Stoughton sophomore Reagan Lewis goes up for an attack in the first set against Holyoke. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
STOUGHTON, Mass. — For the first two sets of Wednesday’s Division 2 preliminary round, the Stoughton volleyball team couldn’t find its footing, and the Black Knights couldn’t get out of their own way.
But in the last two sets, Stoughton couldn’t do anything wrong.
Buoyed by incredible starts to the third and fourth sets, the 27th-seeded Black Knights earned a 3-1 (25-17, 17-25, 25-6, 25-9) win over #38 Holyoke to advance in the state tournament.
Although Stoughton got a win in the first set, they didn’t make it easy on themselves. A kill from sophomore Reagan Lewis (18 kills) pushed the hosts’ lead to eight at 16-8 but mistakes and unforced errors saw that lead shrink to three before Stoughton closed it out with a 5-0 run.
The unforced errors and passing mistakes carried over to the second set, and even with Stoughton staying close with the visiting Purple Knights for the majority of the set, Holyoke middle Rhina Cortes Rodriguez proved to be too much and the visitors finished the set with an 11-1 run to even the match.
That clearly served as a wake-up call for Stoughton. Of the next 65 points between the final two sets, the Black Knights won 50 of them.
“We talk about it all the time, it feels like we have to get down a little before we really turn it on,” said Stoughton head coach Felicia Baptista. “But they are really driven by being the underdogs so after they won that second set, we kind of woke up and just started communicating better.
“I felt like we were playing down for the first two sets and letting them feed off of our errors. Once we cleaned up those mistakes, we got it going.”
It all started with the serving of sophomore Angelina Barry. who had three aces and two more serves that weren’t returned to set the tone. Lewis added three early kills and a 9-0 start prompted a timeout from Holyoke.
Lewis had a team-high 18 kills, filling in as an outside hitter for the Knights, who were without their starting two outsides in juniors Maya Ashu and Annalia Eschleman.
“She’s been awesome for us because she can play anywhere in the front row,” Baptista said. “We can put her in the middle, we can put her at the outside. And tonight she really stepped up as an underclassman when we needed her most with our two starting outsides out hurt.”
But the break couldn’t deter Barry and the Black Knights. Lewis had back-to-back kills off sets from Ella Holden, senior Jessie Queeney followed a kill with a big block at the net, Barry landed another ace, and Queeney dropped in a roll shot to push the run to 16-0 to start the third set.
A hitting mistake out of Holyoke’s second time finally ended Stoughton’s run but Lewis restored momentum for the hosts with a pair of kills, the latter coming off a pass from senior Patrik Oliveira and a set from freshman Natalia Borges, who then landed three straight aces to close out the third, 25-6.
It was unlikely that Stoughton could have a better start to the fourth set than it did in the third with a 16-0 run, but the Black Knights managed to top it.
This time it was Holden at the helm, serving Stoughton to an incredible 20-0 run to essentially run away with the win. Holden had three aces early on, a pair of other strong serves batted around before being knocked out, Queeney had a block kill, and Lewis had two kills for a quick 11-0 run.
Oliveira landed a back row kill, Holden dropped in another ace, and even a pass from Queeney found a hole in the defense to make it 17-0. Back-to-back cross court kills from Queeney and Lewis made it 20-0 before a hitting error got the Purple Knights on the board. Despite a little run from the visitors, senior Mia Marangos got a big block on a free ball and junior Alyssa Edwards smashed a kill for the final point to clinch the match.
“This is huge to host and win a playoff game,” Baptista said. “We always have a big program and I feel like it’s continuing to grow because we’re doing more youth programs so to be able to host this game and have the community out supporting is huge to help continue to grow.”
Stoughton volleyball (9-10) is set to travel to #6 Melrose on Friday with a 6:30 start for an MIAA Division 2 First Round matchup.
