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.
Foxboro sophomore Ava Hill and senior Mallorie Meyer go up for a block in the second set against Greater Lowell Tech. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
FOXBORO, Mass. — Rewind a month ago and the Foxboro volleyball team was sitting at 1-9; hosting a playoff game certainly seemed like a pipe dream.
Ten matches later, Foxboro was on the winning side six times and pushed the Davenport division champions Oliver Ames and perennial powerhouse Canton to five sets in defeat.
And now, the 14th-seeded Warriors walked off their home court with a 3-0 sweep (25-16, 25-22, 25-17) over #19 Greater Lowell Tech.
“I think the turning point [of the season] was the first Oliver Ames game when we took them to five [sets] and I think the girls were shocked at their performance and really started to believe in themselves,” said Foxboro head coach Vicki Santana. “They started having fun with it and we carried that energy into the next games. That’s when we started winning, starting taking teams to five that we never had before. This was really exciting for us.”
Foxboro avenged losses to Mansfield, Sharon, and Stoughton in October. The Warriors also were undefeated against non-league opponents, picking up a pair of wins over Walpole and Braintree. On top of their five-set thriller at OA, the Warriors went on the road and pushed Canton to the brink as well.
“I think their confidence level, they believe they can do anything now,” Santana said. “They are having more fun, they are shaking things off. They have been willing to run some plays, if they make a mistake they are shaking it off easier than before, not getting down on each other or themselves. The whole morale of the team has been brought up.”
After earning a 2-0 lead in the match, Foxboro found itself in an early hole in the third set, falling behind 7-1. While this might have deterred the Warriors at the start of the season, they dug themselves out of the hole with a 9-2 burst.
Mallorie Meyer landed a kill and then Alyssa Cloherty (16 assists, seven digs) took over, finding a hole in the defense with a one-handed dump on the second ball, then finding Juliana Pettigrew for back-to-back kills — the former off a great pass from Shannon McElhiney, and then landed back-to-back aces to tie it at 9-9.
Foxboro fell behind 11-10 but didn’t make many mistakes down the stretch. Good defense put pressure on the visiting Gryphons and a handful of hitting errors plus a solid defensive play by Gianna Dunne gave Foxboro a 16-11 lead.
A nice top from Pettiegew and a good serve from Cloherty pushed Foxboro’s lead to 23-14. Meyer added consecutive kills, the latter from the back row, and a service error from the visitors clinched the win.
“They realized they need to play as hard as they can, it’s not a time to let up after taking the first two sets,” Santana said of digging out of the early deficit. “They fought back and kept that fight going until the end. The passing got better, the hits were stronger. [Greater Lowell Tech’s] competition level was up too, they started blocking us more in the middle and we had to adjust. We really started to have to look for the holes in their defense.”
It was a balanced attack for the hosts throughout the first two sets. Foxboro gained some separation early on in the opening set, a pair of aces from Sami Sloan (seven kills), a kill from Pettigrew, and blocks from Meyers and Ava Kirk presented the Warriors with a 15-7 lead. An ace and another Sloan kill pushed it to 17-9 and the Warriors didn’t look back.
Ava Hill had a strong swing from the right side and Dunne landed an ace to give Foxboro a 25-16 win for a 1-0 advantage.
Sloan carried the momentum into the second set with some early aces from Sydney Lebow and a kill from Sloan as Foxboro built a five-point lead, but Greater Lowell Tech continued to crawl back and tied it 10-10. An ace from Pettigrew kept Foxboro in front, and two great serves in a row from Cloherty gave the Warriors some breathing room. The Gryphons once again closed the gap to make it 20-20 but a big swing from Hill led to a block from Kirk, and Meyer added two aces to give Foxboro a 25-22 win and a 2-0 lead.
“They do a great job moving the ball around,” Santana said. “I’m lucky because I have one of the best setters in the Hock [Alyssa Cloherty], the ball comes out of her hands so perfectly. She has confidence in all of her hitters so she does move it around. And she runs different things with each of them, slides and quick sets to the middle, all of these different things they’ve gotten the confidence to do, they are really working together so well.”
Foxboro volleyball (8-13) awaits the winner of #3 Newburyport (17-3) and #30 Bishop Fenwick (8-13), who play on Friday evening.
Football
Attleboro, 0 @ Franklin, 44 – Final 1Q: (F) Jase Lyons 8-yard pass to Luke Davis, Garrett Portesi XP good; (F) Mike Davide 6-yard rush, G. Portesi XP good; (F) Safety; (F) J. Lyons 48-yard pass to Grayson Hunter, G. Portesi XP good.
2Q: (F) J. Lyons 38-yard pass to Derek Dubriske, G. Portesi XP good; (F) J. Lyons 5-yard rush, G. Portesi XP good.
3Q: (F) M. Davide 24-yard rush, G. Portesi XP good.
4Q: No scoring.
Canton, 14 @ Foxboro, 36 – Final – Click here for a recap and photo gallery of this game. 1st Quarter: (C) Godson Ofonagoro 20-yard rush, Hayden Rose XP good; (F) Brandon Mazenkes-O’Grady 72-yard rush, XP no good.
2nd Quarter: (F) Mike Marcucella 27-yard pass to Rashaan Lewis, Sam Carpenter XP good; (F) M. Marcucella 28-yard pass to Nolan Gordon, Conversion failed; (F) S. Carpenter 37-yard field goal.
3rd Quarter: (F) Lincoln Moore 1-yard rush, S. Carpenter XP good; (F) M. Marcucella 66-yard pass to Eddie Feldman, S. Carpenter XP good.
4th Quarter: (C) G. Ofonagoro 5-yard rush, H. Rose XP good.
Oliver Ames, 0 @ Mansfield, 35 – Final 1st Quarter: (M) Conner Zukowski 29-yard pass to Trevor Foley, Travis Hennessy XP good; (M) C. Zukowski 43-yard pass to T. Foley, T. Hennessy XP good.
2nd Quarter: (M) Drew Sacco 1-yard rush, T. Hennessy XP good; (M) C. Zukowski 28-yard pass to Trevor Foley, T. Hennessy XP good.
3rd Quarter: No scoring.
4th Quarter: (M) Connor Curtis 24-yard rush, T. Hennessy XP good.
Milford, 30 vs. Barnstable, 16 – Final
North Attleboro, 3 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Click here for a recap and photo gallery of this game. 1st Quarter: No scoring.
2nd Quarter: No scoring.
3rd Quarter: No scoring.
4ht Quarter: (NA) Austin Clemente 24-yard field goal.
Stoughton, 7 vs. Newton North, 28 – Final
Sharon, 21 vs. Hull, 31 – Final 1Q: (S) Gabe Korn 20-yard rush, XP failed; (H) Hull 44-yard pass, XP good.
2Q: (H) Hull 43-yard field goal; (H) Hull 5-yard rush, XP good; (S) G. Korn 17-yard rush, G. Korn 2pt rush.
3Q: (H) Hull 7-yard rush, XP good; (S) G. Korn 10-yard rush, Jace McCarron XP good.
4Q: (H) Hull 18-yard pass, XP good.
