CHS volleyball bounces back after tough loss
By Jay Turner
Sally Hoban is back to lead the Bulldogs after last year’s state finals run. (Mekhala Costello photo)
After rolling through the regular season last fall en route to the Division 2 state final, the returning CHS varsity volleyball players got their first taste of adversity in the early part of the 2024 campaign with a five-set home loss last week to highly ranked Attleboro. But befitting of a Pat Cawley-coached squad, the Bulldogs got right back to work two days later in a matchup with Foxboro, winning all three sets to improve to 2-1 on the young season.
The veteran head coach described Friday’s home victory as a “total-team effort” — one that was quarterbacked by junior setter Erin Bigham, who racked up 30 assists in the shutout win while adding two kills and three digs.
Sophomore libero Soley Rodriguez Martinez anchored a strong defensive performance for the Bulldogs, combining with teammates Melanie McDonough and Jess Hooton to record 25 digs while also chipping in offensively with a team-high seven aces. On offense, junior Chloe Dubuisson and seniors Sally Hoban, Charlotte Clyve and MJ Robbins all made key plays and combined for 30 kills.
In their 3-2 loss to the Bombardiers last Wednesday, the Bulldogs took two of the first three sets but ran out of gas in a crucial set four. “Attleboro is among the best in the state and we had our opportunities, but in the end their power won out,” noted Cawley after the match.
Hoban (12 kills, 5 digs) and Clyve (12 kills, 8 digs, 1 ace) both had strong performances in the losing effort while Rodriguez Martinez ran the defense with 19 digs to go along with three aces and a pair of kills. Dubuisson added six blocks and three kills, and Bigham filled the stat sheet with 27 assists, 11 digs, three blocks, one ace and a kill.
Earlier in the week, the Bulldogs made quick work of nonleague North Quincy en route to a season-opening win (25-7, 25-20, 25-10).
Rodriguez Martinez was the star for the hosts as she racked up 17 digs and a whopping 10 aces, while Hoban powered the offense with 11 kills. Clyve and Dubuisson added seven kills apiece, and Bigham did great job distributing the ball, dishing out 25 assists to go with a kill and an ace.
Following a home-heavy opening week, the Bulldogs were due to play two away matches this week against Sharon and North Attleboro and are then back home on Monday, September 16, for an afternoon matchup with Milford starting at 5:15 p.m.
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Posted by Jay Turner
on Sep 13 2024. Filed under High School, Sports.
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