Boys Soccer
Mansfield, 0 @ Canton, 5 – Final – Canton’s offense continued its strong week, scoring five goals for the second straight game in a key Davenport division win over visiting Mansfield. After netting his first goal of the season earlier in the week, sophomore Owen Morrissey scored twice in the Bulldogs’ win on Thursday. Morrissey opened the scoring in the first half, cleaning up a rebound, and then extended the hosts’ lead to 3-0 with the first goal of the second half. Seniors Ryan Kovner, Jack Lauro, and Carson Eagles each scored once for Canton.
Girls Soccer
Sharon, 0 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – Shayla Ford’s brace helped Stoughton pull out the home win. Ford scored once in each half, leading the Black Knights to a third win in the last four games and back to .500 on the season. Katrina Varnum picked up the assist on the opening goal and Emma Tran had the second assist. Varnum made six saves to earn the clean sheet. Stoughton’s five wins so far this fall are the most for the Black Knights in a single season since they won six times in 2006.
Attleboro, 4 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – Attleboro got off to a great start, scoring a couple of early goals to pull away for a big road win. Jamie Davies scored just 27 seconds into the game and then added a second on a Bethany Alves through ball after four minutes. After setting the tone with that quick start, Attleboro added a third when Tatum Leahy finished Zenda Gjoni’s free kick. Gjoni then found the back of the net herself to make it 4-0. Emma Pratt would get one back for the Rocketeers with a second-half goal. Attleboro coach Steve Santos praised his team for playing well in all phases and controlling most of the play.
Field Hockey
Canton, 4 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – After trading goals in the first quarter, Canton took the lead with a goal in the second quarter and added key insurance with a pair of third quarter tallies to secure a win on the road at Mansfield. Canton’s Audrey Koen opened the scoring but Mansfield’s Liv Barry leveled the scoring. Koen gave the Bulldogs the lead back with her second goal of the game and then goals from freshman Carolyn Schiavo and sophomore Izzy Digirolamo in the third iced the win. Mansfield goalie Lily Danehy was spectacular in goal for the Hornets, recording 19 saves. Canton goalie Carolyn Durand made eight saves in the win.
King Philip, 5 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – King Philip junior Mara Boldy recorded four points to lead the Warriors to a win under the lights on Macktaz Field against visiting Taunton. Boldy scored a pair of goals and added two assists while Kelly Holmes scored once with a pair of helpers. Kari Calderone and Nikki McDonald each added one goal apiece in the win.
Sharon, 0 @ Stoughton, 3 – Final – Stoughton notched its second straight win and second straight shutout, this time earning a 3-0 decision over visiting Sharon. Bella Iacobucci scored a pair of unassisted goals to lead the offensive charge for the Knights while Carly Sanda added a goal off of an assist from Kerry Driscoll.
Franklin, 4 vs. Concord-Carlisle, 1 – Final – In a battle of two teams ranked in the top 10 in Division 1 in the latest MIAA Rankings, Franklin emerged with an impressive 4-1 win over visiting Concord-Carlisle. Haley Wernig put the Panthers ahead just over two minutes into the game and Kaitlyn Carney doubled the lead at the midway point of the opening quarter. Franklin was held scoreless for the second and third quarters but Carney set Wernig up just 19 seconds into the fourth to make it 3-0. After C-C pulled one back a couple of minutes later, Carney iced the win with just over two minutes to play. Devon Barry made seven saves in net for the Panthers.
Foxboro, 3 @ Oliver Ames, 0 – Final – Foxboro junior Mary Collins scored less than a minute into the game to set the tone and the Warriors picked up a key division win on the road over Oliver Ames. Collins took a pass from Mya Waryas and found the back of the net just 40 seconds into the game to give the Warriors an early 1-0 lead. Collins and Waryas linked up again before the end of the quarter with the former grabbing her second goal of the game to make it 2-0. After a scoreless second quarter, Foxboro’s Jenny Gallagher added a key insurance goal with five minutes to play in the third.
