75). Other winners for Sharon included Wendy Wooden in the 55M dash (7.78), Carolyn Bayha in the 600M (1:50.13), Daphne Theiler in the 1000M (3:12.79), and Taylor Saks in the 1 Mile (5:38.70). Stoughton picked up wins from freshman Elaine McCarty in the 2 Mile (13:52.97, PR) and senior Chinazo Odunze in the shot put (30-09.00).

Mansfield, 36 vs. Taunton, 63 – Final – The Tigers used a sweep in the 300M, took first and second in three other events, and won both relays to earn a win over Mansfield and force a three-way tie for the Kelley-Rex division title with the Hornets and KP. Junior Morgan Zakrzewski (44.08) won the 300M while Kerla Sylvestre (44.38) and Abieyowa Olaye (45.72) rounded out the top three. Junior Olivia Dias won the 600M in 1:43.04 while Nia Mainer-Smith (1:43.91) took second, Braelyn Nichos won the 1000M in 3:17.15 while Tatyana Mainer-Smith (3:18.05) took second, and Jaylin Couto took first in the shot put (28-07.50) with Olyvia Mendonca (28-05.00) taking second for the Tigers. Taunton also got wins from Amanda Labrecque in the 55M hurdles (9.28), Julia Labrecque in the high jump (5-00.00), and Victoria Gravel in the long jump (16-01.25). Mansfield swept the 1 Mile race with Tessa Lancaster clocking in at 5:38.07 for first, and Grace Doyle (5:51.15) and Celia Puleo (5:51.40) following behind. Jessica Alestock won the 2 Mile (12:46.14) and Gabrielle Devlin took first in the 55M dash (7.84, PR)

Girls Gymnastics
Canton, 121.3 @ Oliver Ames, 137.4 – Final

Volleyball: 2019 Hockomock League Preview

2019 Hockomock Volleyball Preview

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2019 Hockomock Volleyball Preview

Attleboro

2018 Record: 2-17
2018 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Courtney Durocher

The Attleboro Bombardiers are determined to improve on last year’s season and are planning to use a lot of effort and hard work to do so.

Attleboro has key pieces back in key spots for head coach Courtney Durocher to use. It all starts with junior setter Ana Leonardo, who enters her third year playing at the varsity level. After splitting time as a freshman, Leonardo shined as the lone setter for the Bombardiers last year. Having that experience in such an important position will help the Bombardiers offensively. Durocher is looking for Emily McGovern to get a lot of swings at the outside hitter position while Hailey Thake should get opportunities on the right side. The defense will be anchored by libero Jessica Matheson.

“I feel we could have a breakout season this year with the group of girls we have,” Durocher said. “It will take effort and time, but know we can do it.”

Canton

2018 Record: 19-3 (Davenport Division Champions)
2018 Finish: Reached D2 Central Final
Coach: Pat Cawley

After missing out on the playoffs in 2017, the Bulldogs were back with a vengeance last year with a terrific season that resulted in a division title and a trip to the sectional final.

The Bulldogs were back atop the Davenport after a one-year hiatus, picking up 19 wins overall. Canton graduated a lot of key pieces from last year’s successful squad, but expectations are still high for 2019 as the Bulldogs look to defend their Davenport title. Senior Taylor Harris will give the Bulldogs a lot of power at the net as one the league’s best hitters, and she will also be a key piece of the defense. Junior Liz Bickett is back as one of the middle blockers, and junior Olivia Chinsen will be tasked with some of the setting duties as well as an attacking option on the right side. Junior Angie Elias will be another option on the outside while junior Shannon Malloy has stepped up to take on the other middle spot for the Bulldogs. Head coach Pat Cawley is looking for seniors Emily Morrison and Rosana Cho to anchor a relatively inexperienced group of defensive players to try and fill the void left by last year’s libero Meghan McDonough. Junior Jackie Morrissey and sophomore Taylor Reynolds are also in the mix for the setter spot.

“While we have a totally new look this year, the preseason has shown there is great potential,” Cawley said. “We have several good defensive candidates and I am excited to see who steps up and wins the starting roles. Our setting is inexperienced but hardworking and improving every day. I am fortunate to work with a great group of fun, determined and dedicated athletes looking to elevate their game!”

Foxboro

2018 Record: 1-19
2018 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Vicki Santana

Former Canton standout Vicki Santana takes over as head coach of the Foxboro Warriors and is aiming to help her team improve over the course of the season.

The Warriors are hoping 2019 will be a turnaround year after just one win last season. O’Brien brings a wealth of playing experience, winning multiple Hockomock League championships with the Bulldogs and setting multiple records while at Worcester State. She holds two single-season records for digs and is second in program history in total digs (1,271). Santana has a strong core of players back to work within her first year including senior captains Grace Boudreau, Sara Addeche, and Maddie O’Brien. Boudreau gives the Warriors experience at the net as an attacking option while Addeche and O’Brien both provide strong leadership on and off the court. Junior Kelsey Treweek will anchor the defense as the libero while newcomer Shakirah Ketant should factor in defensively at the net.

“We are focused on developing the team as a whole and strengthening the camaraderie on and off the court,” Santana said. “Volleyball is a mental game and building our team culture around trust, positivity, and motivation is a priority for the year.”

Franklin

2018 Record: 20-1 (Kelley-Rex Division Champions)
2018 Finish: Reached D1 State Semifinals
Coach: Kelsey Weymouth

It’s going to be a completely new look Franklin squad this fall, but second-year head coach Kelsey Weymouth is still expecting a strong season from the Panthers.

