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Volleyball sinks Hingham punching tourney ticket

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Lily Welch vs Hingham. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Last Friday was Lily Welch’s mother’s birthday. 

That wasn’t all she ended up celebrating. 

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ volleyball senior captain registered 17 kills and eight total blocks to power the Panthers to a 3-1 upset win over Hingham. 

“[She’s] unstoppable,” said W-H head coach Samantha Richner of Welch. “Her athleticism just drifts. She gets up so high, but she’s also a player that works hard. Lily wants to be the best and she does it 365 all year.” 

“I literally just cried,” Welch said. “I’m so happy. We’ve never beaten Hingham. They’re an amazing team, they’ve been an amazing team. This just shows how talented we are.” 

It sure does. 

Welch and the Panthers got the home crowd into it early, setting the tone and taking the first set, 25-14. 

However, the Harborwomen turned the tide in the second set, sinking W-H, 25-18, and opened the third set on a 7-1 run. But the Panthers battled back to take set, 25-22, and never looked back. W-H clinched the win with a 25-14 victory in the fourth set. 

“When our girls are up and they play they’re game, they’re unstoppable,” Richner said. “We know the talent we have and I think they’re sick and tired of getting beat by these teams. They know what had to do and they did it.”

Fellow senior captain Abby Martin added eight kills, while classmate Riley Scott tallied 12 digs in the win, which secured W-H a spot in the Div. 2 state tournament. 

The Panthers are back in action Friday, Oct. 22 when they host Duxbury at 5:30 p.m.

“We want to be the first team to win a state tournament game at Whitman-Hanson,” Welch said. 

Gray courting success for W-H girls’ volleyball

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Caroline Gray leads the team with 167 assists. / Photo by: Sue Moss

“She’s a freshman!”

The chant echoed from the Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ volleyball team’s bench shortly into the third set of its sweep over Silver Lake last week. 

That freshman is Caroline Gray, who was doing what she’s done all season: dominating. The first-year Panther was in the midst of a 10-point serving streak to put the Lakers away. She also went on a nine-point run in the first set, to go along with 21 assists from her setter position. 

Volleyball is in Gray’s blood. Her dad, Josh, was the head coach at W-H from 2012-16. And you bet she tagged along with him. 

“I always used to go to the games and after school I’d go to the practices and help out there,” Caroline said. “It was really cool.”

Not only did she attend practice, but she took the court, too. 

“I practiced down balls from some of best hitters on the team,” she said. “It helped me a lot advance in the sport. I got to get ahead of my age.”

Her dad had a few pointers for her coming into first high school season, too. 

“He just said take control of the court,” Caroline said. “Communicate all the time and be confident in yourself because you want to be assertive on the court and know what you’re doing.” 

She sure does. Caroline has tallied a team-high 167 assists through the Panthers’ first 10 matches, in which they’re 7-3. She had 42 of them in a 3-2 win over Hanover and another 38 in a 3-1 triumph over Pembroke. 

“With Caroline, you just see endless potential,” said W-H head coach Samantha Richner. “She works hard. She always wants to improve her game. You can tell she cares a lot about it.”

Setter is a spot Caroline has grown into. She was both an outside hitter and setter in club volleyball. Then she heard the high school team was graduating both of its setters and switched exclusively to the position last winter. 

“After losing Sophia [Berardinelli] and Caileen [Hurley], who we on the team for four years, we were worried going into the season,” Richner said. “But Caroline’s filled those shoes well.”

W-H senior captain Lily Welch agrees. 

“We thought a setter was something that we would lack and struggle with this year and she stepped up huge,” Welch said. “I think her success comes from hard work.”

She’s seen Caroline’s commitment to the game up close. 

“Her dad ran clinics for us last spring and Caroline and I had a lot of late nights working together in the gym,” Welch said. “Our chemistry definitely comes from those nights and she barely missed any volleyball during the summer either.”

W-H is back in action Friday, Oct. 8 when it hosts Plymouth South at 5 p.m. 