Volleyball
Foxboro, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – Foxboro hit the road and gave Oliver Ames it could handle, winning the second and fourth sets to push the match to five but the Tigers were able to finish it off and fend off the upset bid, 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 25-18, 23-25, 15-9). Junior Sarah Hilliard continued to pace the OA offense with 24 kills while sophomore Caroline Hansen had a big day, adding 13 kills. Senior Larissa Martins recorded 20 service points (five aces) and eight digs, Maddie Homer added 24 digs, and sophomore Clare Kavoulis dished out 35 assists.
Canton, 3 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final – In a great back-and-forth battle, Canton outlasted Mansfield in the fifth set to grab a 3-2 (18-25, 25-14, 25-18, 23-25, 15-8). Sophomore Zoe Scibelli had an outstanding game defensively for the visitors, recording 20 digs, and also had a great serving night with seven aces. Sophomore Kaitlin Bigham was key to the defense with seven blocks and added six kills for Canton while Fatima Sidibay also had a strong game at the net with five kills and two blocks. Elyssa Buchanan put down 20 kills to pace the Mansfield offense, adding 13 digs while Lilly Verheggen had five kills and nine digs. Keira Fitzpatrick dished out 20 assists and Anna Goulet had eight blocks for the Hornets.
Franklin, 3 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Franklin grabbed its second straight sweep, this time going on the road and returning home with a 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-19) win at Milford. Makayla Kuykendall (five aces, 12 kills) had 14 digs and Taylor Lacerda (12 kills, one ace) had 20 digs to anchor the Panthers’ defensive effort.
King Philip, 3 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – King Philip bounced back from dropping the first set to winning three in a row in convincing fashion to secure a 3-1 (19-25, 25-9, 25-9, 25-10) victory over an upset-minded Taunton squad. King Philip once again had a balanced attack with Emily Sawyer (10 kills, two blocks), Sami Shore (eight kills), Ahunna James (eight kills, three digs), and Olivia O’Neil (seven kills, four aces, three digs) all playing well for the Warriors.
Sharon, 2 @ Stoughton, 3 – Final – Stoughton recorded its second straight win and made it four wins and the last five matches, outlasting Sharon, 3-2 (25-17, 22-25, 18-25, 25-16, 15-10) in a five-set thriller. Junior Annalia Eschleman had a strong showing at the net with nine kills while Reagan Lewis added four kills and Maya Ashu chipped in with three kills. Senior Patrik Oliveira shined at the service line with 10 aces while senior Kenna O’Donnell anchored the defense with nine digs.
North Attleboro, 0 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final – Attleboro pushed its win streak to seven by defending home court in a 3-0 (25-13, 25-15, 25-15) sweep of rival North Attleboro. Natalie Brojek (four kills) put the offense in motion with 18 assists, with Addie Shelton (11 aces, four kills) and Julia Leonardo (seven kills) leading the way.
Golf
Oliver Ames, 156 @ Sharon, 163 – Final – Oliver Ames avoided an upset bid from Sharon to pick up a close win and stay undefeated on the season, taking a 156-163 win home from the Cape Club of Sharon. Senior Michael McGinnis and sophomore Braden Shapiro shot matching 38’s to lead the way for the Tigers while juniors Lucas Riley and Sean Kearns each came in with a 40.
Mansfield, 169 @ Foxboro, 173 – Final – Mansfield went on the road and returned from Foxboro Country Club with a close win over their rivals. Cody Nieratko and Nate McClean earned co-medalist honors after both shot a 41 on the day. Brendan Vokey added a 43 in the win and Davon Sanders chipped in with a 44. For Foxboro, Zac Georgantas (two pars, one birdie) and Mat Sullivan (four pars) each shot 42 on the day, Louis Carangelo (three pars) added a 43, and Reese Curreri (two pars) rounded out the Warriors’ scoring with a 46.
