11/15/202511/15/2025

Oliver Ames Captures First State Title Following Epic Comeback

Oliver Ames volleyball celebrates after completing an epic comeback against Wayland to win the program’s first ever state championship. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

By Ryan Lanigan || HockomockSports.com Editor

BILLERICA, Mass. — The revenge tour is complete.

A year after falling in their first-ever appearance in the Division 2 state title game, Oliver Ames completed a perfect season in dramatic fashion, rallying from a two-set deficit to stun Wayland, 3-2 (22-25, 22-25, 25-16, 25-14, 15-11).

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Riding a 24-game win streak into the finals and having only lost one set in its last eight matches, the Tigers had an uncharacteristic start filled with nerves and unforced errors. The Warriors, who knocked off #2 Duxbury and #3 Longmeadow on their way to the final, took advantage and stormed out to a 2-0 lead, just one set away from the upset.

But then the real Tigers showed up.

A dominant start to the third set the tone — the first seven points going in favor of Oliver Ames. And the rest was history — the Tigers closed out the third, dominated again in the fourth, and took an early lead in the fifth that they never surrendered.

“You have no idea,” said a relieved Chelsea Cunningham, who finished her 10th season at the helm of the Tigers with a state championship. “They’re kids, there are emotions, they knew the season was coming to an end. It didn’t hit them until they hit the court. So after we shook the feeling, we got to work.

“We had been in this spot before and we had said all season how we were going to change how it ended — so let’s do it. Taylor Donohue came in after the second set and said it’s time for a reverse sweep and that’s what we did.”

Taylor Donohue helped set the tone early in the final set for the Tigers. After getting blocked on her first swing, she tipped over the double block, and then used a short push shortly after to find a hole in the defense. After a nice pass from junior Molly Milliken (20 digs, 25 serve receptions), junior Chelsea Wagner smashed a kill between the block and Wayland had a hitting error to give OA an early 5-2 advantage.

Chelsea Wagner had two more kills, the latter coming on the third swing of a rally, and a two-touch call on the Warriors had the Tigers ahead, 8-4, at the switch. Wayland got a point back on a kill from Audrey Nugent but a huge dig from senior Evan Casey set up a strong swing from Donohue for a point. Another push from Donohue and good net defense from junior Claire Kenny increased the lead to 11-6, forcing a second Warrior timeout.

Another Nugent kill was canceled out by a serving error and then Kenny came up with a massive block. Wayland made it interesting with two points, including a big block from Fiona Strehle, but Wagner put down another kill to put the Tigers on the brink.

For the clinching point, Donohue (27 kills) took the serve with her hands, junior Lyla McDonough pushed a set to the outside, and Wagner smashed one — her 27th kill of the match — down the line to the corner to clinch the state championship.

“We started to play our game,” Cunningham said of the final three sets. “Playing with confidence, supporting one another on the court and whether it’s an earned point for us, or we lose a point. This is a game of mistakes — we have to make less.”

Donohue added, “This feels good, like really, really good. We worked extra hard this year. It couldn’t be any better. We’ve wanted this so bad, words couldn’t even describe. We had some trauma from last year in this building but we wanted to get rid of that.”

Nerves were on full display early for the Tigers, who have kept mistakes to a minimum throughout the season. Instead, OA had nine unforced errors — half of Wayland’s 18 points in the opening set — as the Warriors jumped ahead 18-12. It seemed OA found a little momentum late after fighting off five straight set points to pull within 24-22 — including three straight kills from Wagner — but the Warriors closed it out to go up 1-0.

OA had a bright start to the second with McDonough landing a pair of early aces and catching the Wayland defense off guard with a dump on the second touch, as the Tigers had an early 10-4 lead. But Wayland kept swinging and clawed back into it. A block from Willa Suratt and a kill from Nugent brought the Warriors within two, and then Wayland went on a 4-0 run to surge ahead, 20-18.

OA battled back with three straight points, including another ace from McDonough (57 assists, including her 1,000th assist, four aces, 35 service points), but Wayland once ahead had a 4-0 run, including two aces from Anna Yalli, to take it 25-22, and go up 2-0 in the match.

“We came out scared the first two sets and we looked at each other and said ‘we have worked so hard for this all year — we need to finish,'” Wagner said. “We reverse-swept and every single one of us on our team did everything they could to win because we wanted it so bad.”

The Tigers had another strong start in the third, and this time, kept their foot on the gas and never let the lead slip. Donohue slammed a pair of kills early and Wagner had another. Then came the separation in the form of a 5-1 run — kills from Wagner and Donohue, and a perfectly placed tip from freshman Lyla Yurrita. When Wayland pulled within two (14-12), Wagner had two kills and Kenny dropped an ace just inside the far line for a 17-12 lead.

OA won the final five points of the match, including a dump on two from McDonough for the 24th point, and an ace from McDonough to clinch it.

“We’ve been waiting for this for a year,” McDonough said. “It’s been so long. We were not going to go down without a fight. We wanted this. After we won that third set, we weren’t stopping. We were like, all gas and no brakes. We did not want to stop.”