Boys Soccer
Canton, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 7 – Final – Oliver Ames built a two-goal lead in the first half then poured in five more inside the final 20 minutes of the game to earn a big win over Canton. Casey Milliken opened the scoring with his 19th goal of the season and then set up Mirray DaSilva for his fifth goal of the season to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead. DaSilva added one more in the second half while Andrew Martins and Braeden Blass each scored twice. Milliken added two assists while Joey Carney, Diego Rivera, and Jackson Macomber each had one.
Stoughton, 4 vs. Norwood – Final – After a scoreless first half, Stoughton found the back of the net four times to earn a big win over visiting Norwood. Kyle Grant had a hat trick to lead the Knights and assisted on the other goal, scored by Alex Kozak. Sam Santos set up Grant twice while Matheus Groberio had the other assist.
Girls Soccer
Canton, 4 @ Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – Canton came into Friday having not won in the past five games and the Bulldogs fell behind after just three minutes, but they came storming back behind an Emily McCabe brace to beat the league leaders. Jolie Diaz set up Lucinda Li Cotter for a quick opening goal for the Tigers, but Canton answered with two straight to take the lead. Mekhala Costello equalized with an unassisted goal and Paige Sullivan made it 2-2, assisted by Emma Cahill. Taylor deVos would level the match again from the spot, after Sophia Byron’s corner led to a handball in the box. McCabe scored what turned out to be the game-winner after she drew a foul in the penalty area and converted from the spot. McCabe would seal the win off an assist by Sarah Dempster. It was a high-paced game from start to finish and Canton coach Idris Senyonjo is hoping this can give his team some momentum to finish the regular season.
Attleboro, 0 @ King Philip, 5 – Final – KP scored four times in the second half to seal its third win of the week and move back within a point of first-place Franklin with two league games remaining. Ella Pisani got the opener four minutes into the match, on a feed from Addisyn Lamothe-Vaughn. Dani Lomuscio scored to double the KP lead after 57 minutes and then Heidi Lawrence scored twice within a minute to put the game away. Ally Pochay added an unassisted goal in the final minute. Lamothe-Vaughn finished with two assists, while Lomuscio and Pisani each finished with two points.
Field Hockey
Mansfield vs. Holliston, 3:45
Stoughton, 0 @ East Bridgewater, 3 – Final
Foxboro, 2 vs. Hopkinton, 0 – Final
Franklin, 2 @ Walpole, 6 – Final – In a battle of two of the top teams in the entire state, Walpole earned a 6-2 win over the Panthers. Franklin thought it scored first when a deflected shot found the back of the net but the shot was ruled dangerous and the goal was wiped off. Walpole took a 1-0 lead into halftime before Kaitlyn Carney found the back of the net to make it 1-1. The Porkers scored back-to-backs but the Panthers got one back before the end of the third when Shaw Downing redirected a shot from Carney to make it 3-2. Walpole won the fourth quarter to pull away with the win.
Volleyball
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Bridgewater-Raynham, 0 – Final – For the second time this season, Oliver Ames earned a win over Bridgewater-Raynham, this time doing it on the road with a 3-0 sweep (25-29, 25-14, 25-22). Sophomore Clare Kavolius dished out 28 assists to set the offense in motion, Sarah Hilliard led the charge with 18 kills, Maddie Homer (19 digs) and Claire O’Rourke (15 digs, four aces) anchored the defense, and junior Isabel Domenico played well at the net.
Canton, 3 vs. Westwood, 2 – Final – After dropping the first set, Canton rallied to win two in a row — including a close third set — and then bounced back in the fifth to capture the match, 3-2 (14-25, 25-22, 28-26, 20-25, 15-10). Freshman Erin Bigham had a breakout match for the Bulldogs, dishing out 32 assists to go along with 12 digs, four aces, and a block. Junior Jess Wright continued her strong all-around play with 20 kills, 16 digs, three blocks, and two aces while sophomore Kaitlin Bigham added five kills and a pair of blocks. Sophomore Zoe Scibelli played well with 22 digs and five aces.
Foxboro, 3 vs. Braintree, 0 – Final – Foxboro defended home court with its second win over Braintree this season, earning a 3-0 (25-19, 26-24, 25-15) win over the Wamps. Juliana Pettigrew and Sami Sloan each had eight kills while Mallorie Meyer added seven kills to pace the offense. Alyssa Cloherty dished out 23 assists to go along with three kills and three aces, and Shannon McElhinney added 16 digs in the win.
King Philip, 3 @ Medway, 0 – Final – King Philip earned a season sweep of Medway, running away with a big 3-0 (25-12, 25-20, 25-11) win on the road over the Mustangs to move to 16-2 on the year. Ava Kelley (eight digs) and Ahunna James (10 digs, seven kills) took care of business defensively while Sami Shore (eight kills), Emily Sawyer (seven kills, four digs, three blocks), and Olivia O’Neil (four kills, two aces) led the offense.
Boys Soccer
Foxboro, 0 @ New Bedford, 0 – Final
Stoughton vs. Norwood – Postponed to TBD.
Girls Soccer
Stoughton, 4 @ Norwood, 0 – Final – Four players found the back of the net for the Black Knights to sweep the season series with the Mustangs and get back to .500 on the season. Morgan Cook, Sabrina Rodrigues, Shayla Ford, and Makenzie O’Connor each scored for the visitors. Molly Fox made 10 saves to each the clean sheet.
Field Hockey
King Philip, 4 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – Lauren Barreiro led the Warriors with three points, helping them pick up a big road win. Barreiro scored twice and assisted on a third, while Mara Boldy and Makenzie McDevitt each found the back of the net once. Nicole McDonald had a pair of assists. Siany Ortez had a massive game for the Bombardiers, making 17 saves in the loss.
Canton, 9 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final
Taunton, 0 @ Franklin, 8 – Final – Kaitlyn Carney and Haley Wernig each scored a pair of first goals while Emily Carney tacked on two in the third quarter as the Panthers picked up a big win. Carney netted a pair of unassisted first halfs while Wernig added one late in the first (from Chloe Fales) and another early in the second quarter (from Kaitlyn Carney). Emily Carney scored just over a minute apart in the third (first from Kaitlyn Carney, the second unassisted) while Sydney Rogan (from Shaw Downing) made it 7-0 at the midway point of the third. Downing capped the scoring with the lone goal of the fourth (from Emily Carney).
Oliver Ames, 2 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final – Kayla Kenney’s fourth quarter goal earned the Tigers a tie in a back-and-forth game at Alumni Field. Julia Maclaine put OA ahead in the second quarter, but Mansfield scored twice in the third to grab the lead. Rose Maher and Ava Adams each found the net for the Hornets. Kenney answered back in the fourth and both teams left with a point. Lily Danehy made eight saves for Mansfield.
Milford @ North Attleboro, 5:15
Sharon, 0 @ Foxboro, 9 – Final – Foxboro erupted for four goals in the second quarter and tacked on three more in the third on its way to a big win over Sharon. Mya Waryas was involved in the Warriors’ first five goals, setting up Ella Campbell for the lone goal of the first quarter, scoring the first goal of the second herself (from Mia Dinunzio and Mary Collins) and then assisting on the next three goals: two from Collins and another from Campbell (also assisted by Izzy Leclair). Collins and Campbell each finished with a hat trick and one assist, Jenny Gallagher and Catherine Cotter both scored once, and Macy Quinn registered an assist.
