Breaking down the 2022 high school girls volleyball season for SouthCoast's nine teams
Expectations are high for SouthCoast volleyball teams as some are looking to contend for conference titles and Old Rochester is in the midst of defending its Div. 3 state championship from a year ago.
Here’s a look at the SouthCoast’s nine teams entering 2022:
APPONEQUET
Head coach: Meg Giammalvo
Last year’s record: 9-13
Top returners: Samantha Dingee, Sr., MH; Rebecca DiClement, Sr., S; Lacie Nolin, Sr., L; Elizabeth Ashley, Sr., DS; Caitlin Gleavy, Jr., M.
Key newcomers: Sophia Kyranos, Sr., DS; Eva Zuber, Jr., OH; Sofia Olivieri, Jr., DS; Adriana Graca, Jr., S; Lila Nielsen, So., OP.
Outlook: With a nice core of returning players and some up-and-comers, the Lakers are looking to make another trip to the playoffs after reaching the Round of 32 last season. “We have a strong number of returners and the chemistry is really high,” said Giammalvo. “I tell my girls, ‘I take it day by day and game by game. Be better than yesterday. Continuously work on our weaknesses until they aren’t our weaknesses.’”
BISHOP STANG
Head coach: Amanda Tarantelli
Last year’s record: 9-11
Top returners: Mae Lima, Sr., OH; Lilly Manning, Jr., OH; Ali James, Jr., MH; Annalise Lough, Sr., DS; Lilly Surprenant, Jr., S; Darian Dias, So., L.
Key newcomers: Olivia Mlynek, So., MH; Gwenn Peckham, Sr., DS; Maddy Rock, Jr., RS.
Outlook: Even though the Spartans graduated seven players from last year’s playoff team, they return several key players and have a goal of winning the Catholic Central League title after finishing in fifth place last fall. “The six that return are so strong and so motivated,” said Tarantelli. “Our goal is to win the conference. We’re not going easy on ourselves. They’ve come together faster than they’ve come together in the past.” Look for big things at the net from Lima, Manning and James.
DARTMOUTH
Head coach: Rachel Lassey
Last year’s record: 17-4
Top returners: Ava Crane, Sr., OH; Lauren Augusto, Sr., S; Gaby Velazquez, Jr., OH/L; Brooke Davis, Jr., OH.
Key newcomers: Adeline Ablett, Jr., MH; Haley Jenkins, Jr., MH; Erynn Jasprro, Sr., RS; Olivia Arruda, Jr., DS; Madison Goldizen Jr., DS; Sofia Dias, Sr., DS; Lexi Nicolosi, Sr., DS.
Outlook: There are high hopes for Dartmouth this with an experienced and talented group that is looking to capture its third straight Southeast Conference title and make some noise in the playoffs. “We are looking to reach our fullest potential,” said Lassey, noting that Dartmouth lost last year in the Elite 8. “We are a veteran team. A lot of these girls played all the way around for me last year. We’ve already gelled. Ava (Crane) has been starting since freshman year. Lauren (Augusto) has taken over the setter position and does it with ease. Our defense keeps us alive against some of our competitive opponents.” Dartmouth added Oliver Ames to the schedule, which also includes non-league matches against defending Div. 3 state champion Old Rochester and 2021 Div. 3 state finalist Dennis-Yarmouth. “We want to challenge ourselves in the regular season,” Lassey said. “We want the girls to prepare for the long run.”
FAIRHAVEN
Head coach: Tara Costa
Last year’s record: 12-7
Top returners: Abby Thomas, Sr., OH; Laura Hubert, Sr., MH; Kate Magalhaes, Sr., OH; Shealynn Dorschied, Sr., L.
Key newcomers: Danica Andersen, Jr., M; Abbey Lopes, Sr., S; Ava Bissonnette, Jr., S.
Outlook: The Blue Devils graduated nine, including Standard-Times Super Teamer Sarah DeSousa and All-Star Rylee Botelho, but Costa has confidence in her returning players. “We have a good group of seniors this year who were on the team last year and have some experience,” she said. “Our incoming juniors this year are very strong too. We have a very well-rounded team and more balanced offense.” The Blue Devils will be running a six-two to add in more hitting options as they make a run at the SCC title. “I think we have tons of potential to go far and do well in our conference,” Costa said.
GNB VOC-TECH
Head coach: Erika Vassal
Last year’s record: 11-11
Top returners: Lilly Misay, Sr., L; Elle McCormack, So., S; Layna Ross, Jr., M; Moriah Baptista, Sr., RS; Morgan Teves, So., OH; Koral Medeiros, Sr., DS; Riley Raposa, Sr., M.