The fourth set couldn’t have started any better for the Tigers. Kenny and Angelina Romeiro combined for a block, Donohue and Romeiro each had a kill, and a pair of errors from Wayland to give OA a 7-0 lead.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Kenny, Wagner, and Donohue each added kills in the run, and senior Lindsey Solomon served up an ace as OA’s advantage ballooned to 14-6. Fatigue seemed to set in for the Warriors, who made three straight errors. Romeiro smacked one off the block, and two more Wayland errors put the Tigers on the brink. Wagner finished it off with a kill off the block, 25-14, to make it 2-2.

“The redemption is there,” Cunningham said of her seniors. “The tears, the celebration…they contributed to an undefeated season which we’ve never had before. And I just could not be more proud of all of the kids on this team.”

Oliver Ames finishes the season with a perfect 25-0 record.

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11/12/202511/13/2025

Oliver Ames Sweeps King Philip To Return To Division 2 Final

By Ryan Lanigan || HockomockSports.com Editor

STOUGHTON, Mass. — Since the moment last year’s state final ended, Oliver Ames has been building toward another shot.

On their road back, they haven’t lost since.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

The Tigers have done it with the same formula every match: rock solid defense, a variety of offensive weapons, and relentless effort.

On Wednesday, that combination delivered again as top-seeded Oliver Ames swept Hockomock League rival #5 King Philip, 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-12) to book a return trip to the Division 2 state championship game.

“This is their revenge tour,” OA head coach Chelsea Cunningham said. “They’ve been planning this since we were in that classroom [at Billerica High School] one year ago [after the state final], and they never wanted to feel like that again. And they meant it. A lot of teams will come in and say it. They’ve kept their focus on this. This has been on our whiteboard in the team room — like, we’re going back. We went one game at a time, took everything, positives and negatives from every match, to be able to craft how we were going to get here. And they’ve done nothing but stick to their work.”

The Tigers were met by a game Warriors squad at the start of the match. Unsurprisingly, the two squads went back-and-forth for the first half of the set. OA had a couple of small two or three point runs, and then King Philip took its turn. The result, a slim 11-10 lead for the Tigers.

But like OA has done to teams all season, they just kept coming. A tip from junior Taylor Donohue (16 kills) preceded a kill off the block from classmate Chelsea Wagner (15 kills), and then one from junior middle Claire Kenny. Earlier in the set, Kenny had a big block and senior Evan Casey floated a short serve just over the net and down for an ace.

After a service error, OA came back with three straight points including an ace from Kenny and a big block from freshman Lyla Yurrita shortly after junior setter Lyla McDonough made a terrific save on a ball flying out of play and OA’s lead was suddenly 17-11.

Another block from Yurrita kept the momentum with the Tigers and then senior Lindsey Solomon toed the service line, dropping in a pair of aces around a kill from Donohue as the lead ballooned to 22-14. KP battled: a kill from senior Cece Kilroy, who earned her 500th kill earlier in the set, a perfectly placed tip from junior Amie O’Neil, who then teamed up with senior Alli Cleasby for a block to get within six at 23-17. But Donohue, who usually swings from the outside or the right side, popped up with a kill from the middle and OA sealed the set win after a KP hitting error.

OA’s balance and depth was on full display in that first set. McDonough (26 assists) was responsible for setting up the majority of the Tigers’ kills and junior libero Molly Milliken (21 digs) was super steady defensively, helping OA get into its offense seamlessly.

“Everybody contributes and that’s what makes us such a great team,” Kenny said. “It’s not one person winning the games. It’s all of us contributing together. Lyla knows that we have such a strong offense and that she can rely on setting anybody. She knows whoever she sets, they can work with it no matter what.”

Cunningham added, “Any point of those six rotations, we’re comfortable. We have learned to adapt to whatever we have to do, with whoever is out there, knowing who connects well, knowing we can switch it up. The trust, you can see it on the court. If they make an error, they acknowledge each other right away to move on, and they do it. Volleyball is a game of mistakes. We try our best to make less of them, and we came out on top of this game, which is great.”

OA played from ahead for the entire second set, though it was hard to fully pull away from KP. Early kills for Donohue and Wagner sparked the Tigers, though Kilroy landed three early kills, including a great shot down the line to keep pace.

But once again, OA just kept going with its relentless play. Yurrita found a hole in the defense, Donohue landed a kill after a long back-and-forth rally, and Solomon had an ace. A kill from KP sophomore Molly Sweeney off a set from classmate Charlotte Bailey brought the Warriors within five at 13-8, but in a blink, OA’s lead reached double digits. Kenny dropped in a tip, McDonough had an ace, Donohue and Wagner each had a kill, and senior Angelina Romeiro went up and put down a block on a loose pass as the advantage peaked at 19-9.

The Warriors refused to go quietly though. Senior Cece Mullen set Kilroy for a kill out of a timeout, OA had a hitting error, and then Mullen got a deep free ball pass to hit the line after a nice dig from Mya McCormick. Kilroy had two more kills and O’Neil, after a nice dig from Caleigh Shore, put one down from the middle as KP crawled back into it at 21-17.

“We never really had control at any point of the match,” King Philip head coach Kristen Geuss said. “There’s a reason why they’re undefeated. They’re a phenomenal team, kudos to them. They’re a really great team. I thought we played well in the first set, just couldn’t keep up with them in the next two sets.