Coming off the best season in program history which featured an undefeated regular season, a D1 Central West sectional title, and a trip to the D1 State Semifinals, the Panthers will look to new faces to try and orchestrate another successful season. Allyson Bonnett-Eymard picked up valuable experience last season, registering 102 kills, and will be one of the go-to options on offense for Franklin this year. Weymouth also expects Bonnett-Eymard to be involved in the setting game as well. Other returners include Bridget Jackson and Emma Chase, both of which will play in the middle. Weymouth expects Chase to hit from various spots at the net this year. Sophomore Cailyn Macintosh had a strong offseason and will be in the mix for setting duties, junior Jill Benoit will be a key piece of the back row defense as the libero, and senior Sarah Jackson will see an expanded role at the net this season. The Panthers will be relying on their height to lead the defense at the net.

“We are more of a younger team this season but each player has made huge improvements,” Weymouth said. “Most of the team has not played together before, so our chemistry will be key. I love having a lot of variety on my team because that means I can move a lot of people around playing different positions.”

King Philip

2018 Record: 11-11
2018 Finish: Reached D1 Central/East Quarterfinals
Coach: Kristen Geuss

After an up and down season in 2018, King Philip is looking to compete for the Kelley-Rex title again this year.

The Warriors have a strong mix of starters and experienced players due back this season so there is a lot of potential for this season. The heart of the offense returns with both senior Catherine Waldeck and junior Nicole Coughlan (the 2018 HockomockSports Underclassman of the Year) back as the team’s middle blockers. Both had over 130 kills last season and combined for 77 blocks so the Warriors will certainly be strong up the middle again this year. Senior Kristen Masse will complement them as one of the outside hitters, the Warriors having their top three attack options back this season. Senior Kiley Sullivan and junior Lauren Peterson (both over 100 assists last year) are back to run the offense from the setter position. Juniors Lily Carlow and Emma Brooks bring experience to the back row defensive unit. Head coach Kristen Geuss expects juniors Ali McNamara, Paige Kannally, and Tori Claypoole to all factor in as well.

“There is a great deal of potential on the team,” Geuss said. “Many have put in the time in the offseason to improving their game. They are working hard in practice and are improving each day.”

Mansfield

2018 Record: 7-13
2018 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Melissa Heeden & Cindy Conquest

There is a lot of excitement surrounding the 2019 version of the Mansfield Hornets, and for good reason with a lot of returning players back this season.

While the Hornets missed out on the playoffs a year ago, there is a lot of talent back that gained valuable experience and will be looking to compete for a division title this season. Last year’s inexperienced group is now ready to show off what they learned last season. There are five seniors that will lead the charge for Mansfield: outside hitter/defensive specialist Julia Buiser, outside hitter Emily Dardinski, setter Olivia Fernando, libero Sam Sternburg, and setter Stephanie Walker. Having a senior at almost every position gives Mansfield an edge in both leadership and experience. Junior Olivia McGrath, sophomore Julia Kelly, junior Alina Nowakowski, and junior Ashley Santos all saw valuable match time last year and will be looking to take the next step this season. With such a well-rounded team, head coach Melissa Heeden has been moving the pieces around looking for the right combination heading into the season. Heeden is hoping that the combination of more experience and a balanced team will translate into success on the court.

“I am really excited about our team this year,” Heeden said. “The girls have worked really hard and we have a lot more experience this year than we did last year. We have a great team with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. We are well balanced and I am really looking forward to seeing what they can do!”




Milford

2018 Record: 9-10
2018 Finish: Reached D2 Central First Round
Coach: Tammy Webber

After just making it into the state tournament a year ago, the Scarlet Hawks return an experienced group that is aiming to compete for the Davenport division title.

Milford has been in the mix before, their best chance at the division coming in 2016, but should be a serious contender in 2019. The Hawks bring back two talented middles in Allison and Lauren Corsini, Julia Riordan returns as the starting setter, Alyssa Williamson is back at the outside hitter spot, and right side hitter Elise Faurerbach has solid varsity experience. Sophomore Sarah Brogioli should see an expanded role as an outside hitter after getting some swings last year as a freshman. The Corsini sisters combined for over 200 kills and over 100 blocks and should give Milford an edge both offensively and defensively. Riordan dished out 420 assists a year ago and has plenty of weapons at her disposal, including Williamson (108 kills in 2018). The challenge early on will be replacing defensive specialists Sydney Sutton and Nina Pinto, who combined for the majority of the team’s digs and serve receives last year.

“We have the offensive pieces, but are working on the consistency we will need, especially in our passing, to be in the running for a Hockomock championship,” said head coach Tammy Webber.

North Attleboro

2018 Record: 10-9
2018 Finish: Reached D1 South First Round
Coach: Kim Hallahan

With 10 seniors on the roster, North Attleboro coach Kim Hallahan is excited for upcoming season.

It all starts with the two senior captains for the Rocketeers, with seniors Hayley Gaskin and Brook Street leading the way for North Attleboro. Gaskin returns as the starting setter after a very strong junior campaign in which North Attleboro qualified for the state tournament. Street will step in to anchor the defensive line in the back row as the libero while Gaskin, who had 416 assists last year with just 10 ball handling errors, will have a lot of the same options back again this year. One of those options will be senior Kylie Melanson, who was second on the team last year with 124 kills, and junior Joanna Collins-Bilyeu, who is set to see an expanded role at the net this year. With a strong group of well-rounded players, the challenge now for Hallahan is finding the right combination of players and the right rotations heading into the season.

