Below are the official 2022 Hockomock League Volleyball All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.
Hockomock League MVP
Maddie Homer, Oliver Ames
Hockomock League All Stars
Julia Leonardo, Attleboro
Natalie Brojek, Attleboro
Jess Wright, Canton
Zoe Scibelli, Canton
Alyssa Cloherty, Foxboro
Taylor Lacerda, Franklin
Makayla Kuykendall, Franklin
Emily Sawyer, King Philip
Ahunna James, King Philip
Sami Shore, King Philip
Elyssa Bucahnan, Mansfield
Aliza Syed, Milford
Mariah Barbosa, North Attleboro
Maddie Homer, Oliver Ames
Sarah Hilliard, Oliver Ames
Clare Kavolius, Oliver Ames
Emily Coplan, Sharon
Maya Ashu, Stoughton
Hayley Krockta, Taunton
Honorable Mentions
Sadie Whitmarsh, Attleboro
Liana Lamparelli, Canton
Mallorie Meyer, Foxboro
Georgia Harvey, Franklin
Olivia O’Neil, King Philip
Lilly Verheggen, Mansfield
Emily Croteau, Milford
Hayley Carr, North Attleboro
Courtney Raymond, Oliver Ames
Sonja Gray, Sharon
Annalia Eschelman, Stoughton
Anna Abouzeid, Taunton
Below are the official 2022 Hockomock League Volleyball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Volleyball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Volleyball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Volleyball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Volleyball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Volleyball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Volleyball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Volleyball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Volleyball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Volleyball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Volleyball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Volleyball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Volleyball All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league.
Field Hockey
North Attleboro, 3 @ King Philip 3 – Final – North Attleboro rallied for a pair of fourth quarter goals, including the game-tying tally with less than a minute to play to earn a tie against King Philip. The Rocketeers took the lead in the opening quarter, Ava Spencer setting up Julia Puccio, who used a give-and-go with Caroline Folan before depositing a shot into the back of the net to make it 1-0. King Philip answered with three straight goals with Leah Santoro bringing the Warriors level before the end of the first quarter. KP scored a pair of goals in a two-minute span in the second quarter, first Abby MacDonald finishing off a pass from Kelly Holmes, and then Santoro grabbed her second to give the Warriors a 3-1 lead at half. After a scoreless third quarter, North Attleboro cut the deficit down to one when Folan found the back of the net from Ava McKeon midway through the quarter. With 33 seconds to play, Puccio buried an unassisted goal to make it3-3. KP earned a corner with no time left but North got the clear to end it. Haley Bright made eight saves in net for KP.
Oliver Ames @ Sharon – Postponed to TBD.
Volleyball
Foxboro, 3 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – After splitting the first two sets, Foxboro went on to win two straight close sets to close out the match for a 3-1 (25-23, 19-25, 25-20, 25-23) win on the road. Alyssa Cloherty orchestrated the offense with 26 assists and added six kills, two aces, and a block. Sami Sloan (15 kills, four aces, four digs) and Juliana Pettigrew (eight kills) paced the attack while Shannon McElhinney (nine digs) and Gianna Dunne (11 digs) anchored the defense.
Canton, 3 @ Quincy, 0 – Final – Canton earned its third straight win and second in as many games, sweeping Quincy, 3-0 (25-13, 25-23, 28-26). Freshman Erin Bigham dished out 32 assists to run the offense, adding seven digs, two kills, and two blocks while Liana Lamparelli had a good defensively for the Bulldogs, recording 13 digs. Jess Wright had another strong all-around showing with 21 kills, 10 digs, three blocks, and three aces.
Boys Soccer
Franklin, 1 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – Franklin converted a penalty kick 15 minutes into the second half to get a win on the road over Attleboro and clinch the Kelley-Rex division title. An unlucky hand ball on a service into the area from Noah Cain gave the visitors a chance from the spot. Senior Trey Lovell stepped up and buried a low shot for the only goal of the game.
Canton, 5 @ Foxboro, 0 – Final
King Philip, 0 @ North Attleboro, 2 – Final – North Attleboro scored once in each half to record a win at home over visiting King Philip. Givany Carney found Zach Smahi at the top of the box and he deposited his shot into the back of the net just five minutes into the game for a 1-0 advantage. Smahi returned the favor in the second half, setting up Carney at the 50th minute mark to double the hosts’ advantage. Cole Templin had some big saves for North Attleboro to keep the Warriors off the board. “I’m extremely proud of the effort from all of the seniors tonight,” said North Attleboro head coach Mike Lacasse.