“I’m really proud of my team. I admire how hard they’ve worked. They’re practicing six days a week and they haven’t had a day off — they’re tired. We had to work super hard for all our points. It’s almost like we have to play perfect to beat a team like that. We wanted to see what we could do, and we got this far, it was really fun.”

Yurrita had another block, Solomon had another ace, and Donohue another kill, as OA closed out the second, 25-18.

OA put any thought of a comeback away pretty early: the Tigers won 11 of the first 13 points for a commanding lead. Romeiro rolled in a kill, Donohue had two aces, and Wagner found a gap to land a roll shot. Sweeney had a block and Bailey dropped in an ace to cut it to 13-7, but the Warriors didn’t win consecutive points the rest of the set.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

“If you watch the first match we played [KP] two months ago, we’re both completely different, and I had a completely different lineup and so did [KP],” Cunningham said. “You don’t know what to expect and you prep as best as you can. You still have to show up prepared. We scrimmaged Needham and Franklin, and now playing Canton and KP, that’s the level of play we want to be at.

“This group is so smart. They’re able to reflect immediately and adjust if they have to. They adapt, they talk, they communicate. And like I said, the trust is unmatchable right now. It’s fantastic. This is the best group I’ve had to date.”

Oliver Ames will look to finish off its revenge tour in the Division 2 state championship right back at Billerica against #7 Wayland on Saturday.

“It’s very nerve-wracking, obviously, but also so exciting,” Kenny said. “We’ve been here before so we know what to expect, and we’re all very eager to claim that title this year.”

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11/09/202511/13/2025

Oliver Ames Overcomes Gutsy Canton Effort To Reach State Semis

By Ryan Lanigan || HockomockSports.com Editor

NORTH EASTON, Mass. — For a moment, it felt like the script was flipping. Oliver Ames rolled through the first two sets, then let a late lead get away in the third as Canton forced the match to stretch longer than it looked like it would just moments earlier.

And then it nearly happened again.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

The Bulldogs erased an eight-point deficit in the fourth and drew level in the closing points. But this time, OA didn’t break. Canton kept answering, but back-to-back kills from Chelsea Wagner and Taylor Donohue finally closed out the fourth and sent the top-seeded Tigers to the Division 2 state semifinals with a 3-1 win (25-10, 25-15, 22-25, 27-25) over the Bulldogs.

The final point was emblematic of the match. Senior Angelina Romeiro went to the floor to dig up a Canton attack, and Donohue was forced to push it over. A free ball came back over, but the Bulldogs came up with a double block on Donohue’s second swing. On the third chance, Donohue slammed one to the floor to close it out.

“I think we got up in our feelings a little bit knowing that it was that close and all the pressure,” said Oliver Ames head coach Chelsea Cunningham. “They started to feel it towards the third set, but that just means after that we realized it’s anybody’s game. We had to take it one point at a time, reset as much as we could. I even took timeouts to calm them down because I could see it in them. You just can’t shake that feeling that it’s coming that close.

“I’m so proud of them. They fought through that pressure and learned how to persevere even when our weaknesses were being exposed constantly. We still gave it right back to them.”

Wagner went up and smashed one of her 20 kills to give the Tigers a commanding 19-11 lead in the fourth set. Canton freshman Brooke Connor (12 kills) had a perfect line shot for a kill and sophomore Michaela Singleton followed with an ace, but Wagner came through with another kill to make it 20-13 as OA was just five points from closing it out.

But a service error opened the door for the Dogs, and sophomore Brynn Connor sandwiched a pair of kills off loose passes around an ace from junior Fiona Trendell, and Brooke Connor put down another loose pass and suddenly Canton was within two at 20-18.

Sophomore Lyla McDonough (32 assists, four aces) won a battle at the net for a key point for OA, junior middle Claire Kenny (six kills, five aces, two blocks) put a kill down, and a service error put the Tigers on the brink at 23-20. But once again, Canton came back. Senior Chloe Dubuisson (18 kills) hit a roll shot into a hole in the defense and OA had back-to-back hitting errors as the set to knot the score 23-23.

Wagner got a kill, but Canton stayed alive after an OA hitting error. Wagner and Brooke Connor traded kills again to tie it at 25-25. Adjusting to the defense, Wagner threw one to the back corner to make it 26-25, and then Donohue (10 kills, 17 digs, four aces) ended it on her third swing.

“When the points are going back and forth, it gets so nerve-wracking and you just want to finish it as fast as possible,” Wagner said. “But when you have those swings where they keep getting it up, because Soley Rodriguez Martinez is an amazing player so the cross shots are hard, you have to think about where you can tip it and where you can place the ball smartly to get those points.”

The third set was mostly back-and-forth with Donohue getting some early kills for the Tigers while Dubuisson had some big swings for the Bulldogs. With the game tied at 13 apiece, Sean Raymond dropped a roll shot on the second ball and McDonough had consecutive aces. Kenny added a big kill from the middle and freshman Lyla Yurrita came through with a block to put the Tigers up 19-16.