“I have a really good feeling about this year,” Hallahan said. “The girls all have good spirits and work really, really hard, but most importantly work really well together. I’m really excited for this season.”

Oliver Ames

2018 Record: 14-8
2018 Finish: Reached D1 South Quarterfinals
Coach: Chelsea Cunningham

Oliver Ames is riding a three-year streak of qualifying for the state tournament and is looking to make it four this season.

Head coach Chelsea Cunningham has two of her top players back from last year’s 14-win squad in senior outside hitter Jordan Bosse and setter Allie Kemp. Bosse was one of the top hitters in the league and led the Tigers with 240 kills, so having a strong, experienced player back at the outside hitter position will be a big boost early on. And on top of that, Kemp (the 2017 HockomockSports Underclassman of the Year) is back to distribute the ball so there should be an early connection between the two. Cunningham is also looking for senior Alison Barth to step into the libero role, Ryley McNeeley to get some swings both in the middle and right side, junior Caroline Flynn to play the other outside hitter role, and sophomore Hadley Rhodes (setter/opposite) to play a variety of roles.

“We are hoping to learn from every practice, game, and everything in between,” Cunningham said. “The girls are flexible in their roles and all have something to offer on and off the court. Offensively, we have many options this year and hope to utilize everyone on the roster. Defensively, we have some holes to fill but continue to adjust to each team we face. With this particular group, expectations have been set, and they have to work for everything. With all the different factors that play a role, I could not have asked for a better group of student-athletes to work with.”

Sharon

2018 Record: 7-12
2018 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Andrea Lovett

Sharon has a lot of returning players with experience at the varsity level which has head coach Andrea Lovett excited for the upcoming season.

The Eagles will look to use their strength and experience at the front row to pace the offense. Juniors Sara Fandel and Leah Fandel are back after picking up good experience a year ago, and senior Jada Johnson returns after one year off. Johnson had a terrific sophomore campaign and could be a big difference-maker for the Eagles. Senior captain Maya Aidlin-Perlman and junior Brynne Aidlin-Perlman will provide the power from the outside hitter spots. Senior captain Ally Brown brings quickness and intelligence to the setter spot and will be a leader for the Eagles both on and off the court.

“Over the last several years, Sharon has been gaining skills, experience, and a renewed drive to win,” Lovett said. “We are looking forward to carrying that trend into the season.”

Stoughton

2018 Record: 16-5
2018 Finish: Reached D2 South Semifinals
Coach: Erica Batchelder

The Black Knights have put together back-to-back 16 win seasons and have graduated two straight strong classes, so expectations are high for the upcoming season.

With some key losses to graduation, the Black Knights will be changing up some tactics and strategies this year to best take advantage of the players they do have returning. There will be a lot of focus on the defensive side of the ball, with a strong emphasis on hustle and eliminating unforced errors. Senior Alexa Quinones will be changing positions to take over as the setter. Her experience as an attacking option makes her a dual-threat alongside middle blocker Amaya Morris. Morris had a strong season a year ago and will be a key piece of the net defense this season. Senior Sasha Hyacinthe will be one of the main offensive options after a breakout junior campaign. Stoughton will be turning to senior Veronica Noe to anchor the defense in the back row, junior Shanice Landrum will be stepping into one of the middle roles, and junior Camille Firmin will give the Black Knights an attacking option as both an outside hitter and on the right side.

“We have strong players filling gaps from last year,” said head coach Erica Batchelder. “I am excited for this season for Stoughton to show other teams not to ever count us out. We have a lot of heart, hustle, communication, and talent to back it up.”

Taunton

2018 Record: 5-15
2018 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Toby Chaperon

There will be a learning curve this season for Taunton, which features an overall young team with limited varsity experience.

Head coach Toby Chaperon had a busy preseason with over 100 girls trying out for the program. Senior Alyssa Turcotte, an outside hitter and a middle hitter, will see a lot of time at the net for the Tigers this year as well as senior outside hitter Hailey Sullivan, who has “a tremendous feel for the game” according to Chaperon. Junior Ella Dunderdale brings a strong skill set so she can play in a variety of roles during the season while classmates Sonya Fernandez (middle) and Jaelyn Fernandez (setter) could emerge as top players this season. Fabian Pereira will be in the mix in the back row while sophomore Mikayla Clearly is likely to factor in in some capacity for the Tigers.

Monday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 10/15/18

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Soccer
Canton, 1 @ Braintree, 1 – Final

Foxboro, 3 vs. Milton, 3 – Final

King Philip, 0 vs. Bishop Feehan, 2 – Final

North Attleboro, 4 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game. – North Attleboro found the back of the net three times in the first half and went on to add one more in the second half to beat Stoughton. Alex Pfeffer opened the scoring in the 7th minute, one-timing a cross from Andrew Tolfa. Five minutes later, Joe Hilf and Joey Coscarella combined at the top of the area, the latter converting his chance inside the box. Matt Mordini set up the third goal with great hustle, tracking down a ball right on the end line and finding Alvaro Martinez-Calvo at the far post. James Sales added a fourth goal on a rebound in the second half. Nolan Gerome had 21 saves in net for the Black Knights.

