New Mission girls’ volleyball rolls
After a disappointing loss to Snowden in the Boston City League semifinals, the New Mission girls’ volleyball team needed a strong response to open the MIAA Division 5 tournament.
How about a 12-1 run to start the preliminary round?
The No. 21-seeded Titans jumped out to the early first-set lead in their matchup against Brighton, a fellow Boston City League foe, and never looked back to win in three sets (25-10, 25-18, 25-15) on Wednesday afternoon at New Mission High.
Senior outside hitter Victoria Pessoa led with 10 kills, classmate Jazmyne Forde collected eight aces, and fellow senior Liselott Fermin amassed seven kills and five aces for the Titans (15-7).
“We can’t take anybody lightly,” said New Mission coach Modesto Gomez, referring to his team’s City League playoff loss. “You never know what’s going to happen and it was a big lesson learned for all of us, including me.”
In the first set, the Titans displayed dominance from the service line with nine aces, four from Forde. The early run got them started, and though the Bengals (10-9) rattled off three straight points late, it wasn’t enough to stem the tide.
The Titans scored four of the final five points of the set, then returned to their early dominant ways in the third, with Pessoa picking up five of her game-high 10 kills.
“She bounced back,” Gomez said of Pessoa. “She had a rough game [in the City semifinal] and I’m just glad she bounced back.”
The Titans advance to face No. 12 Millis (9-9) in the first round on Friday.
Division 2 State
Scituate 3, South High 0 — Sumner Harris delivered 26 assists, 6 kills, and 3 aces, including the ace that clinched the first playoff victory in nine varsity seasons for the 27thseeded Sailors (13-8).
“I put my heart and soul into it,” said Scituate coach Jen Harris. “For it to happen with my daughter [Sumner] and this group of seniors, I’m proud that they played up to this level.”
Division 5 State
Georgetown 3, Holbrook 0 — Team captains Ava Ruggiero, Jackie Carter, and Jackie Soucy powered the No. 31 Royals (1-17) to their first win of the season.
“[We’re] 0-17, it’s easy to get down on yourself, but they were the backbone of the team and their leadership showed today,” said Georgetown coach Ryan Browner.
Division 1 State
Westford 3, Everett 1 — Senior Jenny Alexander mashed 12 kills and a pair of aces for the 29th-seeded Ghosts (6-13) in a preliminary win. Division 3 State Blackstone Valley 3, Monty Tech 0
— Senior Danika Kirby (6 kills), junior Lauren Gronda (4 kills, 1 block), and junior Paige Connolly (13 aces, 6 assists, 1 kill) led the Beavers (14-8).
Falmouth 3, Swampscott 2 — After watching a 2-0 set lead turn into a five-set match, the No. 33 Clippers (11-10) earned a 15-8 decision to clinch a preliminary road win.
Division 4 State
Nantucket 3, Sandwich 0 — Senior Chloe Marrero recorded 12 kills, including the final two for the No. 9 Whalers (13-7).
Girls’ soccer
Blue Hills 6, Nashoba Valley Tech 2 — Freshman Jenna Lehane, junior Kathleen Murphy, and junior Alexis D’Arcy scored two goals apiece for the Warriors (18-0-2) in their first small school State Vocational Championship win in 15 years. Greater Lowell 1, Greater New Bedford 0 — Freshman Sera Eramo threaded a through ball into senior Emily Sandelli to score the game’s only goal as the Gryphons (15-2-1) won their first large school State Vocational final since 2006.
Boys’ soccer
Greater Lowell 7, Blackstone Valley 1 — Senior Gregoire Amissi (6 goals, 1 assist) scored four goals in the first 18 minutes, propelling the Gryphons (15-2-1) to the first state vocational title in program history.