Brooke Connor answered with a kill after a strong pass from Melanie McDonough, a long rally ended in favor of the Bulldogs, and back-to back errors from OA had Canton in front. OA got a kill from Wagner, but Connor came through again with two good swings. For the final two points, Canton senior setter Erin Bigham took over. She froze the OA defense with a perfect dump on the second touch to get within a point, and as a front row player, she went up and swung at the second ball for a kill to close it out and force a fourth.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the way the kids rallied after that second set,” said Canton head coach Pat Cawley. “I mean, I think we came in confident that we could do better than we had done against them during the regular season. We’re a lot better team than we were, but the nerves showed for us in the first two sets. And it would have been easy just to lie down and get out of here. But they fought tooth and nail the whole time in the third and fourth set. We were right there with them in that fourth set and it could have gone either way. And then you go into five and you never know. But I’m really proud of them. They really worked hard out there.

“[Oliver Ames] is an amazing team and their hitters hit the ball hard. All of the kudos to them. They’re a great team. The same kids pretty much went to the finals last year and they got another year [next year]. But I’m really proud of my kids who, everybody except for Soley and Erin, are pretty new at what they were doing. And I think that’s why we had such a slow start. I think the nerves set in and the confidence wasn’t there. But I really couldn’t be prouder and that’s all I can say to them. It hurts in the moment, but at least we know that we went home swinging.”

Rodriguez Martinez anchored Canton’s defensive effort with another stellar performance in the back row with 27 digs to go along with three kills. Bigham — one of the best players in Canton history, and arguably the more versatile setter the Hockomock League has seen in two decades — closed out her career with 30 assists, 17 digs, and four kills.

“I can’t say enough about Erin…a four-year starter, she has barely come off the court in four years,” Cawley said. “A six position player, she’s a leader, she’s calm. I think that’s one of her biggest attributes is her calmness on the court. She tries to keep those around her calm.

Every skill set she’s very good at. She’s not only a great setter, she’s a good blocker, she’s an excellent defensive player. She has some offense to her game. She’s a very good server. I’ve never had a setter younger than a junior pretty much. I’ve never had a setter that is so strong in all skill sets and such a hard worker. Kids come and they go, but we’re going to feel the sting of Erin leaving for sure.”

OA set the tone early in the match, winning seven of the first nine points. Canton clawed its way into it, including a perfectly placed tip from Brynn Connor, to pull within 11-7. But the Tigers took control from there — Kenny denied the Dogs twice with blocks, Donohue and Wagner had back-to-back kills, and then Kenny came back with two more blocks and a kill to close out the first set, 25-10.

The second set played out similarly. The Tigers used a 6-0 run early, highlighted by a kill from Yurrita and two aces from Kenny, to create some separation. Canton got back into it with some key plays from Brooke Connor and another timely play from Bigham as the Bulldogs pulled within 15-11. But it was another 6-0 run from OA — a block and kill from Kenny after strong defense from libero Molly Milliken, an ace from Donohue, and a block from Romeiro — that sent the Tigers to a 25-15 win in the second set.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

“I said it’s a feat in itself to play the same team three times,” Cunningham said. “We know the opponent, we know what to expect, but it doesn’t matter. [Canton] is still gonna try their best, they’re still gonna give their best game to us. And having to come here again for them, that must have been ten times as hard. So I give them all the credit to show up and play because they really did.”

“I said to my team, this is it guys, this is your last home game. How do you want to remember it? And then they took over from there.”

Oliver Ames (23-0) will face a familiar foe in the Division 2 state semifinals in King Philip (16-7). The date, time, and location has yet to be announced.

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11/02/202511/13/2025

Oliver Ames Cruises Past Archies and Back to Sweet Sixteen

By Josh Perry || HockomockSports.com Managing Editor

NORTH EASTON, Mass. – Prior to Sunday afternoon’s Div. 2 tournament opener against No. 33 Archbishop Williams in the Nixon Gym, Oliver Ames coach Chelsea Cunningham was reminding her top-ranked team that its perfect (20-0) record in the regular season gets reset for the playoffs. Everyone starts over again at 0-0.

After a 10-day break between matches and a dominating regular season in which the Tigers only dropped four sets total, Cunningham wanted to make sure that her team avoided complacency now that the stakes are much higher.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

No concern needed. The Tigers were finally playing with their full complement (after injuries kept some key rotation players out for the past few matches) and each of them contributed to a 3-0 (25-12, 25-16, 25-9) victory that sends last years’s D2 runner-up back to the Sweet Sixteen.

Cunningham said, “I think they know it’s win or go home and the fact that we’re at home and we’re lucky that we’re able to host three matches, do you want to lose at home or do you want to stay winning? There’s an atmosphere here and being able to set the tone.”

If Archies harbored hopes of pulling a massive upset, OA dashed them right from the opening point. The Tigers won six of the match’s first seven points and held leads of 11-3 and 19-5. It was business as usual for a team that is aiming for a return to the final.

OA’s depth on the front line was on full display with juniors Chelsea Wagner (10 kills) and Taylor Donohue (14 kills, 10 digs, and four aces) firing on the outside and classmate Claire Kenny getting points in the middle. Junior setter Lyla McDonough (34 assists) was spoiled for choice and spread the ball around to get everyone touches early in the match.