Oliver Ames, 4 @ Taunton, 2 – Final – Oliver Ames outscored Taunton 3-1 in the second half to earn two points on the road. OA opened the scoring when Jimmy Keane found the back of the net on an assist from Brady deVos. Taunton tied the game just before the break to make it 1-1 heading into the second half. Niko Byron opened his account for the season to put OA ahead, finishing a service from Colin Milliken. Sean Flaherty (assisted by Kevin Louhis) put the visiting Tigers up 3-1 but Taunton cut the deficit to just one with 16 minutes to play. But Milliken iced the game, converting a penalty kick to make it 4-2.

Girls Soccer
Attleboro, 0 @ Canton, 5 – Final

Field Hockey
Attleboro, 4 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final – Attleboro scored three goals in the second half to pull away from the Tigers, avenging a shutout loss to the Tigers earlier this season. The Bombardiers led 1-0 at the break before OA tied it early in the second. Anna Beck, Hannah Webster, Emelia Westwater and Emma Briggs each scored once for Attleboro.

Canton, 6 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game.

Foxboro, 5 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Lily Daly and Sophia Lowe each scored twice as the Warriors pulled away from the Scarlet Hawks in the second half. Sophia DiCenso also scored for Foxboro, which led 1-0 at half.

Mansfield, 0 @ Franklin, 5 – Final – Franklin set the tone early, scoring twice in the opening five minutes, in a big 5-0 win over Mansfield. Victoria Quinn had both of the first two goals, the first assisted by Amanda Lewandowski just 86 seconds into the contest. Quinn made it 2-0 on assists from Ashley Reutlinger and Regan Paterson just before the five minute mark. Lewandowski (from Reutlinger) made it 3-0 at the midway point of the first half. Paterson (from Lewandowski) made it 4-0 in the 36th minute and Quinn completed the hat trick with an unassisted tally in the 39th minute. Christina Luccini made nine saves for the shutout and FHS head coach Michelle Hess said Maeve Ledwith had a fantastic game defensively and Cassi Ronan had a great game controlling the field from the center mid position.

Sharon @ North Attleboro, 6:30

King Philip, 4 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – King Philip scored a pair of goals in each half to earn a shutout win on the road at Taunton. Claire Lawler scored both of KP’s first half tallies, both off assists from Alli Meehan, Lawler opened the scoring in the 7th minute and then made it 2-0 in the 10th minute. Cristina Gifun (assisted by Meehan) struck less than five minutes into the second half to make it 3-0 and Meehan capped the scoring in the 46th minute, converting a pass from Nicole Connor.

Volleyball
Attleboro, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – Oliver Ames senior Sadie Homer recorded her 1,000th career dig as the Tigers rolled to a win at home (25-16, 25-19, 25-10). Homer, who had 37 digs, is just the second player in program history to reach the 1,000-point club. Caitlin Cavanaugh had 12 kills, Jordan Bosse added 10 kills, and Grace McCallum chipped in with six aces for OA. Attleboro’s Amanda Kadisveskis had five kills, three blocks, and an ace, Chelsea Calgagni finished with 11 kills and six digs, and Jessica Matheson had 13 digs for the Bombardiers.

Canton, 3 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – Click here for a recap and photo gallery of this game.

Foxboro, 1 @ Milford, 3 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game.

Mansfield, 1 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Mansfield became just the third team to take a set against the Panthers this year, winning the second set to make it 1-1 but Franklin notched convincing wins in the next two sets to get the win (25-19, 23-25, 25-14, 25-13). For the Hornets, Greenly Kelly had nine kills and eight service points, Sam Sternberg had eight digs and eight service points, and Ashley Santos chipped in with five kills.

King Philip, 3 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – Taunton won a tight second set but King Philip didn’t let the momentum swing to the home team, taking the match 3-1 (25-18, 25-27, 25-10, 25-13). For the Warriors, Catherine Waldeck had 15 kills and a block, Nicole Coughlan added seven kills and two blocks, Shayla Weitzman finished with eight digs and two aces.

Sharon, 1 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final – After splitting the first two sets, North Attleboro earned the win by taking the next two sets against Sharon (25-10, 21-25, 25-14, 25-20). Hayley Gaskin set the offense in motion with 40 assists while Tatiana Sotelo had a career-high 22 kills for the Rocketeers.

Golf
Attleboro @ Dighton-Rehoboth, 3:30

Franklin, 162 @ Stoughton, 187 – Final – Franklin was led by medalist Quentin Faro, who carded a low-round of 37. Matt D’Errico added a 39 for Franklin, and Gerard Collins and Jake Peterson each shot a 43. Stoughton was led by Josh Hough win a 42.

Sharon, 175 @ Stoughton, 187 – Final – Sharon’s Corey Carter earned medalist honors, shooting a 37 to pace the Eagles to a win over Stoughton at Easton Country Club. Max Brody added a 42 for the Eagles and Nathan Daley carded a round of 45. Josh Hough led the Black Knights with a round of 42.

Oliver Ames, 158 @ Mansfield, 154 – Final – Mansfield earned its biggest win of the season by upsetting visiting Oliver Ames. OA’s Nolan Donze had a medalist round of 35 but Mansfield got contributions from Nate Morreale (36), Jason See (37), Joseph Gormley (40) and Ryan Dow (41) to get the win. Thomas Walsh added a round of 39 for the Tigers and Tate Hadges and Sam Becker each shot a 42.