Mansfield, 2 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – A back-and-forth battle ended in a 2-2 draw with each side taking a point. Senior Matheus Groberio blasted a free kick into the back of the net from just outside the area to give the hosts the lead but just two minutes later Connor Palinski finished off a cross to bring the Hornets level. Mansfield carried that momentum and scored again less than 10 minutes after tying it as Dan Checkoway headed in a corner kick from Grady Sullivan. Stoughton came back and found the equalizer before the break as Groberio set up Sam Santos to make it 2-2. Mansfield freshman goalie Troy Lasbury-Casey made 13 saves and played well in his first career start.
Milford, 4 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – The Scarlet Hawks deposited a pair of goals in each half to return home with two points via a 4-0 win over Taunton. Eduardo Santana opened the scoring, running onto a long ball from Nate Dinis and poking it past the keeper to make it 1-0. Rodrigo Lourenço drew a foul with clever dribbling and Lucas Nalon Ribero buried the free kick to double the lead going into the half. Ribero grabbed his second of the day, blasting a rocket of a shot from 40 yards away to make it 3-0. Kaua Pereira capped the scoring for the Hawks, finishing off a corner from Lourenço.
Sharon, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final – Oliver Ames broke the stalemate midway through the second half to get a win at home over visiting Sharon. Senior Mirray DaSilva converted a pass from Joey Carney in the 60th minute for the lone goal of the game.
Girls Soccer
Attleboro, 1 @ Franklin, 4 – Final – Anya Zub’s hat trick pushed the Panthers to a big home win and maintained their lead at the top of the Kelley-Rex. Selene Hammad opened the scoring for Franklin just two minutes into the game, with Zub picking up the assist. Zub would score the next three goals. Kelly O’Connor, Olivia Costa, and Hammad had the assists. Jamie Davies added a late goal for the Bombardiers, converting a penalty after Tatum O’Brien’s nice run into the box drew a foul. Alexis Campbell made double digit saves in the loss.
Foxboro, 1 @ Canton, 2 – Final – After Foxboro battled back to tie the game, Mekhala Costello’s second half goal lifted Canton to the win and kept the Bulldogs within two points of league-leading OA heading into the final game of the regular season. Canton grabbed the lead in a first half that was delayed by lightning. Foxboro answered back three minutes into the second half. Grace Riley got the equalizer off a Shea Dorney corner. Costello found the winner with a blast from distance to secure two points.
North Attleboro, 0 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – Mikayla Thompson scored twice and Heidi Lawrence and Ella Pisani each recorded two points to keep the Warriors in the league title mix with one match remaining. KP sits just a point back of Franklin in the division. Lawrence opened the scoring for KP when she took a nice pass from Pisani and lifted it over the keeper. Pisani also had the helper on KP’s second goal four minutes later, putting in a perfect cross for Thompson to tap home from close-range. Thompson would add KP’s third in the second half, this time getting a toe to a cross from Lawrence.
Stoughton, 0 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final – Olivia Salisbury set a new school record with her 30th career clean sheet (ninth of the season), as Mansfield continued its impressive run. The Hornets have gone 11 games without a loss and picked up a sixth straight win. Avery Hawthorne made it three straight games with a goal, scoring what turned out to be the winner 10 minutes into the second half. Bridget Hanley’s ball over the top set up the goal. Mansfield added a second just two minutes later when Lyla Nappa scored off a cross from Olivia Dunham.
Taunton, 1 @ Milford, 6 – Final – Milford celebrated senior night with its biggest win of the season. Dani Atherton scored a brace to the lead the way for the Hawks, who scored four unanswered in the second half to break open a close game. Kaylee Whitney, Serena Borges, Paige Caldon, and Ava Baglione each scored once for Milford and Kayleigh Tourtellot had a solid game in goal. Juliana Matos had the lone goal for the Tigers.
Oliver Ames, 6 @ Sharon, 2 – Final – Emma Gavin recorded three goals and Lucinda Li Cotter had four points (two goals and two assists) to lift the Tigers to a win in a back-and-forth game in the rain at Sharon. With the win, OA kept hold of a two-point lead on Mansfield and Canton going into the final match of the regular season. Jolie Diaz added a goal and Jenna Gilman had a pair of assists for the visitors. Sharon battled back two get within two twice, Autumn Simon finishing with a brace. Sofia Goclowski and Jessica Li had the assists. Taylor Standring had a strong game in net for the Eagles.
Field Hockey
Attleboro, 0 @ Franklin, 5 – Final – Attleboro kept it close, trailing just 2-0 at halftime, but Franklin scored a late goal in the third quarter and two more early in the fourth to pull away for the win. After a scoreless first quarter, Emily Carney scored three minutes into the second (from Kaitlyn Carney and Sophia Cuneo) and then again with under a minute to play until halftime (from Haley Wernig and Cuneo). Payten Crandell (from Kaitlyn Carney) pushed the Panthers’ lead to 3-0 with just over a minute to play in the third, and both Wernig and Kaitlyn Carney scored inside the first five minutes to make it 5-0. Siany Ortez made 10 saves in net for the Bombardiers.
