Eagle-Tribune All-Star Volleyball Team

Mike Muldoon, The Eagle-Tribune, North Andover, Mass.
·4 min read

Jan. 23—AVA SIPLEY

Andover Sr., Setter

"She had a great year. She just worked so hard and went to every camp. She really wanted it." said coach Jane Bergin. Tri-captain. All-MVC. Led Andover to 14-7 record and spot in state Round of 32. Averaged 7.4 assists and 1.9 digs per set. One match had 41 assists. Had 147 serve points. Two-year starter, three-year letterman. 5-foot-7. Sister Lila is a talented junior.

EMMERSON CERASUOLO

Haverhill Soph., Setter

All-MVC. Averaged 1.7 kills, 3.7 assists and 0.4 blocks per set. 5-foot-10. Played setter and hitter. Coach Vincent Pettis said, "She's very consistent and very smart. She has great all-around skills." Top 10 percent of class academically. Mom, Samantha Cerasuolo, was standout Hillie athlete. Mass Impact is her club team. Plays a lot of beach volleyball.

GABBY BURDIER

Haverhill Frosh., Libero

Since at least 1988, our only freshman volleyball all-star. Led 19-3 Division 1 state semifinalists in serve percentage (.974), points (227), digs per set (4.6) and serves received per set (8.1). From legendary volleyball family. 5-foot-6. Coach Vincent Pettis said, "She didn't get intimidated. She's a scrappy kid. She has a skill set ahead of other kids." Also plays softball.

SAMANTHA DRIEND

Methuen Jr., Hitter

Had 428 kills, 170 digs and 64 aces for 12-9 Rangers. MVC Division 1 MVP. Had 35 kills vs. Beverly. Repeat Eagle-Tribune All-Star. Next year could become our 13th three-time volleyball all-star in last 35 years. Won gold medal at Bay State Games. 5-foot-9. Coach Matt Twomey said, "She's the kind of player teams have to game-plan for. She's dynamic."

EMMA BOSCO

North Andover Sr., Setter

Had 441 assists and 50 aces for 18-3 state Division 1 quarterfinalists. Had 43 assists in tourney win over Peabody. Committed to Roger Williams. All-MVC. Tri-captain. 5-foot-6. 2-year starter, 3-year letterman. Coach Christin Augustini said, "Teams had to figure out how to play around her." Sister Deanna played volleyball and now plays hockey for Salem State.

CHRISTINE CRATEAU

North Andover Sr., Libero

All-MVC. Had 282 digs and 50 aces in historic 18-3 campaign. "She's sensational defensively and also plays some outside hitter. She worked really hard. She lives volleyball," said coach Christin Augustini. Had 10 aces and 19 digs in win over Andover and 26 digs in loss to Haverhill. Dedicated weightlifter. Two-year starter. 5-foot-7. Sophomore sister Kathryn also plays varsity.

NADINE ABDAT

North Andover Jr., Middle Hitter

All-MVC. She and Kya Burdier were only locals to make both EMass. All-Scholastic teams. Mass. Volleyball Coaches Division 1 All-State. Missed four matches for 18-3 Knights due to injury. Six-footer with impressive vertical leap. Three-year varsity. Hearing from some Division 1 college programs. Co-president of school's Black Student Union. Plays for Mill City Club team.

ELLA KOELB

Pinkerton Sr., Setter

Led Astros to 16-5 season and berth in Division 1 state semifinals. This fall totalled 514 assists, 87 aces, 218 service points, 107 kills and 100 digs. Repeat Eagle-Tribune All-Star. Auburn resident. 5-foot-10. Two-year captain. Had 1,226 career assists. Three-year starter, four-year letterman. Endicott recruit. Plays for Dynamo club team. Ranked 32nd in senior class of 780.

CASSIE FARIA

Windham Sr., Outside Hitter

Repeat All-Division 1 selection. Plymouth State recruit. 5-foot-8. Had 14 kills, 15 service points and 6 aces vs. Hollis-Brookline and 16 service points and 9 aces vs. Alvirne. Four-year starter, two-year captain. Finished with 610 career kills. Coach Jill Bartlett said, "She's a very determined player with a passion for the sport." Brother, Ryan, was a Tribune All-Star in baseball.

SAM BLANDFORD

Windham Sr., Setter

Came back strong after sitting out last year. Helped Jaguars to 18-3 season and berth in Division 1 state semis. Averaged 24 assists a match with 30 vs. Bedford. 5-foot-6. Second-team All-Division 1. Varsity mainstay since freshman year. Plays for Mill City club team. Coach Jill Bartlett said, "She is an amazing setter." Saw time at hitter.

HONORABLE MENTION:

ANDOVER: Marissa Kobelski, Jr.; Sophia Pierce, Jr.; Adrie Waldinger, Soph.

BROOKS: Vivienne Foley, Jr., Andover

CENTRAL CATHOLIC: Kayleigh Holland, Sr.; Eva Coutu, Jr.

FELLOWSHIP CHRISTIAN: Adriana Taboucherani, Jr.; Eva Brodnick, Jr.; Laura Harvey, Jr.

GREATER LAWRENCE: Kaylin Martinez, Sr.; Kiara Morales, Jr.

HAVERHILL: Summer Zaino, Sr.; Mia Ferrer Valdez, Soph.

LAWRENCE: Heidy Acevedo, Sr.; Ashley Nivar, Sr.

METHUEN: Kaitlyn Tierney, Sr.; Avry Nelson, Sr.; Carolina Rodriguez, Jr.;

NORTH ANDOVER: Leah Warren, Sr.; Maeve Gaffny, Sr.

PELHAM: Meghan Roemer, Jr.

PENTUCKET: Jillian Sheehy, Sr., Nicole Zahornasky, Sr., Katie Sutton, Sr.

PINKERTON: Sarah Bolduc, Soph; Abby Leppert, Sr.; Lily Heywood, Sr.; Lexa Galler, Sr.

SALEM: Katie Jamer, Sr.; Bailey Sacco, Sr.; Lily Amiss, Frosh.

TIMBERLANE: Lauren Hayes, Sr.; Alison McGonagle, Soph.

WHITTIER: Hannah Azzari, Jr.; Nathalia Cintron, Jr.

WINDHAM: Eliza Raymond, Sr.