“I just want to enjoy the season and get to know all the players even more and we really want to go to the tournament,” Caroline said.

Season Preview: Girls’ volleyball on a mission

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The Panthers. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The girls’ volleyball team is aiming to make the tournament.

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ volleyball team’s mission is simple this season.

“Our goal this season is to be successful and have a winning season,” said third-year head coach Samantha Richner, whose club finished 3-10 last fall. “We will achieve that by working hard, day in and day out. We have a dedicated group this season and I am confident they will be successful.”

Senior captain Lily Welch is the engine that powers the Panthers. She led the team with 73 kills and 29 blocks last season.

“Lily has always been an impressive player” Richner said. “She is extremely dedicated to the sport and is constantly improving her game. Lily is strongest in the front row, but is a well-rounded player who plays all the way around the court.”

Middle hitter Abby Martin and right-side hitter Meg Stone, both of whom are seniors, also captain the Panthers.

“When Abby gets a kill, she gets a kill,” Richner said. “Abby’s hits are a line drive, making them very difficult for our opponents to receive. Abby is a beast at the net with not only her strong hits, but her ability to block our opponents.

“This is Meg’s first season back since her injury, but you wouldn’t know it. Meg is a lefty right side, making her a difficult player for our opponents to read.”

So, as you might expect Richner said her team’s strength is its front row.

“We have multiple power house hitters that we can and will be using to our advantage,” she said.

Junior outside hitter Caitlin Leahy and senior libero Izzy Baker are also key returnees.

As for departures, reigning league all-star Sophia Berardinelli, who paced the team with 162 assists, 142 digs and 30 aces, leaves the biggest void. But freshman setter Caroline Gray has made it a seamless transition, according to Richner.

“She has made a seamless transition to our team and we are lucky to have her,” Richner said.

W-H is back in action Friday, Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. on the road at Marshfield.

“I am just looking forward to watching the girls play this year,” Richner said. “We have a tight-knit group and it is fun to watch them play and interact on the court. They have great potential this season and we are excited to see how far these players can take their talents.”

Season Review: Girls’ volleyball rises up

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The Panthers in action. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The girls’ volleyball team did its best during a COVID-safe campaign.

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ volleyball team showed plenty of fight this fall.

After winning just two matches during the regular season, the Panthers dominated Pembroke in the first round of the Patriot Cup, sweeping the Titans 3-0 to keep their season alive. 

“The high point of the season was winning against Pembroke,” said second-year W-H head coach Samantha Richner. “The team was so excited to not only win, but to continue playing.”

W-H’s run came to an end in the next round at the hands of Plymouth North, as they finished the season with a 3-10 record. 

“I am extremely proud of this team, not only for how they competed, but for how well they adjusted to all of the new rules and regulations due to COVID-19,” Richner said.

The toughest change?

“I think having to wear a mask while playing was the most challenging for them, but no one ever complained,” Richner explained. “They just wanted to play and were thankful to be able to this year.”

Senior captain Sophia Berardinelli was tabbed a league all-star, after leading the team with 162 assists, 142 digs and 30 aces. 

“[She] was one of the most well-rounded players on the court,” Richner said. “Sophia stepped up this season as captain but also as one of the few players who played in every single set this season.”

Junior captain Lily Welch was that other player. She paced the Panthers with 73 kills and 29 blocks, while her 84 digs ranked second. The versatile Welch spent time in both the front and back row. 

“Lily was the youngest of the three captains, but you would never know it,” Richner said. “She played in every single set as well and played all the way around the court which was huge for our team; we needed her out there.”

And with Welch back next season, along with juniors Anna Stone, Megan Stone, captain-elect Abby Martin and freshman Riley Codero, the Panthers’ future could be bright.

Season Preview: Potential on the volleyball court

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Junior captain Lily Welch. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The Panthers return many of their key contributors from last season’s tournament team.

For second-year Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ volleyball head coach Samantha Richner, there are a bevy of reasons this fall feels different than last.