Following a service error that made it 11-4, Wagner came right back with a kill, freshman Lyla Yurrita had a block, and Donohue powered a shot through the Archies block. Donohue added another blast two points later, this one assisted by junior libero Molly Milliken (17 digs) after a scramble.

Kenny followed with a kill in the middle and Milliken dropped in an ace. Donohue was able to squeeze a shot inside the back line for a point and senior Angelina Romeiro added a nice swing on the right side. Wagner added a well-place, cross-court shot to ease OA to an early 1-0 lead.

The Tigers were also playing well along the back row, as Evan Casey, Kerryn Cairns, Milliken, McDonough, Wagner, and Donohue all managed to deal with an array of awkward shots from the Bishops.

Cunningham explained, “They were only setting the middle and we had to reset our defense that way. We knew it was either going to be a tip or a dink or a deep push. We’re pretty deep on the bench defensively so it’s nice to be able to say we want to see something else and everyone rises to the occasion.”

Archies kept things tighter in the second set, although the Tigers led almost from the start. A nice tip from middle Avery Valicenti got the Bishops back within two (7-5), but a strong run at the service line from senior Lindsey Solomon opened up a six-point cushion for the hosts. Donohue would end a little run by the Bishops with another smash down the middle.

Chloe Kippenhan tried to give the underdogs some life with a kill, but Kenny answered with one of her own and dropped in an ace on the next point. After a pair of diving digs from McDonough, Romeiro came up with a rally-ending swing to make it 17-10.

Milliken came up with another clutch dig to set up Wagner for a blast and McDonough was able to push one down the line for another point. The setter would close out the second with an ace and OA was in total control.

OA never took its foot off the pedal, despite making several changes to the rotation in the third. Trailing 3-2, Donohue went on a run at the service line, delivering a pair of aces and getting a couple kills from Wagner to score seven straight. Archies would cut the lead back to 13-6, but then the Tigers rattled off 10 in a row.

Senior Ella Broadmeadow had an ace during the run, Donohue was unstoppable on the outside with five more kills, and Yurrita continued to impress in the middle with a big swing.

All in all, it was a very comfortable afternoon and a good way to ease into what could be a long tournament run for the title favorites.

“Each time they called a timeout, I used it to my advantage to reset the mindset that the ball is coming back over the net,” Cunningham said. “Just being able to respect the opponent no matter what and we need to earn our points, let’s not just rely on them.

“We reminded them this is our gym, we play our way, and remember that each point.”

Oliver Ames (21-0) will host No. 16 Hingham in the Sweet Sixteen on Tuesday at 6:00.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

09/24/202509/26/2025

Thursday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 09/25/25

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09/04/202509/04/2025

Fourth Set Rally Helps Oliver Ames Take Down Franklin

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09/02/202509/05/2025

2025 Hockomock League Volleyball Preview

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11/12/202411/13/2024

Oliver Ames Aces Its Semifinal Test, Sweeps Into D2 Final

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11/03/202411/03/2024

Oliver Ames Serves Up First Round Sweep Of Grafton

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09/02/202408/21/2025

2024 Hockomock League Volleyball Preview

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2024 Hockomock League Volleyball Preview

Attleboro

2023 Record: 15-7
Coach: Mary Katherine Blakney
Attleboro has proven that their rise to the top of the Hockomock League wasn’t a one or two year fluke. The Bombardiers, fresh off back-to-back trips to the MIAA Division 1 quarterfinals, have the potential for a big season.

With a ton of firepower returning at the net, Attleboro might have one of the most dangerous attacks in not just the Hock but in the state. Senior Julia Leonardo, a three-time Hockomock League All Star, is the most experienced player in the league and also one of the most talented hitters in the league. Many defenses have struggled with her power and she’s a reliable option on the outside. But the Bombardiers are far from a one-trick pony: senior Addie Shelton had a breakout season in 2023 and quickly established herself as a top attacking option, senior Ellie Shelton is a strong two-way option in the middle that provides good net defense and strong swings, and sophomore Olivia Leonardo showed some flashes as a rookie a year ago and gives Attleboro yet another weapon.

The Bombardiers will have to replace another three-time Hock all star in setter Natalie Brojek, who graduated this past spring. Head coach Mary Katherine Blakney has some good options to work with though with in junior Haley Carter (206 assists a year ago as a sophomore), who has good varsity experience, and in freshman Sophia Jaeger, who has impressed early on. Senior Julia Mondello returns to anchor the defense after registering a team-high 221 digs a year ago while junior Sage Young and sophomore Sienna Quaglia give the Bombardiers good depth defensively. Juniors Nancy Ayesiyenga and Victoria Zaldivia round out a talented attacking group.

“Attleboro is looking to strengthen our mental toughness and play smarter than we have in the past,” Blakney said. “We have so much potential on the roster this year and I look forward to putting in the work to make this our most impactful team yet.”

2024 Hockomock League Volleyball Preview

Canton

2023 Record: 24-1 (Davenport division champions)
Coach: Pat Cawley
It’s always a tough act to follow coming off an appearance in a state championship game, but the current crop of Bulldogs is a talented one, and head coach Pat Cawley is looking at this season as a new beginning.

