Volleyball team captures Davenport title

For the eighth time in nine seasons, the CHS volleyball team has earned the right to be called Hockomock champions, capturing the Davenport Division outright with wins last week over Foxboro and Oliver Ames.

Mike Barucci photo

The Bulldogs also added a 3-0 home victory over nonleague Ursuline for good measure, giving them 13 wins for the season with three matches still to go.

Of the two league wins last week, the toughest test came on Friday, when the girls traveled to Easton to take on second-place Oliver Ames.

The Tigers proved to be a formidable opponent as they matched the Bulldogs point for point in the opening set and pulled off an improbable comeback in set three, going on a 19-7 run to win by two. But the visitors still managed to take three out of four, including a dominant set-two win sparked by sophomore middle hitter Avery Devoe.

Devoe (6 kills, 6 blocks) was among several Bulldog players who came up big in key spots. Other standouts included senior setter Shannon Brady, who finished with 32 assists and delivered three critical service points in set one, and senior opposite hitter Olivia Murphy, who led all players with 10 kills, including the game-winner in a close fourth set.

On Wednesday against Ursuline, the entire team stepped up en route to an impressive straight-set victory (23-10, 25-13, 25-21).

Olivia Murphy and sister Julia paced the offense, combining for 13 kills and five blocks, while Brady (19 assists, 13 digs) delivered one of her best performances of the season, according to head coach Pat Cawley. Kaitlin Phillips was also outstanding in the victory, finishing with 11 digs, 20 service points, and three service aces.

Earlier in the week, the girls took down Foxboro, winning all three sets in a closely contested match.

Cawley said the Warriors “played a strong match, never letting the ball drop and hustling all night.” However, the Bulldogs were able rise to the occasion, led by juniors Julia Murphy and Jackie Bornemann, who combined for 21 kills and five blocks.

Other top performances were turned in by Alison McHugh, who had a strong first set with four kills, and Mellyn Costello, who played excellent defense, finishing with 28 digs.

This week, the Bulldogs were due to host Stoughton on Tuesday and then travel to Franklin on Thursday (tonight) for a showdown with the Kelly-Rex Division champs in the Hockomock Classic Cup. The team will then close out the regular season on Monday with an away match at nonleague Quincy.

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Posted by Jay Turner on Oct 26 2011. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.