Volleyball
Sharon, 0 @ Foxboro, 3 – Final – Foxboro made it three straight wins, avenging a five-set loss to the Eagles earlier this season with a 3-0 sweep (25-21, 25-22, 26-24). Sydney Lebow took over at the service line and served the Warriors back at the end of the third set after the Warriors were trailing late. She finished with a pair of aces and seven digs while Alyssa Cloherty added 24 assists, six digs, and two assists. Sami Sloan had a huge day at the net with 22 kills for the hosts along with three digs while Mallorie Meyer had a strong all-around game with seven kills, six digs, three aces, and two blocks.
Taunton, 0 @ Franklin, 3 – Final
Canton, 3 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Canton picked up its third straight win and fifth in its last six matches, returning home from a quick trip to Stoughton with a 3-0 (25-13, 25-21, 26-24) win over the Black Knights. Jess Wright led the charge with 13 ills, eight digs, two blocks, and two aces while Sally Hoban added nine kills. Zoe Scibelli played well defensively with 13 digs and had a strong showing at the service line with eight aces.
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Mansfield, 0 – Final – OA pulled out a 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-22) win at Mansfield that keeps its two-game lead atop the Davenport division. Brianna Monteiro provided the Tigers with great defense on the back row, while Maddie Homer finished with 29 digs and 20 receptions. Clare Kavoulis had 24 assists for the Tigers and Courtney Raymond put in a strong all-around performance with six kills, four aces, and a pair of blocks.
Football
Taunton, 46 @ Oliver Ames, 14 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game. 1st Quarter: (T) Dmitrius Shearrion 79-yard rush, XP no good; (T) Malachi Johnson 38-yard rush, Sete Deletoille XP good; (OA) Chad Silva 1-yard rush, C. Silva 2-point rush; (T) Bryan Batista 1-yard rush, S. Deletoille XP good.
2nd Quarter: (T) M. Johnson 30-yard rush, S. Deletoille XP good; (T) Jacob Leonard 47-yard pass to Jose Touron, XP no good; (T) B. Batista 5-yard rush, 2-point conversion no good.
3rd Quarter: No scoring.
4th Quarter: (T) B. Batista 1-yard rush, Abby Doherty XP good; (OA) Brian Silva 5-yard pass to CJ Crocker, XP no good.
Girls Soccer
North Attleboro, 4 @ Sharon, 3 – Final – North led by two goals early, allowed Sharon to score three straight to grab the lead, and then rallied with a pair of goals in the final 12 minutes to pull out the win. Clara Giuliano opened the scoring for the visitors, finishing off a pass from Angelina Bostock. Samantha Hardy doubled North’s advantage in the 18th minute off of an assist from Caroline Ferrin. Sofia Goclowski sandwiched a brace for the Eagles around a goal from Autumn Simon while Carly Pinnix had a pair of assists. After Sharon took the lead in the 70th minute, Giuliano pulled the Rocketeers level on a shot from 25 yards out in the 76th minute. Just a minute later, Hardy headed in a cross from Lily Adams for the winner.
Field Hockey
Milford, 1 @ Attleboro, 6 – Final – Attleboro scored three goals in each half on its way to a win at home over visiting Milford. Stella Krawiec, Marley Young, and Siobhan Landers each scored a pair of goals and had an assist to pace the offense. Alyvia Bessette also had an assist for the Bombardiers.
Canton, 6 @ Sharon, 0 – Final
Franklin, 6 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – Franklin’s Haley Wernig scored a pair of second quarter goals inside a five minute span to give the Panthers some breathing room and Kaitlyn Carney’s third quarter tally added key insurance as Franklin survived a tough test from King Philip. The teams traded goals in the first quarter with Payten Crandall’s first goal of the game giving the visitors the lead. Wernig scored twice in the second to take the lead again before KP got one back, cutting the Panthers’ lead to 3-2 at half. Carney scored the lone goal of the third to make it 4-2, and Crandall’s second of the game late in the fourth pushed it to 5-2. KP pulled one back but Franklin once again responded with a goal with just over two minutes to play from Chloe Essam. Leah Santoro, Makenzie McDevitt and Lauren Barriero each had a goal for the Warriors. Devon Barry made six saves in net for Franklin while Haley Bright turned away nine shots for KP.
North Attleboro, 6 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – North Attleboro senior Julia Puccio had a hand in all six of the Rocketeers’ goals, leading the way to a big win on the road. Puccio scored three — the opening goal just under four minutes into the game (from Kelsey Thompson), the third goal of the game on a corner with 30 seconds left in the first half (from Ella Luistro), and the sixth and final, a strike with three minutes to play in the third assisted by Caroline Folan. Carrying a 1-0 lead into the second quarter, Thompson scored off of a corner, Madison Folan added one with 5:20 to go. Caitlin Vacher converted a pass from Puccio with 5:57 left in the third to make it 5-0. Gracie Leary and Eman Farid combined for the shutout for North.
Stoughton, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 7 – Final
Mansfield, 0 @ Foxboro, 5 – Final – Foxboro defended its home turf with its third straight shutout and 10th of the season in a 5-0 win over Mansfield. Mary Collins paced the offense with a hat trick while Mya Waryas and Mia Dinunzio each scored once for the Warriors.
Volleyball
Canton, 3 @ Sharon, 1 – Final – Sharon rallied to win the third set to keep the match alive but Canton closed out in impressive fashion to secure a 3-1 (25-16, 25-20, 21-25, 25-7) win on the road, avenging a loss to the Eagles from earlier this season. Jess Wright had a great game for the Bulldogs, recording 14 kills, 19 digs, four aces, and a block. Erin Bigham ran the offense with 33 assists and chipped in with a pair of kills while Sally Hoban added 11 kills and a pair of blocks. Haley Duhaime, Riley Costa, and Melanie McDonough provided a spark and played good defense for Canton.
Mansfield, 1 @ Foxboro, 3 – Final – In a great back-and-forth battle, Foxboro emerged with a hard-fought 3-1 (25-23, 27-29, 27-25, 25-21) win over Mansfield in a battle of evenly matched teams. Sami Sloan led the charge offensively for the Warriors with 17 kills and five aces, Juliana Petigrew added eight kills, six digs, and five aces, and Mallorie Meyer chipped in with six kills, two aces, and 13 digs. Alyssa Cloherty ran the offense with 37 assists and three aces. Lauren Rubicine had 16 digs, five aces, and four kills for the Hornets, Elyssa Buchanan added four kills, four digs, and three blocks, Keira Fitzpatrick dished out 13 assists and had 10 digs, and Lily Campbell added seven blocks, five digs, three kills, and a pair of aces.
Milford, 1 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final – After splitting the first two sets, Attleboro cruised to back-to-back wins to finish out a 3-1 (25-5, 21-25, 25-8, 25-8) win over visiting Milford. It was a strong all-around performance for the Bombardiers with Julia Leonardo (21 kills, seven aces), Addie Shelton (10 kills), Ellie Shelton (four aces, two kills), and Tigin Bombardier (four kills) playing well offensively. Natalie Brojek orchestrated the offense with 35 assists along with 10 aces while Sadie Whitmarsh notched 20 digs to anchor the defense.
North Attleboro @ Taunton, 5:15
Stoughton, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this match. – Stoughton tied the match at 1-1 after rallying to take the second set, but Oliver Ames closed it out with two straight set wins for a 3-1 (25-16, 24-26, 25-12, 25-22) decision. Sarah Hilliard (22 kills) and Courtney Raymond (10 kills, six aces) paced the attack while Maddie Homer (41 digs) and Megan MacDonald anchored the defense for the Tigers.