Canton has a good mix of returners and several players eager to find a spot in the lineup for this season. As the Bulldogs look to fit all of the pieces to the puzzle together, head coach Pat Cawley will lean on some talented returning pieces. Senior captains Sally Hoban (176 kills in 2023) and Charlotte Clyve will be counted on for their leadership both on and off the court, and will set the tone at the net as outside hitters. Canton also boasts one of the best setters in the state in junior Erin Bigham, who has already dished out over 1,000 career assists — just one of five players in program history to do so. With two years of varsity experience already under her belt, Bigham will be the quarterback on the floor for an offense looking to incorporate some new faces.

Two of those new faces are senior middle Ife Ajanaku and junior middle Chloe Dubuisson. Both players got a little taste of varsity last year but after the Dogs graduated both of their middles from last year’s 24-1 squad (Fatima Sidibay, Kaitlin Bigham), they will certainly see expanded roles in the 2024 season. Another new addition to the offense will be junior MJ Robbins, who will get some swings on the outside. Defensively, the Bulldogs have always been one of the top squads under Cawley and they have their centerpiece from last year’s squad back to anchor the back row in sophomore Soley Rodriguez Martinez. Last year’s HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year emerged as one of the best defensive players in the state and the Dogs will turn to senior Jess Hooton and junior Melanie McDonough to help bolster the back row.

“Every year in high school sports is a new beginning and here we are again!” Cawley said. “A new season brings new challenges as well as optimism that this 2024 group can leave their own legacy at CHS. Although we lost much of our 2023 team, with Soley leading the passing and Erin doing the bulk of the setting, we expect to be in the hunt. We have a great group of talented and hard-working players, and we look forward to seeing what the season will bring. Every day in the Hock is a test!”

2024 Hockomock League Volleyball Preview

Foxboro

2023 Record: 1-19
Coach: Dave Griffin
Entering their second year under head coach Dave Griffin, and with a healthier roster this time out, Foxboro is aiming to have a bounce-back season in 2024.

The Warriors boast an experienced senior class eager to show improvement from a year ago. Senior captains Ava Hill, Emma Callahan, and Lauren Avery will lead the way while classmates Lily Arnold and Vittoria Cuscia will provide key depth. Both Hill and Callahan suffered season-ending injuries a year ago but are looking to make their marks in their final seasons. Junior Meghan Kelley is another key contributor with varsity experience who should play a big role this year. Hill is a proven weapon at the net as an outside hitter while Callahan will set the offense in motion from the setter spot. Griffin is also looking for junior Erin O’Malley and sophomore Audrey Magee to play substantial roles for the Warriors this season while freshman Maddie Feetham could make an immediate impact in her rookie season.

“With the leadership of [our] seniors, Foxboro is looking for a much-improved season this year,” Griffin said.

2024 Hockomock League Volleyball Preview

franklin

2023 Record: 19-3 (Kelley-Rex division champions)
Head Coach: Emily Carens
Year after year, Franklin continues to lose some of the top players in the Hockomock League to graduation but these Panthers seem to find a way to reload each fall.

Emily Carens takes over at the helm for the season after spending the past two seasons on Sam Redmond’s staff. Carens was a standout player at Worcester State and was selected to the MASCAC All-Conference First Team three times in her career. While the Panthers will have to find replacements for a handful of key players, like four-year starter Taylor Lacerda, Carens has a strong pool of talented players back in the mix for the 2024 season. Junior Makayla Kuykendall already has two years of varsity experience and has established herself as one of the best all-around players in the league. Junior middle Olivia Alberti is coming off a breakout season and gives Franklin a legitimate threat at the net both offensive and defensively.

Carens also has a strong senior class in Brooke Daniels, Olivia Valante, and Faith Edgehill. That trio of players brings a wealth of varsity experience and their leadership of a team that will feature some new faces will be vital in Carens’ first year at the helm.

“One strength is our balance,” Carens said. “We are focusing on ‘One Team’ mentality this year. Everyone will positively contribute both offensively and defensively.”

2024 Hockomock League Volleyball Preview

King Philip

2023 Record: 12-9
Coach: Kristen Geuss
King Philip featured a lot of new faces last season as they battled to a 12-win season, highlighted by a season sweep of Attleboro and good battles with division champions Canton and Franklin. Many of those new faces are back this year and are looking to use the experience gained last year to get back in the division title hunt.

Captain Fiona Bailey highlights a talented group of seniors eager to make their mark. Bailey, a HockomockSports.com Second Team selection at outside hitter, will be a major weapon at the net for the Warriors. Senior captain Tamanda Clarke brings leadership and experience to the net while classmates Avery Reda (middle) and Anna Vinson (opposite) offer solid depth in the attack. Senior Alex Pauline will anchor the defense and there will be a familiar face back at setter with senior Madison Asprelli, who dished out 216 assists last year, returns to orchestrate the offense.

Junior Cece Kilroy played in a variety of roles last year and showed off some power at the net, adding another experienced hitter at the net for KP. Senior Jessica Hansen, juniors Shayne Dugan and Alli Cleasby, and sophomore Amie O’Neil are newcomers to the squad that will bolster the offense. The Warriors are hoping that having more experience at the net will result an improved offensive attack this year. Junior Cece Mullen is another option at setter, and juniors Caleigh Shore and Mya McCormick round out KP’s defensive group.