“I do feel more confident and comfortable with the team,” she said. “To me, we feel like a family. I am very excited for this season and the team we have. I think we have great potential.”

In her first year at the helm last season, Richner guided the Panthers to a 12-9 record and their first tournament appearance since 2016. This season, they return many of their key contributors from that postseason run — headlined by junior captain and middle hitter Lily Welch (89 kills, 57 solo blocks, 13 block assists and five aces last season). 

“Lily is a player that I could talk about all day,” Richner said. “She is so gifted and so determined and so dedicated to the sport and to the team.

“All of our front-row players are powerhouses with amazing ability. We plan to use that to our advantage for hitting as well as blocking.”

Senior setters Sophia Berardinelli (248 assists, 22 aces and 14 kills last season) and Caileen Hurley also captain the club.

“Sophia is an all-around athlete and an all-star player,” Richner said. “We are able to put Sophia anywhere on the court and feel confident in her ability.”

“Caileen is a solid player who we all rely on. She is going to leave a big whole in this program when she graduates.”

Junior middle hitter Abby Martin (94 kills and 40 solo blocks last season) is another returnee for the Panthers.

“I am looking forward to watching Abby continue to grow this season,” Richner said. “As a junior and returning varsity player, she is already assuming the role of a leader. Abby, obviously, shines when she is on the court, so it is exciting to have her for two more seasons.”

As for losses, Maya Faich undoubtedly left the biggest void. The Panthers’ team MVP and lone league all-star  last season, Faich led the club with 244 digs from her post at libero. She didn’t go far though, as she’s assumed the reins of the freshmen team this fall. 

“Taking her spot this year is junior Izzy Baker,” Richner explained. “Izzy is a new addition, but you would never know it. Izzy has been so impressive to us all, and she fits right in.”

W-H will be back on the court Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 5:30 p.m. when it hosts Duxbury.

“Our goal is to play hard and have a successful season, all while staying safe,” Richner said.

Sister act: Martins court crossover success

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Sisters Olivia (left) and Abby Martin. / Photo by: Nate Rollins

The Martin sisters are making it a memorable time playing together.

For sisters Abby and Olivia Martin, it all starts at the dinner table.

“That’s where we game plan,” Olivia said.

And when your sister is on your team, that is the type of advantage you have.

“And then, mostly after every game, we go on Hudl and we watch the game with our family,” Abby explained. “Even though we were just in it, we want to watch it to see what happened and review it together.”

Their strategies have worked. After leading the Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ volleyball team to its first tournament appearance since 2016 in the fall, as starters, they’re both starting again this winter and have the girls’ basketball team headed back to the playoffs with its best regular-season record (14-6) since the 2009-10 season.

Olivia, a senior, is in her third year on the varsity team. She captains both sports. Abby, a sophomore, is getting her first experiences at the varsity level.

“It’s so much fun having her by my side,” Olivia said. “It’s really bonded us closer together.”

Said Abby: “I think it’s a lot of fun, and I can learn a lot from her as a player and as a person. She teaches me that there’s always room where you can grow and use different skills to win against different types of teams.”

During the fall, Olivia started at right side hitter, while Abby led the girls’ volleyball team in kills and ranked second in solo blocks at middle hitter.

“[Olivia] certainly lived up to the title [of captain],” said W-H girls’ volleyball head coach Samantha Richner. “She was a player that was constantly looking to improve on her game and would put in the work to achieve what she wanted to.”

“Abby was a huge player for us. We are so fortunate to have Abby returning to the team for another two seasons, she is definitely a player we need on the court.”

In basketball, Olivia is starting at shooting guard and Abby plays forward.

“Olivia has done everything we’ve asked her to do,” said W-H girls’ basketball head coach Mike Costa. “She’s getting to the line and she’s shooting the ball when she’s open. Hopefully, we can give her a memorable senior year.

“I’ve been really happy with Abby. I like her versatility — her aggressiveness, she is very long. Defensively, she has been pretty vocal and she’s starting to have a voice on the team. She’s fearless, she’s not afraid of anybody. We like the toughness she brings to our group.”