Milford, 173 @ Mansfield, 154 – Final – Nate Morreale carded a round of 36 and Jason See shot a 37 to pace the Hornets to a win over visiting Milford. Joseph Gormley added a round of 40 while Ryan Dow chipped in with a 41.

Thursday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 10/04/18

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Soccer
Franklin, 3 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final – Franklin senior Tim Duval scored a pair of goals and assisted on another to lead the Panthers to a win on the road. “It was a well played game, our kids played really well together tonight,” said Franklin head coach Fran Bositis. Junior Lucas Moura set Duval up for his first goal, and Duval assisted on classmate Ethan Bowen’s goal.

Milford, 2 @ Canton, 1 – Final – Milford junior Walisson de Oliveira opened the scoring in the first half and assisted on what proved to be the game-winner in the second as the Hawks picked up a key win on the road to pull into a first place tie in the Davenport division. de Oliveira capitalized on a loose ball behind the defense, chipping the keeper in the 15th minute to put the Hawks up 1-0. In the 71st minute, de Oliveira flicked himself in, got a touch past the keeper and Joao Vitor Neiva slid and pushed the ball across the line. Canton struck just two minutes later when Paolo Ruggeri converted a nice shot from outside the area to cut the deficit in half.

Foxboro, 1 @ North Attleboro, 2 – Final – Click here for a recap and photo gallery from this game.

King Philip, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final – In a back-and-forth contest, Oliver Ames scored the game-winning goal inside the final 10 minutes to grab two points at home, bouncing back from its first loss of the season. Senior Sean Flaherty found the back of the net after Haendal Louhis flicked on a throw in from Harry Ahearn. Senior Jacob Lerman and Drew Nikla combined for the shutout for the Tigers, each making a big stop. Lerman thwarted a breakaway in the first half while Nickla came up with a big save without allowing a rebound on a cross in the final minutes.

Mansfield, 7 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Mansfield raced out to a 5-0 lead by halftime and never looked back, beating Taunton to qualify for the state tournament. Junior Raffi Marzella scored a pair of goals in the win while classmate Robert Healey had two assists. Junior Colin Caridi, freshman Dylan Buchanon, and senior Ethan Brill-Cass each had a goal and an assist.

Stoughton, 0 @ Sharon, 3 – Final – Sharon broke into the win column with a 3-0 decision over visiting Stoughton. Bryce Nathan had the game-winning goal and also recorded an assist for the Eagles. Nathan opened the scoring in the 25th minute, converting an assist from Antonio El-Khoury. Sharon made it 2-0 before the break when Brian Higgins took a feed from Andrew Ableman and found the back of the net. Nathan set up Victor Schneider for a goal in the second half. Stoughton sophomore Nolan Gerome made 16 saves for the Black Knights.

Girls Soccer
Attleboro, 0 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Franklin scored three times in the final 20 minutes to secure a win in a physical division game. Sabrina Addi opened the scoring for the Panthers and Franklin took advantage of the Bombardiers pushing forward after an equalizer to score two more. Hailey Toolin added the second off an assist from Sydney St. Marie and Anna Blakus sealed the win in the final minute off an assist from Calen Frongillo. Tayla Drape made 10 saves for Attleboro, while Breanna Atwood made four to keep a clean sheet.

Milford, 0 @ Canton, 4 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery from this game. – Canton sophomore scored a pair of goals and had an assist as the Bulldogs notched a convincing win at home. Gilmore scored twice in the first half, both off of restarts. In the sixth minute, Gilmore scored an olimpico – a goal straight from a corner kick. Just 10 minutes later, she floated a free kick from 30 yards out on the left sideline into the far post for a 2-0 lead. In the second half, Gilmore set up Elisa Diletizia, who made a nice move to get free and slotted a low shot into the corner in the 42nd minute. Five minutes later, Lauren McCabe’s cross found Olivia Rodman at the back post and she blasted a shot just under the bar to make it 4-0.

North Attleboro, 1 @ Foxboro, 2 – Final – Katelyn Mollica scored once and assisted on the second goal for the Warriors, who jumped out to a 2-0 lead by halftime. The first goal came straight from a corner and the second came off a Mollica free kick that was headed home by Jordyn Collins. Alex Moulson scored her first career goal to cut the lead in half with eight minutes left off an Ashlyn Gaulin assist, but the Warriors held on for the win to keep hold of first in the Davenport division. Foxboro coach Katie Stalcup said that the defense and goalie Morgan Sylvestre had great games in the win.

Taunton, 0 @ Mansfield, 5 – Final – Melissa Reef scored what turned out to be the game-winner for the Hornets and her midfield partner Bryn Anderson had a goal and two assists. Maria Sevastos added a goal and an assist, Steph Kemp had an assist, and Katie Miller scored her first career goal for the Hornets. Defender Emily Vigeant also got on the scoresheet off a Katy Garvin assist. Izzy Anslow made 12 saves for the Tigers.

Oliver Ames, 2 @ King Philip, 1 – Final – Oliver Ames battled back from a goal down with a pair of second half goals to pull out the road win. Anna Tempestoso tied the game from the penalty spot and in the final minute Brianna Gibson added an “olimpico” to secure the full two points for the Tigers.

Sharon, 0 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Brianna Buckley earned her first clean sheet of the season for the Black Knights.