“King Philip is working hard to be a stronger team than last year,” said head coach Kristen Geuss, now in her 10th year in charge. “We have a little more experience in key positions which should help us. The team is ready to get the season started!”

Hockomock League Volleyball

Mansfield

2023 Record: 9-8
Coach: Tara DeGirolamo
Mansfield reached the postseason in three straight seasons and with a strong group of returning players, fourth-year head coach Tara DeGirolamo and the Hornets will be looking to make it four in a row.

Not only does Mansfield have experienced players back overall, the Hornets return them to key positions all over the floor. Senior captain Olivia Richard, who is committed to play at Sarah Lawrence College, returns as a threat both offensive and defensively in the middle while senior captain Laurel Campbell provides a veteran option at outside hitter. Junior Gabrielle Moore is coming off a breakout sophomore season and will be the rock in the back row as the libero for the Hornets. Junior Tessa Blacquier has a year of varsity experience setting already and will help set everything in motion for the Hornets.

Another breakout player from last year is Riley Austin, who can make plays all over the court. A six-position player, Austin provides the Hornets with some versatility in the front row with swings from the right side. Senior captain Emma Jakubenas and juniors Amy Zajac and Ava Madeira will be tasked with anchoring the defensive group for the Hornets. DeGirolamo also has a strong group of newcomers pushing for playing time. Junior Abigail King is a versatile option while sophomores Ellie McGrath (middle), Olivia Dubose (setter), Maddy Wisdom (outside), and Maddy Zinn (outside) are all looking to contribute.

“These girls worked hard in the offseason and it showed at tryouts,” DeGirolamo said. “We have a talented mix of returning and new players and I am excited to watch them compete this season.”

2024 Hockomock League Volleyball Preview

Milford

2023 Record: 4-16
Coach: Tammy Webber
After reaching the playoffs two seasons ago, Milford had some struggles a year ago but the Hawks are eager to show improvement this fall.

It’s still a younger group this year but Milford does have some good varsity experience on the roster. Senior captains Claudia Solitro and TJ Downing will lead the charge offensively at the net. Solitro (84 kills) and Downing (80 kills) were Milford’s top two hitters last year and are looking to set the tone at the net again this year. Senior Julianys Rentas is a newcomer to the team and looking to provide depth to the outsider hitter spot. Sophomore Abby Murphy was an instant contributor as a rookie with 56 kills as a rookie and is looking to take the next step this year while junior Layanne Maforte is a candidate to fill the other middle spot for the Hawks.

Juniors Sam Denegris and Dani Darling along with senior Laysa Cunha provide Milford with some good size at the net for blocking. In the back row, sophomore Isa Grady-Harper (73 digs) will bring experience after playing as a freshman while senior Gianna Lebron and juniors Lucia Testa and Emma Ridolfi will look to shore up the defense. After the graduation of Maeve Driscoll, the Hawks will be looking for a new setter for the 2024 campaign. Sophomore Lina Lyubkin and freshmen Brooke Stokes and Aaliyah Campos are battling it out in the preseason to try and earn minutes in the rotation.

“Our strengths should be in our passing and serving this year, as well as in our size,” said Milford head coach Tammy Webber. “We have more athleticism and depth in positions than we have had in a while, which is a positive for us.”

2024 Hockomock League Volleyball Preview

North Attleboro

2023 Record: 6-12
Coach: Rachel Gould
North Attleboro will feature a lot of new faces in its lineup this year so head coach Rachel Gould will look for the team’s senior captains to lead the way.

Noemie Eugene and Natalee Fisher have set the tone and the Rocketeers have followed and the team chemistry has been gelling already this preseason. On top of their leadership both on and off of the court, both Eugene and Fisher will be key contributors during each match. Eugene is coming off a very strong season and was a HockomockSports.com Second Team selection at middle. She was second on the team in kills (108) with a 0.324 hitting percentage and was a force at the net defensively with 64 blocks. Fisher gives the Rocketeers a 1-2 punch as another middle option at the net and another strong defensive (29 blocks piece).

North will have to fill in a lot of other spots in the lineup but Gould has been impressed with the hard work that her team has put in so far. Senior Rebekah Martin and sophomore Ava Kraskous will step in to take swings on the outside and junior Deanna Miconi will take over as the setter and look to orchestrate the Rocketeers’ offense.

“Overall I am excited this year,” Gould said. “We have a younger group of first-time varsity players but I think the leadership from my seniors is going to create some great moments from us. I am impressed with the hard work everyone has clearly put in during the offseason and the work ethic I have seen during our practices.”

2024 Hockomock League Volleyball Preview

Oliver Ames

2023 Record: 17-6
Coach: Chelsea Cunningham
Oliver Ames is coming off a terrific 17-win campaign and the Tigers are looking to pick up right where they left off when the season tips off this week.