Sophomore Lily Welch has taken the court with the Martin sisters in both volleyball and basketball season this year.

“I would describe their mentality as working hard in each sport, but still having as much fun with it as they can,” Welch said. “I think they both play a huge role in bringing each team to tourney.”

The Martins credit a large part of their success to each other and their competitive nature at home.

“Ever since we were little, we always competed outside — no matter what it was — soccer, softball, anything we did, we just wanted to be better than each other,” Abby said.

Replied Olivia laughing: “Oh, yeah.”

“Even though she beat me every time, it just brought me to think that you always have to compete for what you want and if you want it, you have to go get it on your own,” Abby said.

And with her older sister set to graduate in a few months, that message will resonate even more with Abby.

“It’s going to be wicked hard when she leaves me,” Abby said. “But I’m here to carry on what she left behind.”

Season Review: Girls’ volleyball soars under first-year head coach

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Photo by: Sue Moss

The Panthers made the tournament for the first time since 2016.

First-year head coach Samantha Richner and her Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ volleyball squad came into the fall on a mission. 

“The team and I set a goal at the beginning of the season, which was to make tournament,” Richner said. 

It was certainly an aggressive goal, considering the program hadn’t experienced a postseason berth since 2016 and graduated most of its starting unit from an eight-win 2018 campaign, to boot. But the Panthers knew what they were capable of, and they were right, punching their postseason ticket with five games to spare in the regular season with a 3-2 win over Plymouth North. 

W-H entered the Div. 1 South tournament seeded 11th, which meant a trip to Durfee to take on the seventh-seeded Hilltoppers in the first round. 

The Panthers rallied from one-set deficits twice, but were ultimately unable to put Durfee away in the fifth set, falling, 15-13. Richner’s had a simple message to her team, which finished the season 12-9, after the loss. 

“I basically said that no one’s head should be hung, and that they have so much to be proud of,” she recalled. “They truly played their hearts out, and it was an accomplishment just making it to tournament.”

Sophomore hitter Lily Welch (89 kills, 57 solo blocks, 13 block assists and five aces this season) nearly willed the Panthers to victory, posting a team-high five solo blocks and 19 kills, including a dominating stretch in the fourth set to rally the Panthers out of a hole.

“Lily is a phenomenal athlete, and she stepped up for us big that night,” Richner said. “I am so excited to be able to work with Lily these next two seasons, and to be able to watch her grow and develop as an athlete.”

In the back, senior captain and libero Maya Faich (244 digs and 19 aces this season) also put forth a valiant effort in the loss, notching 15 digs and three aces. Faich was named a league all-star and the team’s MVP.

“Maya is leaving huge shoes to fill,” said Richner, whose team began the season 9-4. “She is an amazing girl both on and off the court. I am not sure if we will be able to replace her anytime soon.”

Senior two-year captain and hitter Lexi Connolly (165 digs, 49 kills and 39 aces this season) is also leaving some pretty big shoes to fill. 

“Lexi was a great player to have on the court,” Richner said. “She played both front and back row, which was unique to our team.”

Senior setter Liv Martin (34 digs and 29 kills this season) is another two-year captain, who shouldered a big load this season. 

“Liv was an amazing player to have on the team,” Richner said. “Her dedication, motivation and attitude was something special.”

Sophomore hitter Abby Martin (94 kills and 40 solo blocks this season) and junior setter Sophia Berardinelli (248 assists, 22 aces and 14 kills this season) were also crucial to the Panthers’ success. 

“Abby was one of our strongest hitters; we are so fortunate to have her for another two years,” Richner said. “Sophia is an unbelievable setter, who can also play back row and hit; she is an unbelievable all-around player.”

And with those two, along with Welch, headlining the players set to return, Richner can’t help but be optimistic about the direction of the club. 

“The future of the program is looking bright,” said the coach. “We have a lot of strong players coming back, as well as potential talent from the JV and freshman teams.”