Field Hockey
Stoughton, 3 vs. East Bridgewater, 0 – Final – Stoughton earned a season sweep over East Bridgewater, beating the Vikings 3-0 for the second time this season. Allie Howe paced the Knights’ offense with two goals while Alanna McCormick had the other goal.

Volleyball
Franklin, 3 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – Franklin recorded a win o the road, knocking off Attleboro 3-0 (25-10, 25-9, 25-11). FOr Attleboro, Jessica Matheson had eight digs and Chelsea Calcagni added six kills.

Golf
Attleboro, 182 @ Taunton, 190 – Final

Mansfield, 149 @ Oliver Ames, 148 – Final – Oliver Ames’ Nolan Donze and Steve Heino both had strong outings, leading the Tigers to a one-stroke win over Mansfield. As the final pair, Donze carded a round of 36 while Heino shot 37. Thomas Walsh also added a 37 and Tate Hadges shot a 38 for Oliver Ames. Mansfield’s Jason See was the match medalist with nine pars, shooting a low-round of 34.

Sharon, 177 @ Foxboro, 169 – Final – Foxboro’s Noah Hicks earned match medalist honors with a low round of 40, helping the Warriors pick up a key division win over Sharon. Dylan Quinn added a 42 for the Warriors while Matt Hague (43) and Matt Lathrop (44) also scored for Foxboro. Sharon’s Max Brody had a team-low round of 42.

Stoughton, 169 @ North Attleboro, 150 – Final – North Attleboro had three golfers break 40 in a win over visiting Stoughton. Matt Wanless was the match medalist, shooting a 36 to pace the Rocketeers. Jillian Barend and Pat Roberts each shot 37 while Marcus Costa contributed with a 40. Max Huminik led the Black Knights with a 39.

Stoughton, 169 vs. Milford, 163 – Final – The Black Knights participated in a tri-match, facing off with both North Attleboro and Milford. Riley Lynch was the medalist for the Hawks with a 38 while Max Huminik led Stoughton with a 39. Luke Bainton and Kyle Stone each for 43 for Stoughton and Josh Hough carded a 44.

Tuesday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 09/11/18


Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Soccer
Stoughton, 0 @ North Attleboro, 2 – Final – North Attleboro scored a pair of goals inside the final 10 minutes to grab two points against visiting Stoughton. Joe Hilf put the hosts ahead in the 75th minute, finishing off a corner kick from Joey Coscarella that was flicked on by James Sales. The Rocketeers grabbed a second in the 77th minute when Sales headed in a cross from Hilf on a short corner. North head coach Geoff Burgess said Evan Rosenberg and Gavin O’Malley played strong defense while Kyle Briere made two saves in the win. Stoughton goalie Carter Gerome made eight saves for the Black Knights.

Taunton @ Oliver Ames – Postponed to a date and time to be announced.

Girls Soccer
North Attleboro, 8 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – North Attleboro senior Ashlyn Gaulin had her hand in six goals to help the Rocketeers open their season in style. Gaulin scored three goals and assisted on three more while Kayla Pasquel had a goal and two assists. Lily Cameron added two goals, Haley Ferrin and Lexi Sinacola each found the back of the net once, and Liz Smahi had an assist. Stoughton sophomore Rebecca Desousa scored off an assist from classmate Mackenzie Manning.

Oliver Ames @ Taunton – Postponed to a date and time to be announced.

Field Hockey
King Philip, 4 @ Acton Boxboro, 1 – Final – King Philip raced out to a 3-0 lead at halftime and never looked back in a win over Acton Boxboro, ranked #4 in New England by MAX Field Hockey. Dana Truini opened the scoring just over four minutes into the game, deflecting in Alli Meehan’s shot off a breakaway. Meehan doubled the lead with an unassisted goal and then set up freshman Meghan MacDonald at the midway point to make it 3-0. MacDonald grabbed her second goal of the game off a pass from Claire Lawlor. Grace May had a solid game in net for the Warriors.

Volleyball
Attleboro, 0 @ Norton, 3 – Final – Attleboro was in every set but fell on the road to Norton (25-19, 25-18, 25-22). Jessica Matheson had three digs and two assists, Ana Leonardo had seven assists and an ace, and Chelsea Calcagni finished with five kills and two aces for the Bombardiers.

Golf
Canton, 161 @ Milford, 170 – Final – Canton’s Thomas Singleton fired a 38 to earn match medalist honors and help the Bulldogs open the season with a win. Chris Lavoie and Mike Gobbi each shot 41 while Tommy Dimock rounded out Canton’s scoring with a 42. Justin Applebee led Milford with a round of 40.

Franklin @ Foxboro – Postponed to a date and time to be announced.
Oliver Ames @ Mansfield – Postponed to a date and time to be announced.

Stoughton, 203 @ Taunton, 172 – Final

Volleyball: 2018 Hockomock League Preview

2018 Hockomock Volleyball Preview

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2018 Hockomock Volleyball Preview

Attleboro

2017 Record: 4-16
2017 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Courtney Durocher

A year after joining the Bombardiers as an assistant coach, Courtney Durocher takes over an Attleboro program hungry to make a splash in the Hockomock League. Attleboro lost four-year player and all-league selection Lexi Pereira to graduation but Durocher has a strong group of players to work with in her first year. Amanda Kadisevskis will be a vital part on both offense and defense, having led the Hock in blocks last season. Kadisevskis is a tri-captain along with senior Chelsea Calcagni and Faith Hindy (right side). Ana Leonardo had a strong year last year and will be relied upon to set the offense in motion while juniors Jessica Matheson (defensive specialist) and Emily McGovern (outside hitter) will be called upon to step up this season for the Bombardiers.

