High schools: Turners Falls (Class D), Frontier (Class B) punch WMass volleyball title-match tickets

TURNERS FALLS — Pushed late in the third set, the Turners Falls volleyball team rose to the occasion Wednesday night to sew up a spot in the Western Mass. Class D championship.

Third-seeded Mohawk Trail came charging back late, looking to extend the match into a fourth set after rallying from a 22-17 deficit and pulling even at 24. But the second-seeded Thunder held firm, scoring the final two points of the match to secure a 25-16, 25-19, 26-24 sweep in the Class D semifinals.

Turners Falls head coach Kelly Liimatainen was impressed by the Warriors’ effort in the final frame.

“Mohawk didn’t quit. They gave us a good fight and kept us on our toes,” Liimatainen said. “They kept battling and made us work for it.”

Turners Falls will play either No. 1 Lee or No. 4 PV Christian in the title match on Saturday at 10 a.m. at West Springfield High School. Those teams meet in the other semifinal on Thursday.

Taylor Greene dished out 25 assists to go with two aces and two digs for Turners Falls (18-2), while Madi Liimatainen was her favorite target as she racked up 17 kills along with three aces and four digs.

Tatianna Carr-Williams (three kills, two aces), Janelle Massey (five kills, four aces, three digs), Jill Reynolds (four aces) and Maddie Dietz (two aces, 12 digs) all had big night for the Thunder, which won their 11th consecutive match.

“I think we didn’t play our best tonight, we’ve got some work to do at practice the next couple of days,” Liimatainen said. “But I’m excited to get to the finals.”

Mohawk Trail’s Palmer King and Emma Canaday combined for 14 assists, and King led the offense with eight kills. Grace Davenport went for four kills, and Jackson Lilienthal racked up a team-high five digs.

Class B semis

Frontier 3, Belchertown 0 — The Redhawks are back in a Western Mass. final.

Top-seeded Frontier cruised to a 25-16, 25-17, 25-17 sweep of No. 4 Belchertown in the Class B semifinals on Wednesday night at Goodnow Gymnasium.

The Hawks will play either No. 2 Wahconah or No. 3 Baystate Academy in Saturday’s title match, set for noon at Chicopee Comp. Those teams play in a semifinal on Thursday.

Allie Pierce recorded 30 assists and four aces in the victory for Frontier (16-5). Caroline Deane had the hot hand offensively, as she went for 15 kills and four aces, while Gabby Adams put down eight kills and added a team-high 15 digs.

Emilie Candelaria and Kate DeMaio tossed in five kills apiece for the Hawks, and Olivia Machon registered five aces. 

Non-playoff matches

SICS 3, Athol 2 — Alma White racked up a team-best eight kills for the Bears in a five-set loss to Springfield International on Wednesday.

The Bulldogs notched a 25-12, 19-25, 25-22, 19-25, 15-3 win.

Giana Vaillancourt totaled 12 aces for Athol, and Laney Florentino led the defense with five digs.

Field hockey

Greenfield 6, North Brookfield 1 — McKenzie Boswell and Grace Laurie each netted a pair of goals, helping the Green Wave picked up a 6-1 independent win to close out their regular season on Wednesday.

It was the 200th career win for Greenfield head coach Erin Thayer, who took over the varsity job in 2006 and is in her 18th season guiding the program.

“It’s crazy to think that this happened,” Thayer said of the milestone. “It doesn’t feel like that long ago when 100 wins happened. Eighteen years as head coach and 28 years total with the program is a long time.”

It was also Senior Night for the Green Wave, as they honored Kelly Baird and Ainslee Flynn after the victory. Flynn made two saves in net for Greenfeild, which also recieved offensive contributions from Riley Thayer (goal), Addie Harrington (goal, assist) and Gloria McDonald (assist).

Greenfield will host a Western Mass. Class C semifinal game on Friday at 4 p.m. — likely against Turners Falls.

Late Tuesday results

Girls volleyball

Mount Greylock 3, Greenfield 0 — The No. 8 Green Wave were unable to go on the road and upset the top-seeded Mounties, falling 25-8, 25-8, 25-12 in Williamstown during the Class C quarterfinals on Tuesday. 

Mackensie Goncalves (three kills, two aces), Stella Verlander (two kills, two aces, two kills) and Julia Belville (two kills, one ace) led Greenfield in the loss. 

Field hockey

Franklin Tech 5, Mohawk Trail 1 — Five different players tallied for the Eagles in their regular season finale on Tuesday in Turners Falls.

Hannah Gilbert (two assists), Lilly Ross, Meredith Bistrek, Katy Lengieza and Kaitlin Trudeau all scored for Franklin Tech.

Mohawk Trail’s Rachel Pease tallied for the visitors.