Season Preview: New coach, new expectations for girls’ volleyball team

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Photo by: Sue Moss

The girls’ volleyball team is looking to return to the tournament.

It’s been three years since the girls’ volleyball team at Whitman-Hanson Regional High has made it to the tournament.

This season’s group wants to change that, and first-year head coach Samantha Richner is up for the challenge. A 2013 W-H alum, Richner played four years for the Panthers.

“[Coaching] is something I have always wanted to do, and to do it in the program I was once a part makes it even more special,” Richner said. “I think I bring a different energy to the team than there was in past years.”

Richner inherited a program on the up, doubling its win total from four to eight last fall under then-head coach Ashley Balbian.

“My main message to the girls is that it is up to them what they get out of this season,” Richner said. “I believe this team has the talent and the potential to go far. I try and help them realize that, and to also realize that they need to put in the appropriate and required time and effort to get the results they want.”

Seniors Lexi Connolly and Olivia Martin return as captains to anchor the club, while classmate Maya Faich also serves as captain. Richner said they’ve made her transition seamless.

“To prepare myself for the season, I frequently reached out to the captains, who have been amazing, to see where the program was at, what they wanted to change, what they thought should stay the same,” Richner said. “I realize how important this sport is to these girls.”

Connolly, a four-year varsity player, who posted 103 digs and played in all 52 sets last season, starts at outside hitter and can also play the back row.

“Lexi is a crucial part of our team; she is such a well-rounded player,” Richner said. “Lexi is someone I know I can count on the get the job done, and I am sure the team feels the same way.”

A three-year varsity player, Olivia Martin (41 sets played last season) starts at right side hitter.

“Liv is a great player to have on the team and because of her we are able to have three strong front row hitters on the court at the same time; which is a huge advantage,” Richner said.

Faich, who racked up 81 digs last autumn, takes over at libero following the graduation of Nicole Scott.

“Maya is willing to do about anything to get a ball; she is such a selfless player,” Richner said. “Maya is an athlete who puts in the work year round, and she is one of our strongest players because of it.”

Sophomore hitters Abby Martin and Lily Welch, junior setters Caileen Hurley (119 assists last season) and Sophia Berardinelli and senior hitter Marissa Connell will also be pivotal the team’s success this season.

And Richner said in order to obtain success, it starts with having the right attitude.

“You have to have a competitive mentality,” said the coach. “You also have to have a learning mentality; we have to be able to learn and grow from or mistakes to make ourselves better.”

The Panthers return to the court Friday, Sept. 20 at 5 p.m. at Plymouth South.

“Our goal this season it to make it tournament,” Richner said. “I met with the captains last spring and they expressed to me that this was their goal for this season. I believe, without a doubt, that we have the talent to do that. For right now, our focus is to fine-tune our skills, and then we will take it from there.”

 

*This story will run in the Express’ print edition on Thursday, Sept. 26. 

Whitman-Hanson alum Richner ready to roll as its new girls’ volleyball coach

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Alum Samantha Richner will coach Whitman-Hanson’s girls’ volleyball team.

Shortly after wrapping up her athletic and academic career at Whitman-Hanson Regional High in 2013, Samantha Richner then shifted her focus on trying to wiggle her way back into her alma mater. She has.

After four years at Bridgewater State, Richner was added to W-H’s track staff last spring and then as a cross country coach this past fall. Now, she’s been named W-H’s head girls’ volleyball coach, succeeding Ashley Balbian after two seasons.

“I’m very excited about it,” said Richner, who spent the fall of 2016 and 2017 coaching volleyball at Middleboro High. “It’s awesome to be back in Whitman-Hanson, where I grew up, and it’s a beautiful school with good facilities. I’m just excited for it.”

While she was a four-year varsity volleyball player for the Panthers, Richner will be the first to admit she wasn’t known for her prowess on the court, but rather the track. That continued at BSU, where she smashed program records on the track. However, she said all that running will work to her advantage.