Key newcomer: Averi Santos, So., OH.
Outlook: The Bears have the skill, knowledge and experience to make some noise this year. The key to success for Voc-Tech is mental toughness. “It will depend on our mental game. They have to believe what they’re capable of,” said Vassal. “Positionally we have a lot of kids that have played a lot of volleyball. They have decent IQ being able to move things around when needed. I’m excited about this team. They could do pretty well.”
NEW BEDFORD
Head coach: Jeff Longo
Last year’s record: 5-14
Top returners: Hannah Pereira, Sr., OH; Mari MacMaster, Sr., M: Ava MacMaster, Sr., M; Nelly Medina, Sr., S; Annabelle Houston, Jr., OH; Beatriz Almeida, Sr., L; Aliana Areias, Sr., OH/OP; Maria Oliveira, Jr., DS.
Key newcomer: Lily Gonet, So., S.
Outlook: The Whalers are looking to turn things around this year after winning just five games in 2021 and they have the talent and experience to do that. Longo returns several players that should have an impact this season with Pereira, a senior outside hitter, leading the charge at the net while the MacMaster sisters will look to dominate the middle. To create more offensive opportunities, New Bedford plans to run a six-two with Medina and Gonet both setting.
OLD COLONY
Head coach: Lauren McGowen
Last year’s record: 0-19
Top returners: Samantha Tavares, Sr., S; Allison Bumpus, Sr., OH; Arianna Ribeiro, Sr., RS; Ambra Arsenault, Sr., L; McKenna Benoit, Jr., OH; Jessie Anderson, Sr., L; Logan Crook, So., OH.
Key newcomers: Aylssa Couto, Jr., S; Kelly Quin, So., M; Madison Laughlin, Jr., RS; Morgan Berry, Sr., M; Alyssa Souza, Sr., OH.
Outlook: After going winless in 2021, the Cougars are looking to rebuild this fall and have a nice core of returning players to do that. “Lots of players have been moved to new positions, and the team is running in a new rotation,” said McGowen, a first-year head coach at Old Colony. “The Cougars have been working hard these past couple weeks and are looking forward to a great and successful season.”
OLD ROCHESTER
Head coach: Jimmy Oliveira
Last year’s record: 23-2
Top returners: Aubrie Letourneau, So., S; Ella Soutter, Sr., OH: Kamryn Rodrigues, Jr., OH; Emma Van Ness, Sr., DS; Reagan Rock, Sr., M.
Key newcomers: Ava Vander Pol, Fr., RS; Cami Van Ness, So., OH/DS; Jocelyn Pires, So., M; Caroline Brogioli, So., DS; Arielle Troupe, Jr., M; Hannah Eaton, So., DS; Tara Goldman, Jr., RS; Rylee Kouta, Jr., S; Aurora Hayden, Jr., RS; Alyssa Vieira, Jr., DS.
Outlook: The back-to-back South Coast Conference champion Bulldogs will look a little different this fall as they defend their Div. 3 state championship from 2021 without the likes of Standard-Times Player of the Year Maggie Brogioli and Super Teamers Sally Butler and Kenna Soucy “We’re going to be pretty young this year,” Oliveira said. “We have three seniors and one returning junior. Last year we had a lot of experience and power. This year we definitely don’t have the power but we have other strengths. We’re focused on playing fast and having a lot of movements on offense.” Oliveira hopes by playing a tough non-league schedule that includes Dartmouth, Westfield, Dennis-Yarmouth and Tewkesbury, ORR will be able to make another deep playoff run. “Our goal is to get back to the state championship,” Oliveira said. “I’m not looking at them as young players because they’re playing in the offseason. I want to push them during the season. I know they have the potential to hang with all those teams.”
WAREHAM
Head coach: Allyson Collette
Last year’s record: N/A
Top returners: Fredi Gakidis, Sr., M; Zora Andrews, So., OH; Marian Karam, Sr., OH/OP; Julia McDuffy, Jr., OH.
Key newcomers: Evie Francis, So., M; Riley Florindo, So., L; Olivia Lacava, Fr., S; Hannah Milne, So., OP.
Outlook: With only two seniors, the Vikings are young as they look to build up their program under Collette, a first-year head coach, after they didn't win a game in 2021. “We have a young team, but they’re loud and they cheer for each other,” Collette said. “They have pretty good energy. We just have to put it all together.” Four out of Wareham’s six projected starters are either freshmen or sophomores.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: 2022 high school girls volleyball preview for SouthCoast