The Tigers feature experienced veterans in key spots throughout the rotation which puts them in a good spot for competing for the Davenport division title. Senior middle Addyson Smock enters her fourth year on the team and will be a force at the net. On top of being one of the most powerful hitters in the league, her blocks give OA an edge on the defensive side. Smock will also be the beneficiary of having setter Clare Kavolius back to orchestrate the OA offense. With over 1,000 career assists, Kavolius is one of the more experienced players in the league and already having chemistry with Smock, one of the league’s top hitters, gives the Tigers an immediate boost.

Senior Ava Barth will take on an expanded role to anchor the defense this year. OA lost its top three players in digs from last year, including libero Rachel Fleischman, so having someone like Barth, who has good varsity experience, will help set the tone in the back row. Head coach Chelsea Cunningham will turn to seniors Jamie Finn and Caroline Hansen to help bolster the attack at the net while sophomore Taylor Donohue provides some flexibility at the net and brings a lot of energy. Sophomore Lyla McDonough will also take on some setting responsibility alongside Kavolius while newcomers junior Angelina Romeiro and sophomores Molly Milliken and Chelsea Wagner are all battling for spots in the rotation.

“We have so much potential this season to pick up where we left off last season which is something we will not take for granted,” Cunningham said. “We have many athletes that are willing to do whatever it takes to meet our goals and work together as much as possible along the way. We have so many options offensively and defensively that whoever is out on the court, at any point, is going to make it count. Beyond the skills, the team is just an awesome group of student-athletes- and the energy and competition is a whole new vibe that we are embracing every day.”

2024 Hockomock League Volleyball

Sharon

2023 Record: 4-14
Coach: Matt Laliberte
Sharon volleyball begins a new chapter in program history with new head coach Matt Laliberte. Laliberte brings experience at both the high school and collegiate level, having coached varsity at Middleboro and was an assistant coach at nearby Stonehill College.

As Laliberte gets acclimated with the Eagles, he will look to Sharon’s returning players to lead the way especially early on. Senior Piper Hanna is an experienced outside hitter that can also factor in defensively on the serve receive while senior Thea Caproni brings a veteran presence at the net as a middle, contributing both offensively with some attacks and defensively with the block. Defensively, senior Willow Liu is a leader in the back row that provides a steady presence in both the serve receive and against the attack. Freshmen Lucy Leonardi and Lia Zephrani are candidates to make an immediate impact this season.

“We are in a building year with a new coaching staff,” Laliberte said. “We are hopeful for our young players that will be playing in important and impactful roles.”

2024 Hockomock League Volleyball

Stoughton

2023 Record: 4-16
Coach: Tricia Lewis
The Black Knights enter the season with big hopes of a bounce-back season in 2024.

Stoughton strung together three straight wins at the end of September last season but struggled throughout October and ultimately missed the playoffs. Although the Knights lost their top two kills leaders from last year to graduation, head coach Tricia Lewis is excited about this year’s offensive group. Reagan Lewis, who just recently announced her commitment to play at the collegiate level at Regis, is one of the more experienced hitters in the league and will lead the charge at the net this year. Senior Jina Kim is another veteran option at the net while junior Jacqueline Boutros and sophomore Imani Ashu are newcomers that give Stoughton a lot of options at the net.

Defensively, senior Amy Nguyen returns at the libero spot to anchor the back row. Junior Faith Sekenduyo will be another reliable option defensively while both Lewis and Boutros will contribute in the back row as well. Sophomore Ayla Huang will step in as setter this year while Lewis (171 assists last year) can step in and set while manning the back row.

“Last season we struggled to come together as a team on the court, [but] this year’s team is a completely different team that has a lot of heart and has already shown to work well together,” Tricia Lewis said.

2024 Hockomock League Volleyball

Taunton

2023 Record: 6-14
Coach: Toby Chaperon
There’s some optimism and excitement in the Taunton program, which will feature a lot of new faces and talented younger players eager to compete in the Hock — but also a group that lacks a lot of varsity experience.

One of the players with that varsity experience is senior middle Adrianna Amaral, who will be a key piece at the net both offensively and defensively for the Tigers. Amaral is one of five seniors on the squad along with setter Ali D’Acci, who will help run Taunton’s 6-2 offense, defensive specialist Arianna Boliero, middle and opposite hitter Lea Selfridge, and outside hitter Lily Velsor. With seniors scattered all throughout the court, their leadership will be key for a young squad.

Another player back in the mix with varsity experience is sophomore Sadie Herry. Already entering her third year on varsity, Herry knows what it takes to handle opposing attacks from some of the top hitters in the league and has asserted herself in the conversion for top defensive players in the league. Sophomore Emily Dias is another option in the back row for the Tigers after getting some experience last year. Junior Grace Bennett can play anywhere on the court and will help in the setting game while juniors Jazzlyn Martinez, Brynn Murphy, Lindsey Pena, and Calvinne Dwuye are all looking to solidify Taunton’s attack at the net. While Taunton figures out its offense, it will lean on its serving which has been a strength throughout the preseason.

“Offensively, we are going to be a work in progress as we work with two new setters and still trying to find another outside hitter and middle but our girls have come in with a good attitude and work ethic so we believe we can get that part of the game ramped up,” said longtime head coach Toby Chaperon. “We look forward to another year playing in one of the best and most competitive conferences in the state and hope we can get back to the tournament this year.”