Golf
Foxboro, 91 @ Stoughton, 96 – Final (5 holes) – In a rain-shortened match, Foxboro pulled out a close win over Stoughton. Patrick Callahan and Louis Carangelo each shot 22 through the first five to lead the way for the Warriors and Mat Sullivan carded a 23. Stoughton’s Joe Rush and James Spector each shot 22 through five as well.
North Attleboro @ Dighton-Rehoboth, 3:00
Taunton, 179 @ King Philip, 154 – Final – King Philip closed out its regular season schedule with a non-league win over Taunton. Freshman Evan Regan fired a two-over par medalist round of 37 to lead the way for the Warriors. Senior Gavin Croke added a 38, Ethan Sullivan shot a 39, and Cameron Hasenfus finished with a 40.
Girls Soccer
Foxboro, 2 @ Walpole, 2 – Final – After allowing a late goal on Monday in a draw against North, Foxboro scored in the final minute on Tuesday to earn a point on the road at Walpole. Lauren Miley got Foxboro’s first goal, finishing a free kick from Erin Foley. With less than a minute to play, Neve Taylor scored off a Lindsey Resnick pass (the same combo from Monday’s game) to rescue a result for the Warriors. Keeper Allie Sougaris had another strong game for Foxboro.
Field Hockey
Mansfield, 6 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – Mansfield built a big lead early with four goals in the first quarter, then tacked on two more in the final quarter to secure a win over Sharon. Lola Varricchione opened the scoring for the Hornets, Kristina Kipp scored back-to-back goals, and Ella Palanza capped Mansfield’s first quarter scoring to make it 4-0. Danni Cuzzi and Rose Maher each scored once in the fourth quarter while Ava Adams finished the game with two assists.
Volleyball
Foxboro, 3 vs. Walpole, 0 – Final – After a tough five-set loss on Monday, Foxboro bounced back with a clean sweep on Tuesday, taking down Walpole, 3-0 (27-25, 25-23, 25-17). Alyssa Cloherty dished out 28 assists and added six digs and four aces, Ava Kirk had a big day with nine kills, and Mallorie Meyer finished with 13 digs, five kills, four aces, and two blocks.
Boys Cross Country
North Attleboro, 39 @ Taunton, 19 – Final – For the second straight race, Taunton’s Brayden Cali (17:17) and Andrew Cali (17:25) took the top two spots, and Jack Pawlowski took third as the Tigers ran away with a win over North Attleboro. Aiden Zamora (sixth) and Daris Alves (seventh) rounded out the scoring for the Tigers. William Atwood was North’s top runner, clocking in at 18:22 for fourth overall while Brady King (18:25) was fifth.
Canton, 38 @ Sharon, 20 – Final – Canton’s top runner was Sam Vail (third overall), who ran a career best of 18:28 over the 5K course at Ward’s Berry Farm. Luke Darling (18:42) and Austin DiBiasio (20:06) also ran career best times for the Bulldogs.
Stoughton, 49 @ Foxboro, 15 – Final
Oliver Ames, 19 @ Mansfield, 38 – Final
Milford, 20 @ Franklin, 43 – Final – Milford’s Sydney Kalil took first place by nearly a minute but Franklin followed with 11 straight runners to get the win over the Scarlet Hawks. Ashley Tighe and Abigail Baker were Franklin’s top two runners, taking second and third overall, respectively. Alex Batla, Fiona Morrison, and Carli Walbert rounded out the scoring for Franklin with fourth, fifth, and sixth place finishes.
Girls Cross Country
North Attleboro, 31 @ Taunton, 26 – Final – Taunton used a one-two finish to collect a close win over visiting North Attleboro. Emersyn DePonte crossed the finish line in 20:04 to take first and Colby Dunham followed at 20:13 for second overall.
Canton, 44 @ Sharon, 18 – Final – Sophomore Tahlia Weaver was Canton’s top runner, taking third overall and finishing in 22:59. Johanna Bouwmeester (23:46) and Klara Redquest (24:12), who placed eighth and 10th respectively, also had strong races for the Bulldogs.
Stoughton, 36 @ Foxboro, 21 – Final
Oliver Ames, 18 @ Mansfield, 45 – Final
Milford @ Franklin, 3:45
Golf
Milford, 160 @ Franklin, 142 – Final – Franklin bounced back from a loss on Monday by taking down division foe Milford at Franklin Country Club on Tuesday. CJ Steel had third birdies and Tyler O’Brien had two, each finishing at 35 for the day to earn medalist honors. Brendan Collins (three birdies) and Jack Hagerty (two birdies) both finished at 36 to round out the scoring for the Panthers. Anthony LaPierre and David Fleming each shot a 39 for the Hawks while Jacob Hipilito, Tyler Caldon, and Eric Farrell each shot a 41.
Oliver Ames, 154 @ Canton, 163 – Final – Oliver Ames stayed atop the standings in the Davenport division, securing a win on the road over Canton at Blue Hill Country Club. Battling the wind and rain, as well as the Bulldogs, the Tigers had a strong showing. Senior Michael McGinnis and sophomore Braden Shapiro each shot a 38 on the day to share medalist honors for OA, while juniors Lucas Riley and Ryan Smith each finished with a 39. Canton’s Huck McCready had a team-best round of 40 while Brendan Tourgee, Joey Ryan, and Gavin McMahon each shot a 41.
North Attleboro, 161 @ Taunton, 183 – Final – North Attleboro senior Jake Gaskin had a great performance, battling the elements to card a medalist round of 36 to lead the Rocketeers to a win on the road over Taunton at Segregansett Country Club. Sophomore Tyson Laviano added a 40 in the win, Ishan Kohli added a 41, and Jordan Paradis rounded out the scoring for the visitors with a 44. Taunton sophomore Alex Dias had a strong showing, shooting a team-low round of 42.
Football
Attleboro, 0 @ Milford, 24 – Final 1Q: (M) Romeo Holland 57-yard rush, Nick Araujo XP good; (M) N. Araujo 34-yard rush, N. Araujo XP good.
2Q: (M) N. Araujo 51-yard field goal good.
3Q: No scoring.
4Q: (M) Evan Cornelius 26-yard pass to Cameron Phillips, N. Araujo XP good.
Foxboro, 14 @ Hopkinton, 3 – Final
Franklin, 21 @ North Attleboro, 20 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game. 1Q: (NA) Nathan Shultz 49-yard rush, Austin Clemente XP good; (F) Jase Lyons 24-yard pass to Derek Dubriske, Garrett Portesi XP good.
2Q: (F) J. Lyons 31-yard pass to Luke Davis, G. Portesi XP good; (F) J. Lyons 30-yard pass to Grayson Hunter, G. Portesi XP good.
3Q: (NA) Greg Berthiaume 7-yard rush, A. Clemente XP good.
4Q: (NA) Chase Frisoli 1-yard rush, Conversion failed.
Taunton, 24 @ King Philip, 26 – Final 1Q: (T) Jacob Leonard 24-yard pass to Jose Touron, XP failed; (KP) Will Astorino 64-yard rush, Matt Kelley XP good; (T) J. Leonard 70-yard pass to Dmitrius Shearrion, 2pt pass failed; (KP) Tommy McLeish 42-yard pass to Will Laplante, 2pt rush failed.
