Volleyball repeats as Davenport Division champs

It was a week of thrills and heartbreak for the CHS volleyball team as the Bulldogs went the distance with two very talented opponents, beating Taunton but losing in the end to top-ranked Notre Dame Academy.

Senior captain Rye Verille (Mike Barucci photo)

The Canton girls also defeated Foxboro on the road Friday night, and the victory, combined with a Stoughton loss, clinched their ninth consecutive Hockomock League title. The win brought the team’s record to 12-2 overall with six matches remaining in the regular season, including five left at home.

In the Taunton match last Tuesday at CHS, the Bulldogs lost the opening set 21-25 before regrouping and taking the next two 25-19, 25-18. The Tigers then rebounded in set four, but the home team kept its cool and closed out the victory with a 15-9 win in set five.

“This was a great team effort,” said head coach Pat Cawley after the match. “Taunton (10-6) played an unconventional game and we had trouble adjusting. However, the girls hung tough and came out with the win.”

Top performers for Canton included senior captains Elizabeth Hamilton (17 kills, 21 digs) and Olivia Devoe (35 digs). Sarah Reissfelder and senior captain Rye Verille both finished with 13 kills, while Nicole Poole tallied 43 assists and 15 digs.

Two days later, the Bulldogs welcomed fellow powerhouse Notre Dame Academy to town and nearly pulled off an impressive upset, taking the first two sets (25-21, 25-21) but losing the final three (26-16, 25-20, 15-9).

“It was a great match,” said Cawley. “It’s disappointing to lose, but it let us know we can play with the best.”

Hamilton was once again a star for the Bulldogs as she racked up 18 kills and 23 digs in another outstanding performance. Reissfelder added nine kills and three blocks, while Devoe finished with 20 digs. Poole had another strong performance with 27 assists and 18 digs, and Casey Shea, Emma Murphy, and Verille turned in what Cawley described as their “best blocking night ever.”

“It’s tough to win the first two and lose the match,” said the veteran coach, “but I could not have been prouder of my girls, who remained calm and worked hard the entire match. We have work to do but time to tweak what needs to be fixed.”

In the final match of the week against Foxboro, Canton cruised to a straight-set win on the road against an overmatched Warriors team (25-15, 25-14, 25-16).

Hamilton was again dominant with 20 kills, three aces and 19 digs, and Devoe contributed outstanding defense while tallying 15 digs. Julia Panico, Cassie Loftus, and Maria Mackie also played great defense, while Kaitlin McCarthy, Emma Gobbi, and Murphy all played well at the net.

This week, the Bulldogs were due to host Oliver Ames on Monday and Milford on Thursday. The squad will then play three next week, all at home, before closing out the season at nonleague Quincy on Monday, November 2.

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Posted by Jay Turner on Oct 23 2015. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.