RallyNorth.net

MVC volleyball: Central primed for state title run

Andover

2007 record: 20-5, lost in Division 1 state semifinals

Returning starters (2): Kirsten Arvidson, Jr., 6-1, hitter; Annie Ye, Soph., 5-6, defense

Returning lettermen: Rebecca Johnson, Sr., 5-6, defense; Ariel Kuykendall, Sr., 5-9, hitter; Kyla McRoy, Sr., 5-6, setter

Newcomers: Lauren Kirwin, Sr., 5-7, defense; Kelsey Hunt, Sr., 5-7, defense; Molly Smith, Sr., 5-8, hitter; Dianna Bill, Jr., 5-11, hitter; Penelope Jones, Jr., 5-10, hitter; Lydia Mesler, Soph., 5-8, setter; Molly Burke, Frosh., 5-5, setter/defense; Sarah Arvidson, Frosh., 5-10, hitter; Ava Bakhtyari, Frosh., 5-10, hitter

Candidates in all grades: 62

Captains: Kirsten Arvidson, Ariel Kuykendall, Kyla McRoy

Returning honorees: Kyla McRoy, MVC Division 1 All-Star; Kirsten Arvidson, Eagle-Tribune Honorable Mention

Assistants: Dave Kuykendall, Kerri O'Dea

Opener: At Central Catholic Sept. 5, 6:30 p.m.

Odds and ends: Last year Andover reached the state semifinals. It was the third straight year the Golden Warriors advanced to at least the state semifinals. They've made at least the Division 1 North finals five straight years. ... Sarah Arvidson is the sister of returning starter Kirsten Arvidson. ... New assistant Kerri O'Dea is a former Golden Warrior standout.

Coach George Sullivan (22nd year, 324-140): "Kirsten (Arvidson) is one of the best players around, and the league is going to learn that. Annie (Ye) really came on late as a defender. We could have two freshmen contributing in Sarah Arvidson and Ava Bakhtyari. It will be a rebuilding year, but we have a lot of potential."

Central Catholic

2007 record: 20-2, lost in Division 2 state semifinals

Returning starters (5): Lauren Berg, 5-10, Sr., middle hitter; Maggie Hillman, 5-8, Jr., outside hitter; Lindsay Phenix, 5-11, Jr., middle hitter; Katie Zenevitch, 6-3, Jr., opposite hitter; Carolyn Eddy, 5-6, Jr., setter

Returning lettermen: Emily Gaudiano, 5-5, Sr., setter; Carla Borrelli, 5-2, Sr., outside hitter; Molly Carroll, 5-7, Sr., outside hitter; Katie Quinlan, 5-8, Sr., outside hitter

Newcomers: Sarah Mawhinney, 5-4, Sr., setter; Megan Fleming, 5-2, Sr., libero; Jazmin Santos, 5-9, Jr., outside hitter, Lauren Lesiczka, 5-4, Jr., libero; Kendall Desrosiers, 6-2, Soph., outside hitter; Corinne Gosselin, 5-11, Soph., middle hitter

Candidates in all grades: 73

Captains: Lauren Berg, Carlo Borrelli, Katie Quinlan

Returning honorees: Carolyn Eddy, Eagle-Tribune All-Star; Maggie Hillman, Lauren Berg and Katie Zenevitch, MVC Division 1 All-Stars

Returning leaders: Carolyn Eddy 416 assists, 66 kills, 45 aces

Assistants: Mark Molloy (varsity assistant), Candice Jimerson-Johnson (JV), Katie Paris (Frosh)

Opener: Hosts Andover Sept. 5, 6:30 p.m.

Odds and ends: In the North finals, the Raiders defeated unbeaten Melrose, a team which had eliminated them each of the previous three years. Central Catholic also recorded a school record of 20 wins. Last year was second time Raiders had reached the state semifinals. ... The Raiders are looking to repeat as MVC Division 1 champs.

Coach Gannon Paris (3rd year, 33-11): "We will expect to be that good this year, that will be the difference. Offseason injuries to both Carolyn Eddy and Lauren Berg have put us a little behind where we should be, but we should be deep enough to absorb those and get by until they are healthy. At this point Lauren Berg is more likely to be ready for our opener. Carolyn is still a few weeks away."