King Philip, 161 @ Franklin, 163 – Final – King Philip freshman Jason Silva fired a co-medalist round and the Warriors picked up their biggest win of the season, knocking off Franklin on the road. With the win, the Warriors clinch at least a share of the Kelley-Rex division title; the Panthers can earn a share with a win in their final division match against Taunton. Silva shot a match-low round of 39, junior Ethan Sullivan shot a 40, and both Cam Hasenfus and Evan Regan shot 41 on the day. For Franklin, CJ Steel and Liam Lewandowski each shot 39 in the loss.
Canton, 169 @ Taunton, 173 – Final – Brendan Tourgee fired a team-low round of 41 to help the Bulldogs grab a win over Taunton at Segregansett Country Club. Huck McCready and Brian Middleton each shot 42 while both Joey Ryan and Teddy Shuman carded a 44. Taunton’s Logan Letourneau was the match medalist after carding a round of 40 for the Tigers. Alex Dias added a 43 and both Jesse Chaves and Brody Boucher finished at 45.
Milford, 153 @ North Attleboro, 158 – Final – North Attleboro senior Jake Gaskin had another strong outing this week, firing an even-par medalist round of 35 to lead the Rocketeers to a close win over a strong Milford squad on the south course at Heather Hill. Dillon Harding added a 37 for the Rocketeers while Ishan Kohli (40) and Tyson Laviano (41) rounded out the scoring in the win. Milford junior Anthony LaPierre shot a one-over round of 36, David Fleming added a 39, Jacob Hipolito chipped in with a 41, and Nate Lawrence shot a 42 for the Hawks.
Stoughton, 169 @ Attleboro, 149 – Final
Boys Cross Country
Attleboro @ King Philip, 3:45
Girls Cross Country
Attleboro, 34 @ King Philip, 21 – Final – King Philip took the top three spots and had four of the top five finishers to earn a win over visiting Attleboro. Kate Buban was the winner, clocking in at 20:10 for first place. Rachel Bailer (21:20) took second overall, Leah Burke (22:07) was third overall, and Keira Evans finished fifth overall, crossing in 23:10.
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.
Boys Soccer
Milford, 6 vs. Hopedale, 0 – Final – Milford freshman Danny Da Silva had a grand debut, scoring twice and adding an assist in his first varsity game as the Scarlet Hawks rolled to a big win to open the 2022 campaign. Da Silva scored the first goal of the game, finishing off a flick from Eduardo Silva to make it 1-0 and then beat his man 1-v-1 before setting up John Borges with an open net for a 2-0 lead. Borges then recorded his first assists, setting up Santana for a 3-0 advantage. Andre Baiano joined the scoring party after converting a feed from Arthur Tome. Santana (on a cross from Nick Ribero) and Da Silva (from Ribero) each scored once more to make it 6-0. Lucas Fernandes recorded the shutout before a strong performance from the Hawks’ defense.
Girls Soccer
North Attleboro vs. Braintree – Postponed to Monday, 9/12 at 3:45.
Taunton vs. New Bedford – Postponed to Saturday, 9/17 at 10:00AM.
Field Hockey
Attleboro vs. Bishop Feehan – Postponed to TBD.
Stoughton vs. East Bridgewater – Postponed to TBD.
Volleyball
Milford, 2 vs. Nipmuc, 3 – Final
Stoughton, 3 vs. East Bridgewater, 0 – Final – Stoughton started off the season in style, sweeping visiting East Bridgewater, 3-0 (25-11, 25-14, 25-21). Sophomore Reagan Lewis and junior Alyssa Edwards both played well offensively while senior Patrik Oliveira had an outstanding game defensively for the Black Knights.
Taunton, 3 @ New Bedford, 1 – Final
Cross Country
Milford @ Hopedale – Postponed to Wednesday, 9/7 at 3:45.
Golf
Stoughton @ Weymouth – Postponed to TBD.
Sharon @ Milford – Postponed to TBD.
Oliver Ames @ Foxboro – Postponed to Friday, October 7 at 3:15.
Franklin @ Taunton – Postponed to TBD.