“I am excited for this season as I am now the head coach,” Durocher said. “I believe the team will have a good season and work well together.”

Canton

2017 Record: 7-12
2017 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Pat Cawley

Canton’s decade-long run as league champion came to a close last season but head coach Pat Cawley is hoping the lessons learned last year will pay off in 2018. The Bulldogs only had a couple of players with varsity experience last year so a lot of new faces were able to gain experience throughout the year. Senior captain Nicole Brown is back for her second year as the team’s setter. Her athleticism and speed allow her to get around the court to get in position to make plays. Middle Erin Devine will be one of Brown’s main targets along with outside hitting Taylor Harris. Devine has impressed through the preseason and Harris brings an aggressive edge to the Dogs’ attack. Senior libero Meghan McDonough is one of the players Cawley expects to take the next step this season after getting a year of experience under her belt last season. Setter/opposite Olivia Chinsen and outside hitter Angie Elias are also in the mix for Canton this year.

“Canton volleyball is looking to turn it around this season,” Cawley said. “We have 10 seniors, many of whom saw a lot of playing time last year. We are hoping this experience leads to more aggressive and confident play.”

Foxboro

2017 Record: 1-17
2017 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Dan Damish

The 2018 version of the Foxboro Warriors will rely heavily on its four captains while a handful of new faces get acclimated to the varsity level. Senior captain Paulette Palomares will set the tone defensively as the libero and will be joined by fellow captains Brynn Gilbert and Shaelyn McCarthy as defensive specialists. Grace Boudreau, a junior captain, will be a main piece of the offense from her outside hitter spot. Boudreau will be joined on the outside by Calvi Goodard while first-year players Ashelyn Moniz and Meg McDonald will be in the middle. First-year player Madison O’Brien will take over as the team’s setter.

“This year’s team will have to play great defense, serve well, serve receive well and play great team volleyball in order to have a successful season,” said Foxboro head coach Dan Damish.

Franklin

2017 Record: 15-5
2017 Finish: Reached D1 Central/West Quarterfinal
Coach: Kelsey Weymouth

Former North Attleboro standout Kelsey Weymouth takes over as head coach of the Franklin Panthers and she has a lot of talent to work with right away.

The Panthers have Lauren McGrath, Ellie Wiesniewski, Riley Marino, Maggie Doyle, and Hailey Sanders back, all of whom either starter or played in plenty of sets last season. McGrath is in her third year as the starting setting and is a vocal leader for the team while Marino is a standout defensive specialist as the libero. Doyle is a tall presence in the middle that will be a big part of the defense as well as Sanders, who plays on the right side. Wisniewski and sophomore Allyson Bonnet-Eymard will be the main focuses on the outside for the Panthers.

“I am extremely excited to be apart of this Franklin program and coach these girls into being successful volleyball players,” Weymouth said. “I am going to do everything in my power to continue the previous success of this program. My girls have been extremely welcoming and that’s a good feeling coming in a new head coach.”

King Philip

2017 Record: 20-3 (Kelley-Rex Division Champions)
2017 Finish: Reached D1 Central/East Final
Coach: Kristen Geuss

King Philip claimed its second straight Kelley-Rex title last season and fourth in the past five years. Now the focus turns to 2018 and the Warriors will be looking to compete for yet another division crown. Gone is two-time Hockomock MVP Sydney Phillips and four other starters but the Warriors bring back a solid core of players that will try to make their own mark this season. It starts with senior captains Livvie Atkins and Kat Kmetz, two of the more experienced players on the squad. Atkins is one of the top defensive players on the team and Kmetz will step into an outside hitter spot. Head coach Kristen Guess is relying on seniors Shayla Weitzman (defensive specialist), Caroline Robertson (opposite), Jessie Kornfeld (defensive specialist) and Kristen Masse (defensive specialist) to step up this season. Junior Kiley Sullivan steps in as an option at setter while classmates Grace Ely and Catherine Waldeck will handle the middle blocker spots. Guess also expects sophomores Emma Brooks (Setting), Nicole Coughlin (middle), and Lillian Carlow (defensive specialist) to see substantial time this year.

“Our strength will be our ability to distribute the ball to all of our hitters,” Guess said. “We are working hard each practice and I see us improving every day.”

Mansfield

2017 Record: 8-11
2017 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Melissa Heeden

There will be a lot of new faces in Mansfield’s lineup this season after losing seven seniors to graduation. The Hornets graduated their leader in kills and blocks (Meg Hill), assists (Emma Ascoli), and top two players in digs (Julia Harrison and Jolie O’Neil) so there is plenty of space for new players to step up and make a name for themselves. One key piece returning to the lineup is middle Greenly Kelly, who was among the best in the league at blocking. Her net defense will be key for a Hornet squad putting an emphasis on defense. Senior captain Katie Dardinski is a defensive specialist and will be another key piece on the back line. Sophomore Alina Nowakowski will take over as the other middle while sophomore Olivia McGrath will step into an outside hitter role.

“We will be a very different team this year in which I am hoping to be a little more defensive minded,” said Mansfield head coach Melissa Heeden. “While we are young and have a lot of work to do, they are ready for the challenge.”