Stoughton, 0 @ Mansfield, 6 – Final – Mansfield scored two goals in each the first and third quarters and tacked on one each in the second and fourth quarters to get a win over Stoughton. Ava Adams opened the scoring and Danni Cuzzi scored back-to-back goals, one in the first quarter and one in the second to give the Hornets a 3-0 lead at halftime. Adams grabbed her second in the third, Kristina Kipp made it 5-0 in the third quarter, and Adams completed her hat trick with the lone goal of the fourth.
Taunton, 3 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Kaysie DeMoura scored a pair of goals to lead the Tigers to a shutout win on the road at Milford. Caelen O’Leary added one goal to go along with DeMoura’s two while Jasmine Lucier made three saves in net for the shutout.
Oliver Ames @ Sharon – Postponed to Tuesday, 10/25 at 3:30.
Foxboro, 1 @ Canton, 1 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game. – Mary Collins scored midway through the fourth quarter to cancel out Maggie McCready’s opener and send both times home with a point. The first half was a defensive struggle, with Foxboro having the only shot on net in the opening 30 minutes. Canton turned things around in the third, dominating the quarter and breaking the deadlock. Carolyn Schiavo created space on the right side and fired a shot that Kathryn Ferguson needed to save. The rebound sat in the crease for a couple seconds before McCready pounced to knock it home. Foxboro took control of play in the fourth. Carolyn Durand made a series of good saves but eventually Mya Waryas’ shot from distance was tipped in the circle by Collins. The ball caromed out from the back of the net, causing confusion, but after a discussion between the officials the goal was given.
Volleyball
North Attleboro, 0 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – King Philip landed a dominate win at home, and along with Franklin’s win over Attleboro, the Warriors moved back into a first place tie atop the Kelley-Rex division with one match to go. Emily Sawyer landed 10 kills along with seven aces and three blocks to lead the Warriors to a 3-0 (25-15, 25-7, 25-11) win over the Rocketeers. Sami Shore (three aces) and Ahunna James (five digs) each added seven kills while Olivia O’Neil finished with four kills and two aces.
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Sharon, 1 – Final – Junior Claire O’Rourke had a big day at the net to help Oliver Ames shake off a close loss in the third set and finish off the win, 3-1 (25-17, 25-19, 24-26, 25-15). O’Rourke notched 13 kills while Sarah Hilliard added 12 kills to lead the offense. Maddie Homer had 16 digs and six aces, Clare Kavolius recorded 35 assists and five aces, and Cecelia Cupples had a strong game at the net.
Foxboro, 2 @ Canton, 3 – Final – Canton rallied from a 2-1 deficit to stay alive and force a fifth set and then outlasted visiting Foxboro to get the win, 3-2 (20-25, 25-19, 21-25, 25-22, 15-9). Jess Wright had an efficient night at the net, hitting 0.425 with 19 kills while Liana Lamparelli added 13 digs, three kills, and three blocks for the Bulldogs. Seniors Haley Duhaime, Nevaeh Osborne, Liz Beal and Riley Costa played well in the five set battle.
Field Hockey
Attleboro, 2 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Attleboro scored early in the opening quarter and added a key insurance goal early in the final quarter to earn a win on the road at Taunton. Marley Young opened the scoring just under four minutes into the game, taking a pass from Siobhan Landers and finding the back of the net to establish a 1-0 lead. After back-to-back scoreless quarters, Stella Krawiec scored off of a pass from Young less than five minutes into the fourth to make it 2-0. “I’m really proud of the girls for playing their game and using great passing skills around an aggressive Taunton team,” said Attleboro head coach Jess Pink. Attleboro’s Siany Ortez made seven saves in net for the shutout.
Franklin, 10 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – Franklin came out of the gate flying with five first quarter goals and never let up on its way to a win over the Rocketeer. Kaitlyn Carney was nearly unstoppable, scoring four of her five goals in the opening 15 minutes of play while Emily Carney had the other goal. Haley Wernig, Shaw Downing, Ella Aldred, and Sydney Rogan also scored for the Panthers. North scored just past the midway point of the second as Caroline Folan scored off of an assist from Francesca Spencer. Julia Puccio orchestrated the goal by knocking down a Franklin aerial and started the counter with Spencer. Gracie Leary (six saves) and Eman Farid (12 saves) played well in net for North. Devon Barry and Megan Sullivan each made three saves for Franklin.
King Philip, 8 @ Milford, 0 – Final – King Philip juniors Mara Boldy and Kelly Holmes each recorded four points to help the Warriors earn a big win on the road over Milford. Boldy scored a hat trick and had one assist while Holmes found the back of the net once and notched three assists. Meg Dowling added two goals, Nikki McDonald scored once and added one helper, and Makenzie McDevitt added a goal for KP.