“There’s a lot that I learned competing at Bridgewater that I wish I had known when I was in high school,” said Richner, who is a staff member at Whitman Middle School. “Like what’s good and what’s not good to eat and like how to stay in shape. I have a passion not just for volleyball but toward athletics and fitness and nutrition and just how to be a healthy athlete.”

Ironically enough, Richner said what draws her to volleyball the most is what makes it so different from track.

“I like volleyball because it’s a team sport,” she said. “I come from primarily a track-dominant background, so if I have a bad day in track, that’s just on me. But volleyball you have to rely on one another and that’s what I like most about coaching it.”

Richner is confident she’ll have no problem relating to her players.

“I know the facilities, the gym, what it’s like going to school there, and I know a lot of the teachers still and I know what they’re going through,” she said. “When I was at Middleboro, it was still relatable because I played the sport but it wasn’t there. Like this is their home and this is my home.”

So, what will be the characteristics of a Samantha Richner-coached team?

“High energy, exciting, driven and hard working,” she said.

The Panthers finished 8-11 last season.

“I want to bring consistency to the program,” explained Richner, who said she played for four different volleyball coaches at W-H. “My goal for them is, well obviously I want them to win and go to the tournament and even win that, but I also want consistency – to be someone they can be comfortable with. I know it’s going to be an adjustment with another head coach coming in, so long term I want consistency and to grow the program.

“I love athletics, so if I can coach I still want to be a part of it.”

Julian rises to the occasion for Eastern Nazarene volleyball

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Julian (No. 11) / Courtesy photo

Halle Julian earned an extend role in her freshman season at Eastern Nazarene College.

Coming into the season, Whitman native Halle Julian had two ways to measure success in her freshman campaign on the Eastern Nazarene College women’s volleyball team: individual improvement and team accomplishment. She can check off both of those boxes.

“It was just an awesome experience and I couldn’t have imagined a better freshman year,” she said.

The 2018 W-H grad made an impact immediately for Eastern Nazarene, which advanced all the way to the New England Collegiate Championship this season, where it fell to South Vermont, 3-1. The Lions’ final record was 20-7, –a significant improvement over their 11-19 campaign in 2017.

In her first season with the Lions, Julian, a middle hitter, saw action in 79 of the squad’s 93 sets; she ranked second on the team in blocks per set (0.51) and third both in kills (111) and hitting percentage (.257).

“For a freshman to come in and put up those kind of numbers in the first year of being a college player is pretty good,” said Eastern Nazarene women’s volleyball head coach Derek Schmitt.

Schmitt said Julian’s consistency on the court is why she saw significant playing time as a freshman.

“She had some pretty good offensive numbers in matches,” he said. “I thought she was consistent in her play and you could just count on her every night to go out there and be out there doing whatever it took to win. Try and score some points for us offensively and work hard for us blocking.”

Schmitt said he was surprised Julian cracked the learning curve that comes with being a freshman so quickly to make an impact right away.

“She was able to handle the change because the college game is definitelyfaster,” Schmitt said. “She was able to adapt quicker than I thought she would. I think she picked up on things quickerthan a lot of freshman would have.”

Julian credited her time playing for former W-H girls’ volleyball head coach Josh Gray as having a major impact on her.

“He taught me how to play the game I do today,” Julian, the Panthers’ all-time blocks leader on record, said.

Julian’s best match statistically this season came Oct. 11 against Gordon College; she registered a career-best 11 kills and swatted seven blocks.

“She really just developed as a middle blocker and as far as being able to handle the pace of the game and being able and being quicker to the outside to block the pin hitters and to be able to get better offensively and get better timing,” Schmitt said. “The good thing is she’s already got that 6-foot-2 frame, that’s not going to change.”

Julian said she’s already been in the gym as she strives to make an even larger impact for the Lions next fall.

“My goal is to improve my blocking because with this speed, you got to get out to block super fast and it’s hard to press over sometimes, but I definitely want to get better at my blocking,” she said. “I’ll use this season at motivation.”