The path toward a potential 10th state championship in program history officially began Wednesday night for the Frontier Regional School girls volleyball team.
The Red Hawks passed the opening test.
Senior outside hitter Lauren Davenport put down 10 kills, and setter Elizabeth Fuqua added 15 assists in her first action as the team’s new starter to lift Frontier to a 25-12, 25-16, 25-18 sweep of Chicopee Comp in an independent match played in Chicopee.
Frontier (1-0) opened its season against Comp for the second year in a row. Like last year, the Hawks rolled into a new year with a sweep. Ashley Telega added five kills and three aces, while Kimani Topolski-Burgess and Hailey Orloski tallied three kills apiece. Olivia Deane and Morgan Martineau each had two kills on the night.
The service attack did plenty of damage, with the Hawks putting down 24 aces. Deane led the way with nine, followed by Davenport with six and Fuqua with five. Deane and Reilly Isler tied for the team lead with six digs in the win.
Frontier heads to Goodnow Gymnasium for its home opener Friday night against Westfield.
Mahar 3, Belchertown 0 — Six players registered at least four kills, and Mahar bounced back from an opening night loss to snag its first win of 2018.
The visiting Senators swept Belchertown, 25-19, 25-19, 26-24, in an independent match in Belchertown.
Hailee Meeker led the balanced offensive attack with six kills for Mahar (1-1). Ava Santana and Aria Flematti had five kills each, with Flematti dishing out 13 assists to go with three aces. Jordyn Berry (two blocks), Kassidy Thompson and Madison Harrington all finished with four kills in the win. Lauren Henne tossed in four aces and six kills, as the Senators wound up with 15 aces overall to power past the Orioles.
Mahar opens its Northern Division slate Tuesday night when it travels to Greenfield.
South Hadley 3, Athol 0 — Visiting Athol pushed back in a tight third set, but South Hadley finished off a three-game sweep to capture an independent match in South Hadley. The Tigers claimed a 25-18, 25-15, 26-24 win to hand the Red Raiders a loss in their season-opener.
Abbie Roberts had three aces and two kills in the loss for Athol (0-1). Alexis Carrasquillo also had three aces and two kills to go with a pair of assists, while Lexi Forte contributed four assists and an ace.
Athol is back at it Friday with another independent match when it welcomes Pioneer Valley Christian for its home opener.
Mahar 4, Murdock 0 — Hannah Dupont buried a pair of goals, and Mahar got its season off to a strong start with a victory in an independent game on the turf in Orange.
Mahar (1-0) jumped out to a 3-0 lead at halftime, with Dupont’s first of two tallies getting the scoring started. Anna Wetherbee had a goal and a pair of assists, while Lily Fellows scored early in the second half and also notched an assist.
“The girls did a great job at crossing and moving the ball,” said Mahar coach Laurie Saisa, whose team scored three of their four goals on penalty corners.
The Senators held a 14-2 edge in penalty corners and a 21-5 advantage in shots on goal. Mahar’s Abby Henne was called on to make an emergency start in goal, and she performed well with five saves to pick up a shutout.
“It was pretty nerve-wracking knowing the biggest challenge for us this season is defensively and I’m pulling one of my bigger defenders out of the field and putting her in the net but she played really well,” Saisa said of Henne.
Mahar opens its Bi-County slate today with a tough road game. The Senators head to play defending champion Holyoke at 4 p.m.
Monson 20, Greenfield 4 — Ryan Cote shot a team-low round of 42 out of the No. 1 hole, but Greenfield was unable to hold serve on its home course in a Bi-County East match at the Country Club of Greenfield.
Cote snagged a point thanks to a fast start through the first three holes, while Jake Cote and Danny Provost each won 1½ points for the Green Wave (0-1, 0-1). Jake Cote shot 51 at No. 3 and Provost carded a 55 at No. 5. Gabe Larouche played well at No. 2, shooting 43, but he ran into medalist Mason Dumas of Monson, who fired a 2-over 38 to grab all four points in their match.
Easthampton 15, Turners 9 — Tyler Colby earned medalist honors with a 42, and the No. 1 golfer for Easthampton scored 3½ points to send his side to a win in a Bi-County East match at Wyckoff Country Club in Holyoke.
Alex Sulda and Aidan Bailey won three points apiece for Turners (0-1, 0-1). Sulda, who had the low round of the day for the Thunder, shot 52 at No. 4, while Bailey shot 54 at No. 5.
Joey Mosca shot 54 in the No. 3 slot and won two points for Turners, while Brian Poirier captured ½ point at No. 1 behind a 53.
Frontier 14½, Amherst 9½ — Medalist Bryan Baumann shot a 4-over 39, earning all four points in the No. 2 spot to propel Frontier to a win in an independent contest at Amherst Golf Club.
Seventh-grader Gunnar Moore won three points in the No. 4 spot after shooting 43, while senior Kalen Evans swept his four points at No. 5 behind a 44.
Mikey Corduff opened his sophomore campaign with a 42 in the No. 1 slot. Evan Rutherford of Amherst shot 40 to claim a 3-1 win over Corduff.
Kyle Menard (44) and Rowan Blair (49) combined for 1½ points in their matches for Frontier (1-0).
The Red Hawks have home matches today (Palmer) and Friday (Hampshire) at Cherry Hill Golf Course.
Northampton 21, Mahar 3 — Tucker Ninteau shot 49 to lead the way out of the No. 1 spot, but Mahar was unable to keep pace in an independent loss.
Ninteau battled with Northampton’s Camille Richmond, who shot 47 out of the No. 1 spot. The Blue Devils had four golfers break 50.
Andrew Finch shot 69 for the Senators (0-2) out of the No. 3 spot.
Mahar 4, Murdock 0
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Murdock |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
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Mahar |
3 |
1 |
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4 |
Goals: (Ma) Dupont 2, Wetherbee, Fellows.
Assists: (Ma) Wetherbee 2, Fellows.
Shots: Murdock 5. Mahar 21.
Saves: (Mu) Signa 17. (Ma) Henne 5.
Corners: Murdock 2. Mahar 14.