Sharon, 0 @ Mansfield, 4 – Final – Mansfield got off to a great start with four goals in the opening half and that was enough to earn a win over visiting Sharon. Rose Maher opened the scoring less than a minute into the game, converting a pass from Ava Adams at the 56-second mark to make it 1-0. Lola Varricchione (from Danni Cuzzi) and Maher added to Mansfield’s lead with first quarter goals while Liv Barry made it 4-0, finishing off a pass from Ella Palanza in the second quarter. Lily Danehy earned the shutout in net for the hosts.
Volleyball
Canton, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – Canton came storming back to win the third set to keep the match going, but Oliver Ames closed it out with a hard-fought fourth set to take a 3-1 (25-16, 25-19, 11-25, 25-20) win over the Bulldogs. OA senior Maddie Homer recorded 31 digs to eclipse the 1,000-dig mark for her career. Sophomore Clare Kavoulis dished out 37 assists, junior Sarah Hilliard landed 18 kills, and senior Courtney Raymond recorded 27 service points to go along with eight aces and five kills. Jess Wright and Sally Hoban combined for 17 kills, 16 digs, and five aces while Liana Lamparelli played well for the Bulldogs with 11 digs, three aces, and a pair of kills.
Franklin, 3 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final
King Philip, 3 @ Milford, 0 – Final – King Philip bounced back into the win column in a big way, earning an emphatic 3-0 (25-15, 25-6, 25-19) win on the road at Milford. Senior middle Emily Sawyer landed a team-high 17 kills along with a pair of aces and a pair of bocks, senior Ahunna James recorded 11 kills and eight digs, senior Sami Shore added five kills, and senior Olivia O’Neil had five kills and four digs. Junior Ava Kelley chipped in with eight digs for KP.
Sharon, 0 @ Mansfield, 3 – Final – After running away with the first set, Mansfield prevailed in a very competitive second set that went down to the wire and went on to finish the match in the third for a 3-0 (25-8, 26-24, 25-12) win over Sharon. Lilly Verheggen (three aces) led a balanced offense for the Hornets with eight kills while Elyssa Buchanan added seven kills, Lily Campbell added six kills, and Lexie Scibilia chipped in with five kills and seven blocks. Jackie Zelic anchored the defense with 14 digs, Ella Mahoney (six aces) and Gabrielle Moore (five aces) both had strong games serving, and Keira Fitzpatrick orchestrated the offense with 14 assists.
Attleboro, 3 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Attleboro stayed a match ahead and atop the Kelley-Rex standings with just a week to go following a 3-0 sweep (25-17, 25-16, 25-20) win on the road at Taunton. Natalie Brojek dished out 26 assists to go along with five aces and four kills, Julia Leonardo added 17 kills, and Addie Shelton finished with five kills and two aces.
Boys Cross Country
Canton, 43 @ Medfield, 15 – Final
Girls Cross Country
Canton, 50 @ Medfield, 15 – Final
Sophomore hitter Addison Shelton rises up for a swing against Canton. Attleboro had to come from behind in all four sets to pull out a 3-1 win. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
CANTON, Mass. – Coming off the program’s first win at perennial Hockomock power Canton and continuing one of the program’s best ever starts to a season, Attleboro coach Mary Katherine Runey was left with a feeling that her team still had another level to reach.
Attleboro trailed in all four sets of Tuesday night’s crossover clash at the Masciarelli Gym, including 18-12 in the first and 10-1 in the second, but managed to rally three times and take the match 3-1 (25-22, 25-21, 20-25, 25-22). Julia Leonardo was once again the standout for the Bombardiers, recording 27 kills to lead the attack.
“It’s a crucial win for us, but I know we can play better,” Runey explained. “It is really difficult to play these tough teams early in the week. It takes a mental mindset to step onto the court and be ready to play and we didn’t do that today.”
She added, “I am very happy. We have shown the mental toughness to come from behind, but we shouldn’t put ourselves in that position.”
Canton coach Pat Cawley has seen her young team overcome adversity through the opening month of the season and remain in playoff contention. She was proud of the way her team battled but admitted that they let slip a chance to upset the Kelley-Rex co-leaders.
“I’m really proud of the way we played,” she said. “We’ve had a tough year. We only have a couple of people who are back from last year and it’s taken us a while to get up to speed. I think that this was one of the best matches we’ve played but we just don’t have the fortitude to finish.”
The Bulldogs got off to a good start in the opening set, building a 13-7 lead. Attleboro was struggling early with its serve-receive and Canton took advantage. Liana Lamparelli and Fatima Sidibay (five blocks and five kills) combined for a big block in the middle and Kaitlin Bigham served an ace to help create a little separation. Leonardo (15 digs and three aces) quickly brought the Bombardiers back with a tip and back-to-back kills, including one that clipped the top of the net.