2Q: (T) Brian Batista 2-yard rush, 2pt pass failed; (KP) Kyle Abbott 3-yard rush, 2pt failed.
3Q: (KP) K. Abbott 10-yard rush, M. Kelley XP good.
4Q: (T) J. Leonard 40-yard pass to J. Touron, 2pt rush failed.
Oliver Ames, 32 @ Stoughton, 35 – Final 1Q: (OA) Chad Silva 2-yard rush, XP good.
2Q: (OA) C. Silva 65-yard rush, XP good; (S) Alex Huynh 13-yard rush, Tommy Silva XP good; (OA) C. Silva 43-yard rush, XP failed; (S) Jarred Daughtry 4-yard rush, T. Silva XP good.
3Q: (S) J. Daughtry 61-yard pass to Tagh Swierzewski, T. Silva XP good; (OA) C. Silva 3-yard rush, 2pt failed.
4Q: (S) J. Daughtry 2-yard rush, 2pt failed; (OA) C. Silva 48-yard rush, 2pt failed; (S) J. Daughtry 63-yard pass to A. Huynh, Liam Pearl 2pt rush.
Sharon, 35 @ Case, 6 – Final
Boys Soccer
Attleboro, 1 @ Franklin, 2 – Final – In a battle of the top two teams in the Kelley-Rex division, Franklin used a late-winner to take over first place in the division at the midway point of the season. The Panthers got off to a great start at home as Trey Lovell finished off an assist from Will Kryzak in the sixth minute for the early lead. Attleboro junior Alex Vecchioli converted a pass from Esvin Morales to bring the visitors level in the 15th minute. The game stayed level for the majority of the game before Kryzak finished off a great pass from Andrew O’Neill in the 77th minute to secure the win.
North Attleboro, 2 @ King Philip, 0 – Final – North Attleboro scored just before halftime and then doubled its lead minutes into the second half, earning a 2-0 win on the road at King Philip. The Rocketeers gained a huge momentum boost when goalie Owen Goeller denied the Warriors on a penalty kick in the first half. North capitalized on a free kick from just outside the box as sophomore Patrick Etienvre converted his shot in the 34th minute. Just moments into the second half, Griffin Rodden linked up with Kaden Burns to make it 2-0 in the 43rd minute. North head coach Mike Lacasse praised the efforts of his defense in the win.
Stoughton, 1 @ Mansfield, 3 – Final – Stoughton cut the deficit to one goal just before the midway point of the second half but the Hornets slammed the door shut with a late insurance goal to collect two points in a 3-1 win over the Black Knights. Mansfield found the back of the net less than 10 minutes in as Sam Oliveira took an assist from Tyler Znoj for a 1-0 advantage in the ninth minute, a lead the Hornets carried into half. Just five minutes into the second half, Dante Spivak blasted a shot in from 30 yards out (assisted by Aiden Steele) to double Mansfield’s lead to 2-0. Stoughton pulled one back in the 53rd minute but Steele recorded his second assist, this time setting up Grady Sullivan in the 73rd minute for the insurance tally. Mansfield coach Steve Sheridan praised the efforts of Dan Checkoway in the midfield as well as the defensive group of Derek McGrath, Matty Sullivan, Aidan Jones, Brendan Flynn, and Kyle Johnson.
Taunton, 0 @ Milford, 4 – Final – Milford scored a pair of goals in each half, taking a 4-0 decision over Taunton to push its win streak to four games. The Scarlet Hawks, who have scored at least three goals in each game during the winning streak, had another strong first half. Freshman Danny Da Silva set up Marcello Alves for the opener, and Eduardo Santana converted a cross from Andre Baiano to double the lead before halftime. In the second half, Nick Ribeiro’s free kick service was finished off by Kaua Pereira to make it 3-0. Alves earned his second point of the day, finding Santana for his second goal, for a 4-0 advantage.
Oliver Ames, 6 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – After a scoreless battle for 20 minutes, Oliver Ames exploded for six goals over the final 60 minutes to secure a key win over Davenport rival Sharon. Sophomore Casey Milliken scored OA’s first two goals, first finishing off a pass from classmate Andrew Martins, and then taking a feed from senior Mirray DaSilva and scoring to make it 2-0, which held until halftime. Milliken returned the favor to Martins to open the scoring half as Martins scored his first of two goals. Sophomore Luke Churchill set up Martins’ second goal to make it 4-0, and Milliken earned his fourth point of the day with an assist to senior Jason Zalis. OA junior Braeden Blass capped the scoring by finishing off a pass from junior Diego Rivera. Drew Hall recorded his fourth shutout of the season for OA.
Foxboro, 1 @ Canton, 2 – Final – Canton scored on either side of halftime to grab a 2-1 win over visiting Foxboro, snapping a three-game skid. Senior Jack Lauro put the hosts ahead with a goal just before halftime, and then just minutes into the second half, senior Drew Garrett scored to double the lead.
Girls Soccer
Franklin, 3 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – Kelly O’Connor scored a pair of goals to help Franklin bounce back from its loss on Wednesday and to keep pace with KP in the league title race. It was an even first half, but the Panthers took the lead in the final five minutes, O’Connor nodding home a Bridget Leo corner. With Attleboro pushing for an equalizer, Franklin was able to strike twice more after the break. Anya Zub doubled the lead a little more than halfway through the second half, with O’Connor picking up the assist. O’Connor then secured her brace and her third point of the night with a goal with nine minutes to play. Alexis Campbell made six big saves that kept Attleboro in the game, while Rachel Welch made seven stops for the Panthers. Attleboro coach Steve Santos was proud of the way the team kept battling to the end.
Canton, 1 @ Foxboro, 0 – Final – In an evenly played game from start to finish, Emma Cahill scored off a Mekhala Costello assist with only three minutes remaining to secure the victory. Canton coach Idris Senyonjo praised Costello for a “man of the match” performance with contributions on both ends of the field. Foxboro coach Jen Lippolis rued missed chances for her team again on Friday. Allie Sougaris had an impressive game in the Foxboro goal to help keep it scoreless into the closing minutes.
King Philip, 2 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this match. KP scored a pair of second half goals to earn the win and keep pace in the division title race. Ella Pisani scored the opener with a shot from outside the box that just eluded the fingertips of North goalie Maddie Ferrin. The Warriors sealed the points when Addisyn Lamothe-Vaughn rose highest for a powerful header off a Danielle Gresham corner. While KP had the bulk of the possession and the scoring chances, North nearly equalized when Caroline Ferrin hit the bar with a shot from distance.
Mansfield, 1 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Jill Koppy followed up a shot in the final three minutes, slamming home the rebound to secure a hard-fought win for the Hornets.
Milford, 4 @ Taunton, 4 – Final – Milford and Taunton split eight goals in a thrilling shootout at Aleixo Field. Milford jumped into a 2-1 lead at halftime. Paige Caldon and Dani Atherton scored in the opening half for the Hawks, while Emily Calderon got one back for the Tigers. Ava Uhl, who also had the challenge of marking Atherton on the other end of the field, scored to tie the game again in the second half. Brooke Ferreira and Atherton each had goals to put Milford in front after the break, but each time Taunton responded. Kaylee Lopes had a brace in the second half to secure a point for the Tigers. Serena Borges had an assist for the Hawks. Hayleigh Porter made 10 saves for Taunton and Milford keeper Kayleigh Tourtellot was even busier, making 15 stops. Taunton coach Dan Borges was pleased with the team’s reaction to keep fighting back after going behind and highlighted the back-and-forth battle between Uhl and Atherton, who he called one of the league’s top attackers.