Haverhill

2007 record: 8-11, lost in Division 1 North first round

Returning starters (3): Katelyn Demers, 5-4, Sr., setter; Alex Stasio, 6-0, Sr., middle hitter; Hannah Davis, 5-10, Sr., middle hitter

Returning lettermen: Carly Sullivan, 5-4, Sr., outside hitter

Newcomers: Jill Aramian, 5-8, Jr., outside hitter; Beth Simpson, 5-6, Jr., setter; Liz Daley, 5-8, Jr., hitter; Meredith Ross, 5-8, Soph., right hitter; Rachel Surette, 5-7, Soph., defensive specialist; Devin Mears, 5-5, Soph., defensive specialist; Meghan Cokely, 5-4, Frosh., defensive specialist; Kayla Pellot, 5-4, Frosh., setter

Candidates: 46 (not including freshmen)

Captains: Katelyn Demers, Alex Stasio, Hannah Davis

Returning honorees: Hannah Davis and Katelyn Demers MVC Division 2 All-Stars

Returning leaders: Hannah Davis 118 kills; Alex Stasio 80 kills (missed almost half of the season); Katelyn Demers 254 assists

Assistants: Tim Carven (JV), Kadie Beaudoin (Frosh.)

Opener: Sept. 5 vs. Methuen

Odds and ends: Haverhill recorded its third straight losing season, but did qualify for the state tournament for the first time since 2004. ... Kadie Beaudoin, an MVC All-Star for Haverhill in 2002, is the new freshman coach.

Coach Bill Kaste (16th year, 186-127): "In Division 2 of the MVC I think we'll be very competitive and could compete for a championship there. We will probably have a hard time competing with the Division 1 teams because we're not as powerful at the net as we need to be and passing and defense probably isn't where it should be at this point in time. We need to pass and serve better, but we will be very competitive in Division 2, and we should and can make tournament."

Lawrence

2007 record: 17-4, lost in Division 1 North finals

Returning starters (4): Jadith Lorenzo, 5-7, Sr., setter; Sofia Mendez, 5-10, Sr., middle hitter; Karina Lopez, 5-10, Sr., outside hitter; Minerva Rivas, 5-7, Sr., opposite hitter

Newcomers: Marinelli Tejeda, 5-6, Sr., liberto; Lissi Rodriguez, 5-7, Sr., outside hitter; Shania Fountain, 5-9, Jr., middle hitter; Kateley Boardman, 5-3, Soph., libero; Jerika Santiago, 5-8, Soph., outside hitter

Candidates in all grades: 56

Captains: Jadith Lorenzo, Karina Lopez

Returning honorees: Jadith Lorenzo, Eagle-Tribune All-Star; Minerva Rivas, MVC Division 1 All-Star

Returning statistical leaders: Jadith Lorenzo averaged 34 assists, 9 kills, 35 digs a match, 92 percent serving

Assistants: Joe Soucie, Lauren Santacroce

Opener: Sept. 8 vs. Lowell

Odds and ends: The Lancers made the Division 1 North finals for the second time in three years. ... Despite being just 16 years old, Jadith Lorenzo is being looked at by some Division 1 schools, such as Syracuse, according to coach Bill Brouder.

Coach Bill Brouder (25th year): "We should be pretty good. Andover will be good, Central, Methuen are good too, and I think they'll be some of the better teams around. We should match up pretty well with them but it will be tough competition all around."

Methuen

2007 record: 16-6, lost in Division 1 North semifinals

Returning starters (4): Becca Guselli, Sr., 5-7, setter; Taylor Gillette, Sr., 5-11, outside hitter; Rashidat Agboola, Jr., 6-1, middle hitter; Courtney Murach, Soph., 6-0, middle hitter

Returning lettermen: Kayleigh Bauchman, Sr., 5-9, outside hitter; Amanda Armstrong, Sr., 5-8, defensive specialist; Taylor Bergeron, Sr., 5-2, defensive specialist

Newcomers: Caitlyn Berube, Jr., 5-8, defensive specialist; Morganne Akroyd, Jr., 5-9, opposite hitter/outside hitter; Alicia Allan, Jr., 5-9, opposite hitter; Elaina Guzman, Jr., 5-5, setter; Chae Harris, Jr., 5-2, defensive specialist; Lindsay Madsen, Jr., 5-9, opposite hitter; Ashley Leblanc, Soph., 6-1, opposite hitter; Courtney Bradley, Frosh., 5-9, outside hitter

Returning honorees: Becca Guselli and Rashidat Agboola, MVC Division 2 All-Stars

Odds and ends: Methuen reached the North semifinals for the first time since 1998. ... Complete Eagle-Tribune records go back through 1988, and in that span no other Ranger club had more wins than the 2006 (15 wins) and 2007 (16 wins) teams. Before the last two years, the Rangers hadn't had a winning record since 1998. ... Senior Becca Guselli has never sat out a game in three years as a varsity player. ... Morganne Akroyd is the sister for former Eagle-Tribune All-star Kaitlynne Akroyd, who is now playing at UMass Lowell.

Coach Matt Twomey (4th year, 39-24): "The girls feel like they are the team to beat in (MVC) Division 2. Rashidat Agboola and Courtney Murach make up the best middle tandem in the league, Division 1 or Division 2. Ashley Leblanc has been very impressive picking up hitting and Kayleigh Bauchman may only be 5-9, but she can really jump."