Canton quickly regained the upper hand through scrappy defense, keeping plays alive to give the hitters multiple chances to swing. A block by Jess Wright put the Bulldogs up 18-12 and forced a timeout. Attleboro showed its resiliency to fight back. Setter Natalie Brojek (43 assists and four aces) won a pair of service points to pull within three.
Leonardo smashed a shot down the line, Tigin Bombardier had a kill in the middle, and Leonardo had consecutive aces to pull the visitors into a 19-19 tie. Addison Shelton (10 kills) and Brianna Frissora (five kills) put Attleboro in front for the first time since it was 6-5. Wright twice got Canton back within one with good swings but Shelton closed out the first with a pair of kills, including the final one that officials ruled got a touch at the net.
Attleboro carried over no momentum from its first-set comeback. Canton jumped all over the Bombardiers in the second, winning the first eight points and leading 10-1. Libero Zoe Scibelli (14 digs and four aces) served up a pair of aces and Wright and Bigham got good points at the net. Freshman setter Erin Bigham (27 assists) looked comfortable getting the Bulldogs into their offense.
The visitors crept back into the set by going to a familiar strategy, feed the ball to Leonardo on the outside as often as possible. She had three kills and Bombardier had a block and a kill to get back within four. Sidibay followed with another block and then a nicely placed tip to extend the lead.
With libero Sadie Whitmarsh chasing down several shots on the back line and keeping plays alive, Attleboro again rallied. An ace from Julia Mondello cut the lead to one and Leonardo stepped up to fire in a winner that tied the set at 19 apiece. Following a kill from Sally Hoban, Leonardo answered with a hit off the block and an ace that clipped the top of the net. Ellie Shelton (seven kills) closed out the second with a big block for a point.
“That has been a game changer for us the balance that we can have in the front row,” Runey said. “That has really been what’s crucial for our offense. Yes, Julia is a power hitter, she knows where to put the ball at the right time, but it’s all about mixing it up. We’ve got to shift the momentum of the game.”
For the first time in the match, Attleboro actually took an early lead in the third, but it was short-lived. A pair of aces from Scibelli put the Bulldogs in front 12-6. After a long rally, Wright would find some room in the Attleboro defense with a well-placed tip and Hoban added another to make it 15-11. The duo combined for 22 kills and 16 digs.
Attleboro would not make it easy on the Bulldogs. Frissora’s tip cut the lead back down to just one but Sidibay came up with another clutch play in the middle. Hoban smashed a shot off the block for a point, Leonardo followed with a kill on the other side, and Sidibay watched her bump drop in to make it 19-17.
Bombardier’s block cut the lead to one again and gave Attleboro fans hope of a sweep, but Wright answered back with a kill. After Erin Bigham dropped a bump in for a point, Wright kept the match going for another set with a big swing.
The energy and momentum was definitely with the home side heading into the fourth and Canton jumped out, again, to an early lead. Hoban and Wright went back-to-back on the outside to make it 10-6 and Sidibay was able to fire a shot off the block for another point.
As usual, Attleboro came right back behind Leonardo. The sophomore fired in a shot from the back row and then added another on the outside. An ace from Ellie Shelton and a Leonardo kill that ended a long rally tied it at 13-13. Leonardo kept swinging for the Bombardiers, going down the line to put them up 17-14.
This time it was Canton that showed resiliency, as Scibelli’s ace dropped in to tie it at 18-18. Addison Shelton had a kill, followed by a Whitmarsh ace to put the Bombardiers up by two. An ace from Brojek extended the lead to 23-19.
“We missed some key serves in that fourth set, the tips we couldn’t dig, just the miscommunications down the end,” Cawley said. “I think it’s a lack of confidence. We’re getting there but I think we could’ve won that match.”
Wright got one back, but there was going to be no comeback and no fifth set, as Attleboro served out the win to remain in a first-place tie with Franklin and King Philip in the Kelley-Rex division.
“They show up the next play, we make the adjustments, and we’re ready to move on from it,” Runey said. “We’re really trying to focus on some mental toughness. Volleyball is a game of momentum, but we can control our mindset and that’s what we’re working on.”
Attleboro (12-1) will try to keep things rolling when it hosts Milford on Thursday. Canton (6-6) will try to avenge an earlier loss when it makes a first visit to Sharon’s new gym.
Franklin will be looking for another league title this fall. Check out our team-by-team breakdown of the upcoming Hockomock League volleyball season. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2021 Record: 9-10 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32 Coach: Mary Katherine Runey
For the first time in more than a decade, Attleboro got the taste of playoff volleyball and the Bombardiers have younger players stepping into leadership positions that will give them a solid foundation for another tournament run. There is excitement around the program and opening the new gym has added another layer to the fall.
One of the reasons for the energy in the team is sophomore outside hitter Julia Leonardo, who jumped in as a freshman and became one of the most dynamic hitters in the league. Junior setter Natalie Brojek has been an all-around standout for the past two seasons and makes the team click. Senior Tigin Bombardier will give Attleboro experience in the middle.