Sharon, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 4 – Final – Oliver Ames scored three goals in the first half and added an insurance tally in the second to get a win at home over Sharon. Taylor deVos put the Tigers ahead in the eighth minute, and Mary Cross scored off a corner from Sophia Byron at the midway point of the first half. Carly Gibson also found the back of the net before halftime to make it 3-0. Sofia Goclowski scored Sharon’s lone goal off a corner from Olivia Soby, which cut the lead to 3-1, but the Tigers tacked on a fourth from Jolie Diaz to seal the win. Sally Brouhard and Jordanna Morris both had solid games for the Eagles in defense, while Jessica Li played well up top in the loss.
Field Hockey
Franklin, 8 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – Holding a 3-0 lead at halftime, Franklin pulled away with two more goals in the third quarter and three more in the fourth to finish with an 8-0 lead. Emily Carney scored a hat trick for the Panthers, scoring once in each of the first three quarters, while Payten Crandall had two goals and one assist in the win. Kaitlyn Carney (one assist), Haley Wernig, and Sydney Rogan (one assist) each scored once in the win. Devon Barry and Megan Sullivan (two saves) combined for the shutout in net.
Mansfield, 7 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – For Stoughton, Katherine Giroux, Nicole Reid, and Catarina Melo all played a great game.
Sharon, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 8 – Final
Milford, 0 @ Taunton, 4 – Final – Taunton senior Caelen O’Leary factored into all four goals, scoring twice and assisting on the other two, to help the Tigers secure a shutout win over visiting Milford. Ayla Jackson and Camryn Emond each scored once, finishing off a feed from O’Leary. Jasmine Lucier made two saves to record the shutout in net for Taunton.
Canton, 0 @ Foxboro, 2 – Final – Foxboro scored once in the second quarter and again in the third, and the Warriors’ defense became the first team to shut out Canton this year as the Warriors collected a vital division win. Mary Collins scored the opening goal to put the hosts ahead 1-0, an advantage they carried into halftime. In the third, Mya Waryas found the back of the net to extend Foxboro’s lead to 2-0.
Volleyball
Canton, 3 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – Foxboro jumped out to a lead by taking the first set but Canton rallied to win three straight for a 3-1 (22-25, 25-14, 25-18, 25-22) win on the road. Jess Wright led the way for the visitors, registering 17 kills, 14 digs, and one block while Fatima Sidibay had a big night at the net with 11 kills and a trio of blocks. Zoe Scibelli anchored the defense with 19 digs and a pair of aces while freshman Erin Bigham (two aces) distributed the ball well with 32 assists. For Foxboro, Juliana Pettigrew had 18 kills, Sami Sloan put down 12 kills and added three aces, Mallorie Meyer added four kills and 18 digs, and Alyssa Cloherty dished out 37 assists.
Sharon, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – In a key division clash, Oliver Ames notched a convincing 3-0 (25-5, 25-22, 25-9) win over rival Sharon. Sophomore Ava Barth had a big day for the Tigers with 18 digs and five aces, junior Ariel Gao added 23 service points and six aces, and sophomore Addie Smock registered 10 kills and three blocks. Maddie Homer had 21 digs and Clare Kavoulis finished with 34 assists in the win.
Franklin, 2 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final – Attleboro rattled off three straight points in the final set to turn a one-point deficit into a 3-2 (14-25, 26-24, 21-25, 25-20, 15-13) win over visiting Franklin, giving the Bombardiers one of their biggest wins in program history. Julia Leonardo was a monster at the net for the Bombardiers, putting down 36 kills to go along with 20 digs to pace the attack, while Sadie Whiwtmarsh had a huge showing with 23 kills. Addie Shelton added 11 kills and 12 digs in the win. Natalie Brojek orchestrated the offense for the hosts, dishing out 49 assists to go along with 15 digs and three blocks.
King Philip, 3 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – King Philip rolled to a win, taking down North Attleboro 3-0 (25-8, 25-10, 15-12). KP’s trio of captains led the way as Sami Shore had five kills and two aces, Emily Sawyer added 10 kills and 10 aces, and Ahunna James added seven kills and four digs.
Mansfield, 3 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – After falling behind 2-1, Mansfield rallied to win two in a row to claim a 3-2 (23-25, 25-18, 18-25, 25-20, 15-9) victory over Stoughton. Keira Fitpatrick orchestrated the offense with 21 assists to go along with seven digs. Elyssa Buchanan notched 10 kills and eight digs while Lily Verheggen had a big day at the net with 12 kills.
Milford @ Taunton, 5:00
Golf
Attleboro, 175 @ Franklin, 145 – Final – Brendan Collins had a consistent day out on the links, shooting a medalist round to lead the Panthers to a win over Attleboro. Collins carded a 36 to lead the way, CJ Steel shot a 38, and both Caden Sullivan (one birdie) and Jack Hagerty (one birdie) each came in at 38. Bradley Martin led the Bombardiers with a 43.
Mansfield, 149 @ Oliver Ames, 145 – Final – Oliver Ames passed its biggest test of the season so far, landing a four-stroke win over Mansfield in a battle of the top two teams in the Davenport division. OA senior Daniel Paul and junior David Rodgers shared medalist honors with Mansfield sophomore Brendan Vokey, with all three coming in at 35 on the day at Pine Oaks. Juniors Sean Kearns and Lucas Riley rounded out OA’s scoring, carding a round of 37 and 38, respectively.
North Attleboro, 151 vs. Dighton-Rehoboth, 168 – Final – North Attleboro had all four of its scorers come in under 40 in a non-league win over Dighton-Rehoboth on the middle course at Heather Hill. Sophomore Tyson Laviano was the match medalist, firing a one-over round of 36 to lead the Rocketeers. Jake Gaskin and Jordan Paradis each shot a 38 and Dillon Harding chipped in with a 39 for the Rocketeers. Drew Urban carded a round of 36 for the Hornets while Nathan McClean and Will Riley each shot a 39.
Boys Soccer
Stoughton, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final – Oliver Ames scored to take the lead in the first half but Stoughton equalized with just under 20 minutes to play and the teams split the points with a 1-1 draw. OA sophomore Luke Churchill scored on a terrific shot from distance, taking a quickly played free kick from Casey Milliken, cutting back past a defender and firing a left-footed blast to the top corner from 30 yards out.
Milford, 3 @ Medway, 4 – Final – Milford held a pair of leads in the game but Medway rallied both times, including a pair of goals in the final 10 minutes to get the win. Lucas Nalon Ribero gave the Hawks the lead off a cross from Arthur Tome, and John Borges doubled the lead off a through ball from Eduardo Santana to make it 2-0 but the hosts rallied for two goals to make it 2-2 at the break. Milford went ahead again, this time as Tome finished off a feed from Santana but Medway scored twice in the final 10 minutes to get the win.