Milford

2017 Record: 7-13
2017 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Tammy Webber

The Hawks will need some new players to step up in 2018 after graduating the core of its team from last season, including eight seniors. Head coach Tammy Webber believes that her team is only going to get better the more they play. Seniors Briana Maiette, Sydney Sutton, and Nina Pinto will be relied upon for their leadership this season while Webber is looking for contributions out of juniors Julia Riordan and Alyssa Williamson. Middles Allison Corsini and Lauren Corsini could give the Hawks a boost at the net while sophomore Elise Fauerbach figures to get some time on the court right away. Senior defensive specialist and Ana Alvarenga and juniors Abbey Reichert and April Swain are also in the mix for playing time this season.

“Right now we are just working on consistency and confidence in our play,” Webber said. “We are working on finding the best combinations of players to be competitive and win games.”

North Attleboro

2017 Record: 18-3 (Davenport Division Champions)
2017 Finish: Reached D1 South Quarterfinal
Coach: Kim Hallahan

Not many teams lost as much talent as the Rocketeers, who boasted a very senior-heavy roster last season that won its first-ever Davenport title. And on top of that, Kim Hallahan takes over as head coach after Jeff Crins stepped down after a lengthy run as the leader of the Rocketeers. Seniors Emma Gunn and Tatiana Sotelo are the two returning players this season and will be joined by 11 juniors. Sotelo will be counted on to be a main piece in Big Red’s offense while Hayley Gaskin and Joanna Collins-Bilyeu give North Attleboro options at the setter position. Hallahan said there are a lot of solid defensive players on the team but need to figure out which spots work best.

“We do have a young team, but after we get the season started, and some of the nerves out, I don’t think that it will affect us too much,” CHllahan said. “We have many hardworking, talented, versatile girls.”

Oliver Ames

2017 Record: 11-10
2017 Finish: Reached D1 South First Round
Coach: Chelsea Cunningham

While Oliver Ames is in a good spot with its defense and setter, the Tigers are in need of players to step up on the offensive end after the graduation of six talented seniors. Senior captain Sadie Homer is a four-year varsity player and returns as the team’s libero. She’s been a defensive specialist for the Tigers for all four years and will be one of the most seasoned and skilled players in the back row in the Hock this season. Junior setter Allie Kemp is also back and is the reigning HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year after helping the Tigers win 11 of their final 14 games to qualify for the state tournament. One option OA has at the net will be junior Jordan Bosse. After serving as a defensive specialist last season, Bosse will be an offensive option at outside hitter this season.

“I see lots of potential with this group,” said OA head coach Chelsea Cunningham. “We have big shoes to fill after losing six seniors, all of offensive positions. We have a roster full of athleticism and commitment and I hope the girls come ready to play every day and grow as a team. If they play to their potential, this could be a great season for the OA Volleyball program.”

Sharon

2017 Record: 6-12
2017 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Andrea Lovett

After improving its win total each of the last two seasons, the Sharon volleyball program will be relying on its eight seniors to continue that upward trend. The Eagles’ offense will run mostly through its two captains with Abby Fine acting as the engine for the attack. From her setter position, the offense will flow through her while one of her main targets will be fellow captain Jody Goldenberg. Goldenberg will also be key on the defensive side as a middle blocker. Ally Brown will also see time at setter and will have senior Jade Veth and sophomore Brynne Aidlin-Perlman to work with on the outside.

“Sharon’s program is building from the ground up,” said head coach Andrea Lovett. “As more and more talented younger players come up through the ranks, we are looking forward to seeing many more wins this season. The Eagles are a tough, tenacious group of players who I believe are going to surprise some teams this season.”

Stoughton

2017 Record: 16-5
2017 Finish: Reached D2 South First Round
Coach: Erica Batchelder

Last year was certainly a season to remember for the Black Knights and a big reason why was the two-way play of seniors Val Whalen and Jordan Motley. Both Whalen and Motley played significant roles on offense and defense for the Knights, who set a program record for wins in a season. While those two weapons are gone, the Black Knights bring two other important pieces from their offense from last year. Setters Molly Turner (278) and Hanna Holden (179) are both back and will the engines of the team. Juniors Sasha Hyacinthe and Alexa Quinones have worked hard in the summer and will be two offensive options for Stoughton. Another key returner for Stoughton is senior Mia Bennett, who is back for her third year as the team’s libero.

“We may have a lot of new faces but we are taking the same approach to the game: become better players, coaches, and people every day and the wins will come,” said Stoughton head coach Erica Batchelder. “We have so much untapped potential in this team that is going to surprise the rest of the league. We will always try our hardest and have fun while doing it.”

Taunton

2017 Record: 4-16
2017 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Toby Chaperon

After missing out on the state tournament the past two seasons, the Tigers are looking to get back into playoff contention on the backs of nine seniors. Everything will run through three-year starter Kayli Fagan, who is inching closer and closer to 1,000 assists as the team’s primary setter. Another key returner is senior Mckenzie Lucie, who will continue to handle libero duties and stabilize the back line. Middle Kamila Cuevas has taken a big step forward while Sam Silveira is back as an option on the outside. Other seniors that head coach Toby Chaperon is expecting to contribute include Sam Martin (opposite), Aliyah Gillenwater (outside), Michaela Felici (outside), Jaime Brown (defensive specialist), and Elaine Bodemer (defensive specialist).

“We will be integrating many new players and are hoping that gelling process will happen quickly as there are no let-ups in our schedule as we get started right away with a strong New Bedford team,” Chaperon said.