Those are the only three returning players from last year, but there are several new faces that could make an instant impact. Sophomores Addison and Ellie Shelton are new hitters that will give depth on the outside. Juniors Sadie Whitmarsh and Julia Mondello will provide defensive solidity to the back line.
“The level of success we achieved last season certainly changed the tone of our entire program, and I believe our future is bright,” said Attleboro coach Mary Katherine Runey. “As a young team, we have spent the past two weeks learning how to play together and in the next few weeks, we will need to learn how to win together. As we progress through the season, our goal is to minimize errors in order to efficiently run our offense and showcase the talent within our team.”
2021 Record: 15-7 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 16 Coach: Pat Cawley
Canton has established itself as one of the perennial powers year in and year out, and one thing that comes with that territory is graduating a handful of talented seniors each year. Last year was no exception, but Hall of Fame coach Pat Cawley has shown time and time again she will have a competitive squad that’s much better by the end of the season than the start.
The Bulldogs graduated all but two starters, bringing back juniors Jess Wright at outside hitter and Fatima Sidibay at middle blocker. Cawley will be leaning heavily on them for their guidance of a young and inexperienced squad. Wright isn’t just one of the best outside hitters, she can play just about anywhere on the court and showed tremendous growth throughout last season. After showing off some great blocking skills last year, the Dogs will look for some more offensive production on swings from the middle from Sidibay. Senior captain Liana Lamparelli and sophomore Sally Hoban will provide depth offensively.
Defensively, Canton is looking at sophomore defensive specialist Zoe Scibelli, who saw meaningful minutes in the back row a year ago. Haley Duhaime, Liz Beale, Neveah Osborne, and Riley Costa round out the senior class and will contribute valuable minutes for Canton this year.
“We have many moving parts at this point but the young, inexperienced group is willing to work hard and anxious to learn,” Cawley said. “Three setters and several defensive players are vying for time on the court. The growth potential is exponential and it will be fun to watch the progression. The extremely competitive Hock will help accelerate the learning curve!”
2021 Record: 4-17 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 3 Round of 32 Coach: Vicki Santana
With 11 seniors returning to the roster this year, Foxboro is looking to have a bounce-back year and return to the state tournament with an improved rating in the MIAA’s statewide system.
The Warriors have key pieces back at all spots on the court and head coach Vicki Santana is optimistic about the season after a strong showing so far this preseason. Sami Sloan led the squad with 111 kills last season and is back as one of the outside hitters along with Juliana Pettigrew (88 kills) and Ava Hill. Foxboro also has both of its middles back with Mallorie Meyer, a Hock all star a year ago with 80 kills and 46 aces, and Ava Kirk both returning.
Defensively, the Warriors have their libero back in the lineup in senior Shannon McElhinney, who had 157 digs last year and was a Hock honorable mention selection.
“All of these players bring a love for the sport and determination to win,” Santana said. “We only graduated two seniors last year so we are hoping that with most of the team being returning varsity players we will have a very competitive season. So far the team has been playing great at our preseason scrimmages so hopefully, we carry that energy into our first game vs Milford!”
2021 Record: 18-2 (Kelley-Rex co-champion) 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Final Four Coach: Samantha Redmond
Although Franklin only graduated a small number of seniors from last year’s team that made the Division 1 state semifinals, the Panthers lost a lot of production.
Gone are Caitlyn Mackintosh, last year’s HockomockSports Player of the Year, Lindsey Tarantola, a league all star that led the league in blocks, and Brigid Earley, one of the top middles in the Hock. But this isn’t the first time the Panthers have lost a talented senior class, multiple all stars, or even an MVP – and they’ve always found a way to come back and compete as a top team in the league.
Three-year starter Taylor Lacerda returns to pace the offense, leading the Panthers in kills a year ago as a sophomore with 155. She’s the lone six rotation returner in the group so head coach Samantha Redmond – who picked up a boost on the bench with the addition of former head coach Kelsey Weymouth as an assistant – will be looking for new faces to step into key roles at the net.
There will be some changes along the backline as senior Meghan Linkkila will move from the libero position to take over as the setter, and classmate and fellow captain Georgia Harvey, who was a defensive specialist last year, will take on the libero role.
“Franklin volleyball is really excited to continue our hard work this year,” Redmond said. “We lost a strong four seniors last year but we are confident that this new class of players will bring a lot of diversity to our offense and defense. We look forward to proving ourselves in the Hockomock once again!”
2021 Record: 22-2 (Kelley-Rex co-champion) 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Final Four Coach: Kristen Geuss
King Philip has shared the Kelley-Rex title for the past three seasons and with a senior-laden roster, the Warriors look ready to make a push for another division crown. After a run to the Div. 2 state semifinal. KP has the experience and the depth at the net to be a threat for another deep tournament run.