Franklin, 2 @ King Philip, 0 – Final – Franklin scored just before halftime and then once more just before the final whistle to earn a 2-0 win, bouncing back from a setback on Friday at OA. Hansy Jacques scored for the second straight match, putting the visitors ahead in the 37th minute. Andrew O’Neill set up Noah Cain in the 75th minute to double the Panthers’ advantage.
Girls Soccer
Oliver Ames, 2 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – Oliver Ames overcame an early deficit to come away with a win and two points on the road over the Black Knights. Stoughton took the lead just five minutes into the game before the Tigers pulled level midway through the first half when Lucinda Li Cotter headed in a service from Emma Gavin. With 10 minutes to go, Mary Cross finished off a loose ball in the box after a scramble for the winner. Lynn Elhayek and Jolie Diaz both had strong games for OA.
North Attleboro, 1 vs. Braintree, 1 – Final – Braintree scored inside the opening minutes of the match but North Attleboro leveled 10 minutes later and the teams finished tied at 1-1. Trailing 1-0 under four minutes in, North’s Emma Pratt headed in a cross from Lily Adams in the 14th minute to make it 1-1.
Field Hockey
Attleboro, 8 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Attleboro junior Siobhan Landers scored a hat trick to lead the Bombardiers to a big win on the road over Milford. Landers also added an assist, Nora Desrosiers scored a pair of goals, Marley Young had one goal and one assist, Mackenzie Cooper and Taylor Henry each found the back of the net once, and Jordan Mooney recorded two assists in the win.
King Philip, 2 @ Franklin, 7 – Final – King Philip cut the deficit down to two with a goal less than four minutes into the fourth quarter but Franklin finished with three straight goals to pull away for the win. KP took the lead less than two minutes in when senior Leah Santoro scored her first career goal and held the lead for the majority of the quarter before Franklin’s Raena Crandall (from Shaw Downing and Kaitlyn Carney) scored with a minute left to make it 1-1. Carney scored twice in the second quarter, the first unassisted and the second from Haley Wernig and Sophia Cuneo, to give the Panthers a 3-1 halftime lead, and Emily Carney (from Kaitlyn Carney) scored the lone goal of the third to extend Franklin’s lead to 4-1 going into the fourth. Junior Mara Boldy converted a pass from Kelly Holmes four minutes into the fourth to cut the deficit to 4-2 but goals from Wernig (from E. Carney), Crandall (from K. Carney), and Kaitlyn Carney iced the win. Devon Barry made eight saves in net for the Panthers while Haley Bright had a stellar performance in the cage for KP. Holmes, and seniors Avery Hayes and Maggie Murphy all played well defensively for the Warriors.
North Attleboro, 4 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – After a scoreless first quarter, North netted a pair of goals in the second before adding one more in each of the third and fourth quarters to take down Taunton. Julia Puccio opened the scoring with an unassisted goal with 2:56 left in the half and then recorded an assist on North’s second goal, smacking a shot off a corner that was redirected in by Caroline Folan. Folan added to North’s lead early in the third, taking a feed from Ava Spencer and using a big sweeping shot to find the back of the net. In the fourth, Spencer got her first goal of the game with Puccio getting another assist.
Oliver Ames, 9 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Erin Cottam scored a team-high four goals and Oliver Ames entered the win column with a 9-0 decision at Stoughton. Cottam also had two helpers in the win while Megan Crabtree added a goal and two assists, and Julia Maclaine was an assist machine with four on the day. Olivia Stevens and Kayla Kenney each added two goals apiece in the win.
Sharon, 0 @ Canton, 9 – Final
Foxboro, 2 @ Mansfield, 0 – Final – After a scoreless first half, Foxboro finally solved Mansfield in the second half, scoring once in each of the third and fourth quarters to get the win. Mary Collins broke the stalemate midway through the third quarter, scoring at 7:32 to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Jenny Gallagher gave the Warriors a key insurance goal at 12:07 of the fourth. Lily Danehy was excellent in net once again for the Hornets, making 14 saves.
Volleyball
Sharon, 3 @ Canton, 2 – Final – A seesaw back-and-forth battle saw Sharon emerged with a hard-fought 3-2 win (26-24, 16-25, 25-21, 22-25, 15-11) over host Canton. Zoey Scibelli, Kaitlin Bigham, and Kelly Schiavo all played well for Canton.
King Philip, 0 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – A battle between two of the best teams in the state lived up to the hype as the Panthers claimed a 3-0 (26-24, 27-25, 25-20) win in an extremely competitive and tight contest. Junior Taylor Lacerda recorded 11 kills, 11 digs, and a pair of aces for the Panthers while senior middle Rachel Taylor added six kills, five blocks, and one ace. For KP, Emily Sawyer landed 14 kills along with a pair of aces, Sami Shore added six kills and three aces, Ahunna James recorded five kills, and Olivia O’Neil chipped in with four kills and two aces.
Foxboro, 1 @ Mansfield, 3 – Final – Foxboro won an epic third set to keep the matching going but the Hornets closed it out in the next set to secure a 3-1 (25-22, 25-21, 30-32, 25-20) win in a highly competitive and entertaining match. For the Warriors, Shannon McElhinney had four aces and 16 digs, Alyssa Cloherty dished out 19 assists to go with 11 digs, and Mallorie Meyer had a strong all-around game with 10 digs, six kills, and four aces.
Taunton, 1 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final – Taunton kept the match going with a win in the third set but North Attleboro closed it out in four, taking a 3-1 (25-19, 25-14, 22-25, 25-17) win over the Tigers. Junior setter Remi Zides dished out 20 assists and the Rocketeers had a balanced attack: freshman middle Lincoln Abramaitys recorded six kills and four solo blocks and senior middle Mariah Barbosa added nine kills and two solo blocks. Defensively, senior Avery Bitar recorded right digs for the Big Red. For Taunton, Anna Abouzied had a strong all-around game with five aces, four kills, four digs, and three assists. Megan Rose, Sadie Herry, and Mia Fernandes all played well defensively and on serve receive to keep the Tigers in the match.
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – Oliver Ames bounced back from a tight loss in the first set to win three in a row and take home a victory from Stoughton, 3-1 (25-27, 25-21, 25-18, 25-15). Claire O’Rourke was a force at the service line with 27 service points along with 13 kills and 12 digs. Sophomore Clare Kavoulis dished out 39 assists, senior Maddie Homer had 28 digs and 21 serve receptions, and junior Sarah Hilliard landed 19 kills.
Attleboro, 3 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Attleboro went on the road and won three straight to knock off Milford (25-13, 25-22, 25-17). Natalie Brojek continued her strong start to the season with 30 assists, three aces, and three blocks. Julia Leonardo continued to pace the attack with 13 kills while Addie Shelton had a big game, notching nine kills and three aces. Sadie Whitmarsh added 13 digs and three aces in the win.
Golf
Franklin, 148 @ Attleboro, 162 – Final
Oliver Ames, 149 @ Stoughton, 193 – Final – Oliver Ames made the short trip to Easton Country Club and emerged with a win over host Stoughton. Juniors Sean Kearns and David Rodgers shared medalist honors by shooting an even par round of 36 to pace the Tigers. Senior Daniel Paul added a 37, and Lucas Riley and Michael McGinnis each chipped in with a 40. For Stoughton, Mason Page and David Monaghan shot a 45 and a 46, respectively.
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.