The Warriors will be strong up front. Senior middle Emily Sawyer made her varsity debut as a junior and immediately became one of the best hitters in the league. The Sacred Heart-commit is an impact player on both sides of the net. Senior Sami Shore gives KP the most dynamic middle pairing in the league and can dominate a match. If teams try to bottle up the middle of the net, then senior Ahunna James can take over on the outside, giving KP great attacking balance. Seniors Olivia O’Neil and Missy Canning add depth at hitter and senior setter Kiera Hagen will run the offense this year.
In addition to the seniors, KP can count on junior right-side Kate O’Neil and juniors Ryann O’Sullivan, Emily Zappala, and Fiona Bailey on the outside. On the back line, juniors Shea Mellman, Ava Kelley, and Meghan Sullivan provide strong defensive play. Sophomore setter Madison Asprelli is a newcomer who could step into a bigger role over the course of the season.
“We are working hard to build on our success from last year,” said KP coach Kristen Geuss. “We have good chemistry and the girls are looking forward to the season.”
2021 Record: 9-8 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32 Coach: Tara DeGirolamo
Making the switch to the Davenport division this season, Mansfield is looking to ride a mix of veterans and new players to some success on the court this year.
Second-year head coach Tara DeGirolamo is excited for the season to get underway as she tries to fit all the right pieces together for her squad. Junior Elyssa Buchanan burst onto the scene as an attacking option last year and will be one of the Hornets’ go-to hitters on the outside along with senior Ella Mahoney. In the middle, Lexie Scibilia will be looking to build on her big season last year (48 blocks) along with senior Lily Campbell.
There are a lot of options at setter with senior captain Isabella Flint (132 assists) back as one of the primary ball handlers with junior Kiera Fitzpatrick and freshman Tessa Blaqueir both in the mix as well. The setters will also have options on the right side with senior captain Lilly Verheggan and junior Anna Goulet taking swings from the opposite side, with senior Savannah Carey and juniors Sophia Capaolupo and Elena O’Keefe providing depth.
Defensively, DeGirolamo will lean on senior libero Jackie Zelic to anchor the defense along with junior defensive specialists Lauren Rubicine and Jocelyn Gibson.
“Our setters have great court awareness and mesh very well with our diverse group of hitters,” DeGirolamo said. “We’re excited for the season.”
2021 Record: 8-11 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32 Coach: Tammy Webber
Between a handful of varsity returners and a group of eager new faces ready to make their mark, Milford is looking to challenge in the Kelley-Rex and book a spot in the state tournament.
The heart of the Hawks will be in the middle of the lineup with the team’s leader in kills from a year ago Aliza Syed back to anchor both the offense and the defense. She had a breakout season with 187 kills, 61 aces, and 34 blocks, which were all first on the team. She will be flanked by junior Maeve Driscoll on the outside, who jumps into the starting lineup this year and will play in the back row as well. Senior Molly Hartman provides depth at the outside hitter spot.
“[Aliza] will be counted on to carry us in those categories once again this season,” said Milford head coach Tammy Webber. “She is strong and athletic with a tough serve and can hit with power.”
Milford also returns its starting setter in senior captain Emily Croteau, who finished inside the top five in the league in assists last season. Having a year of experience under her belt, the Hawks will lean on her confidence and skill to spread the ball around and run the offense. Senior defensive specialist Carley Haley will anchor the backline.
2021 Record: 9-10 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32 Coach: Rachel Gould
After making a push for a playoff spot last season, North Attleboro will make a change on the sidelines as Rachel Gould takes over this fall. The Rocketeers will also be returning to the ultra-competitive Kelley-Rex division and with five varsity players back in the lineup North will be looking to fight for another tournament spot.
The senior class will need to provide leadership for the new faces in this year’s squad. Senior Avery Bitar will give the team a defensive solidity as the libero. Senior Grace Dirschel is the returning setter from last season and senior Sarah Kayata is another strong backline player that should help North keep points alive.
Up front, seniors Haley Carr and Mariah Barbosa are returning middle hitters that can step in and swing and also make an impact on the block. Freshman Lincoln Abramaitys will get the chance to shine right from the start as the team’s main outside hitter. Abramaitys is the only underclassman on the roster this year.
“I have a great group of hard-working talented athletes and I think we are going to have a competitive season this year,” Gould explained.
2021 Record: 16-5 (Davenport champion) 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 16 Coach: Chelsea Cunningham
Oliver Ames is ready to get on the court and defend its Davenport division title.
The Tigers know they’ll be challenged by perennial powerhouse Canton, division newcomer Mansfield, a veteran-filled Foxboro squad, and the rest of the division, and they’ll have to overcome the graduation of the versatile Hadley Rhodes, but OA has some top talent returning at almost every position.
Senior Maddie Homer is back for yet another season as the libero to anchor the back line. An All-State selection a year ago, Homer will be joined by junior Rachel Fleischman, another returner, in the back row to give the Tigers an experienced defensive duo.
Offensively, there will be more familiar faces taking swings at the net. Senior captain Courtney Raymond (56 kills, 18 blocks) is back in the middle as one of OA’s primary attackers and she’ll be complemented by a pair of terrific outside hitters in junior Sarah Hilliard (272 kills) and Claire O’Rourke (156 kills). Sophomore Addyson Smock bolsters the middle block while sophomore Clare Kavoulis and junior Paula Romero provide some depth.
“There is something special about this group,” said OA head coach Chelsea Cunningham. “The talent speaks for itself, they’re putting in the work, and they are eager to compete. These girls know everything is “earned not given” – which happens to be our program’s motto this season. With that, they know there’s a lot of work to do to make this the best season yet. If they commit to one another and the goals we set from the start, there’s no doubt in my mind that they’ll do just that.”
2021 Record: 6-14 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32 Coach: Andrea Lovett
It has been two straight impressive seasons for the Sharon volleyball program. Two years ago, during Fall II, the Eagles nearly won a league title and would’ve booked a playoff spot if a tournament was held. Last season, Sharon not only reached the state tournament but also won its first-round match against Revere. With a brand new gym and five seniors on the roster, Sharon will be hoping the momentum carries over to this fall.
Sharon will be counting on the development of its senior hitters. Amanda Brown will be the main target on the outside, while Olivia Nau has been impressive on the right side. The middle should be tough on both sides of the net with junior Jasmine Davis stepping up as both a blocker and hitter and senior Sam Dunham adding depth after her move up from the JV team. Junior Sonja Gray will be the main setter for the team again this season with help from classmate Masha Dolienkova.
The Eagles also have experience on the back line and players with athleticism to keep points alive. Senior Emily Coplan and junior Sophia Pandey will share the libero duties and sophomore Sasha Nierenberg and senior Evelina Kravets will support them as defensive specialists.
“Possibly the most important aspect of this team is their love of the game combined with a great work ethic and the tenacity to stay in the game regardless of the score,” said Sharon coach Andrea Lovett, who returns to the sidelines after being an assistant in 2021. “These kids simply love volleyball and it shows on the court.”
2021 Record: 1-15 2021 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Felicia Baptista
Stoughton is coming off a difficult 2021 season. The Black Knights picked up just one win last fall, but they have several new faces that could step in and get the program heading back into tournament contention. It may be a smaller roster this season, but head coach Felicia Baptista believes the talent and attitude are right to get things kicked off.
Junior Maya Ashu will be one of the primary attacking threats for Stoughton this season. She will be a critical spot in the front row and has developed into a strong hitter. Junior hitter Annalia Eschleman is also back and will give Stoughton more athleticism. Senior Patrik Oliveira has been a standout on the back row and gives the Black Knights all-around play with his quickness and versatility.
Other players that could step into the starting lineup for Stoughton this season are sophomore Reagan Lewis and junior Alyssa Edwards. Both are strong athletes that will give the Black Knights more control of the middle of the net.
“This year our team is much smaller and much more prepared than in past seasons,” said Baptista. “They have been putting in lots of work this year and it shows right from day one.”
2021 Record: 8-14 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32 Coach: Toby Chaperon
Taunton boasts a strong group of seniors, and with the addition of some underclassmen and new additions to the program, the Tigers are looking for an improved campaign in 2022.
Senior middle Hayley Krockta will be a force at the net this season but can play at all spots on the court. She will be one of the best servers on the team and can step right in and pass like a defensive specialist. She’ll be swinging at sets off the fingertips of classmate Anna Abouzied, another returner for the Tigers. Abouzied is a terrific passer in the back row and will also run the offense as the setter.
“Hayley will be a force at the net this year,” said Taunton head coach Toby Chaperon. “And Anna can do it all too, she has the ability to hit and pass very well. We’re looking forward to having a good year.”
Senior Mia Fernandes will provide a boost of energy from the back row as the libero, flying all over the court to keep the play alive, and will be joined by classmate Megan Rose as a defensive specialist. Sayla DePina, another senior, will look to give Taunton some swings from the right side and set the block on opposing outside hitters. Rylie Roderick will add some depth at the net and at the service line for Taunton while head coach Toby Chaperon will look to incorporate transfers Morgan Fitzgerald (opposite/DS) and Julia Mitton (setter).
Juniors Jaden Sabina, Janelle Garcia, and Morgan Smith will all get some swings at the net while classmates Caroline Pietnik, Randi MacLeod, and Courtney Martin provide solid depth. Sophomore Adrianna Amaral has impressed early on this season and will get some swings at middle hitter while eighth grader Sadie Herry will be in the mix as a defensive specialist.