Attleboro sophomore Julia Leonardo will be one of the players to watch when the Hockomock League volleyball season tips off. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
OA won its first outright league title last season (after sharing the 2019 Kelley-Rex title with Franklin and KP) and Hilliard was one of the main reasons that the Tigers were able to unseat Canton in the Davenport. As a sophomore, Hilliard, who was also a key part of OA’s run to the state title in basketball in the winter, emerged as one of the league’s top hitters. She finished the season with 300 kills while adding 208 digs, 219 serve receptions, and 51 aces. She was among the league leaders in all four categories. Hilliard has the height to be a strong defensive presence at the net, but it is her quickness and athleticism that makes her so dynamic on the outside. She is a quick leaper and able to pick her spots while swinging, finding the open spots in the opposition defense. In her second varsity season, Hilliard has grown into an all-around player who can impact the game no matter where she is lined up. The Tigers will be eyeing a second straight title and Hilliard’s development as a dominant attacking force on the outside can help bring home another Davenport crown and another deep tournament run.
There aren’t many players in the league, and even in the state, that have played as many sets at the varsity level as Maddie Homer. Now a senior, she could be poised for her biggest season yet. A league all star and a MAVCA D2 All-State team selection a year ago, Homer plays a vital role defensively for the defending Davenport division champions. As the libero, Homer is like a magnet for the ball, whether it’s on serve receive (482 serve receives in 2021) or against the attack (543 digs). She is always well-positioned, and even if there is a tip or a partial block, she’s quick to react and doesn’t hesitate to get on the floor to make a play. She’s a proven winner (as a member of the 2022 state championship girls basketball team) and a leader (a captain for the softball team as a junior) and will be a huge piece yet again this season for the Tigers as they try to repeat as division champs and make a run in the state tournament.
In each of the past two seasons, James has made tremendous strides and look for that trend to continue this year. One of the most powerful hitters in the state, James will be a part of a three-headed attack along with Emily Sawyer and Sami Shore, a tandem that might be the most fearsome attacking group in Massachusetts this season. A six-position player, she can play at any spot on the court: she had 95 digs (and 163 serve receives) and 24 aces (on 92.6 serve percentage) to go along with her 200 kills. Not only can she hit for power, but she can also work around the block, even if she’s seeing double blocks on the outside. Her athleticism allows her to shine both in the front row and the back row, and her consistent serves make her a threat in any spot on the court. The Warriors made it to the state semifinals a year ago and could be in a position to go all the way this year.
Franklin has won four straight league titles (sharing the last three with King Philip) and Lacerda is one of the players that the Panthers will be leaning on this fall to make it five in a row. As a sophomore, Lacerda emerged as Franklin’s top threat on the outside with her strong leap and great vision to find a hole in the opposing defense. She finished with 188 kills in 2021, but also added 258 digs and 34 aces, showing that she was more than just a dynamic hitter. Lacerda’s quickness and athleticism will get the chance to shine this season, as Franklin will have a few starting spots that need to be filled with new faces. The Panthers will continue to target league titles and hopefully, another deep tournament run and Lacerda’s continued growth on the outside will be a crucial component to their success this season.
Leonardo wasted no time in making a big impact for the Bombardiers. As a freshman, Leonardo was one of the most dynamic outside hitters in the league and helped Attleboro have one of its best seasons in recent memory. With 297 kills, 32 aces, 155 digs, and 353 serve receives, she has an all-around game of a much more experienced player and the scary part for opponents is the potential is there for even more in the future. It was on the outside, rising up to smash another shot into the corner that Leonardo really stood out. If the other team was making a run, Attleboro could spin the ball out to the left and Leonardo would put a stop to the momentum. The reigning HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year set the tone for an Attleboro team that reached the postseason for the first time in more than a decade. The Bombardiers will be hoping to open their new gym with another tournament appearance and having Leonardo on the outside gives them a leg up on the competition.
Not only is Foxboro senior Mallorie Meyer one of the top players at the net, but she’s also one of the few middle blockers that is just as talented in the back row as well. A strong force at the net offensively, Meyer is also a very good server and a very good passer, allowing her to stay in the rotation in all six spots. Half of the middles will sub out with the libero, and others will even sub out for a defensive specialist after a serve rotation, but Meyer can serve at a high level (a team-high 46 aces last year, which was tied for sixth most in the Hock) and then stay in to play defense (356 serve receives, a team-high) as seen by her 232 digs, which led the Warriors. Offensively, she doesn’t have an overwhelming swing but does a nice job working around the block and finding holes in the defense to get her attacks to find the hardwood. Foxboro has the majority of its lineup intact from a season ago and will be looking to make a run in the state tournament.
Sawyer made quite the impression in her first season of varsity volleyball. The 6-foot-3 middle hitter, who had two impressive seasons as a center on the basketball team, made an instant impact for the Warriors in the fall. Her size was an obvious deterrent to opposing hitters, but her quick lateral movement and ability to read the play made it difficult to attack down the sides as well. The Sacred Heart commit spent the summer playing volleyball, so expectations are even higher for this season, as she hopes to build on the 201 kills, 35 blocks, and hitting percentage of .434 that she recorded last year. There were matches that Sawyer completely dominated on both sides of the ball and she was a major reason for KP’s third straight league title. The Warriors bring back their top three hitters this year, so expectations are sky high, and Sawyer’s continued development into a game-changing presence in the middle will have KP thinking that a fourth straight Kelley-Rex crown is a strong possibility.
Mansfield is looking to make a splash in its first season in the Davenport division and having one of the best defensive players at the net in the Hock is going to help. Scibilia is a towering presence at the net that has a knack for getting her hand in the way of opposing swings. As a junior, she emerged as one of the best blockers in the Hockomock League, registering 48 blocks — the second most in the league during the regular season — and that was going against some of the best teams in the state, including Franklin and KP (both state semifinalists) twice each. The Hornets graduated two of their top three leaders in kills from a season ago so Scibilia could be in line for some more swings this season alongside outside hitter junior Elyssa Buchanan
Syed not only controlled the middle on both sides of the net but was a strong all-around player for the Hawks last season to help them get back into the tournament. As a junior, she was a six-rotation player, totaling 187 kills, 61 aces, and 34 blocks, while adding 86 digs. Syed seemed to step up in big moments for Milford, making a key block or a big swing that would stop an opposition run or spark the Hawks into life. Not the tallest middle in the league, Syed controls the net with her quickness, her reach, and her ability to read the play, putting herself in good positions to limit opposing hitters. Her strong service game adds a different dimension and gets Milford some easier points. The Hawks will be looking forward to another tournament run this fall and Syed is the team’s top returning hitter so Milford will be counting on her to provide more big points to stay in playoff contention.
It was a rebuilding year for the Canton program, as the Bulldogs finished second in the Davenport (it was only the second time since 2007 that Canton didn’t win the league title) and Wright became one of the newcomers to shine in a bigger role. As a sophomore, Wright became the team’s top outside hitter with 218 kills. In her first significant varsity minutes, Wright showed that she is a six-position player, capable of producing wherever she is lined up. She added 215 digs, 17 aces, and 329 serve receptions. Her hitting drew attention from the opposition, but her skills defensively helped Canton keep points alive and set up the chance for her to win it at the net. With a year of experience and growing confidence, Wright could be one of the league’s most dynamic outside threats this fall. Canton always sets its sights on a league title and Wright’s skills and versatility will be critical for the Bulldogs to get back to the top of the division.
