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The MIAA released its pairings for the boys' volleyball state tournament this afternoon. Haverhill (18-0) grabbed the top overall seed in the North, while North Quincy (14-0) took the South, Milford (18-0) in Central, and Chicopee Comp (17-1) in West.

To view the complete brackets, CLICK HERE.

Below are the seedings for each district:

NORTH
1. Haverhill (18-0); 2. Lawrence (17-3); 3. St. John's Prep (17-3); 4. Cambridge (16-3); 5. Latin Academy (15-4); 6. Lowell (11-6); 7. Westford (11-7); 8. Chelmsford (12-8); 9. Lexington (9-7); 10. Methuen (11-9); 11. Andover (12-10); 12. Gr. Lowell Tech. (10-10); 13. Lowell Catholic (10-10)

SOUTH
1. North Quincy (14-0); 2. Newton North (16-1); 3. Needham (16-4); 4. Barnstable (13-5); 5. Newton South (14-6); 6. Norwood (12-6); 7. Brockton (13-7); 8. Greater New Bedford (10-6); 9. BC High (10-6)

CENTRAL
1. Milford (18-0); 2. Lincoln-Sudbury (17-1); 3. Wachusett (15-3); 4. Valley Tech (13-3); 5. Xaverian (14-4); 6. Natick (12-4); 7. Worcester Tech (14-5); 8. Algonquin Reg. (14-6); 9. Marlborough (12-6); 10. Worcester North (12-6); 11. Keefe Tech (10-6); 12. Medfield (9-8); 13. Worcester South (9-8); 14. Burncoat (9-9)

WEST
1. Chicopee Comp (17-1); 2. Agawam (18-1); 3. Ludlow (13-5); 4. Westfield (12-6); 5. Putnam (15-4); 6. Athol (14-5); 7. Holyoke (12-5); 8. Sabis (11-6)

The following coaches will be honored at the Second Annual Coach of the Year/Student Athlete Banquet on May 30, 2012. Each coach below has been named Coach of the Year by the MIAA for their respective sport:

Robert Mahoney, Notre Dame (Tyngsborough) -- Girls Volleyball
Amelia Davis, Algonquin -- Gymnastics
Kevin Burchill, Braintree -- Girls Ice Hockey
Jack Stoddard, Duxbury -- Boys Golf
Alex Naumann, Everett -- Boys Ice Hockey
Michael Foley, Framingham -- Swim
Fred Jewett, Hingham -- Indoor Track
Jim Leonard, King Philip -- Softball
Phil Maia, Lowell -- Cross Country
David Duffy, Needham -- Football
Frank Carey, North Reading -- Baseball
Rick Kates, Notre Dame (Hingham) -- Outdoor Track
David Gianferante, Notre Dame (Hingham) -- Girls Golf
Kim Penney, Reading -- Girls Basketball
David Curley, Rockport -- Boys Soccer
Ed Scollan, Westford -- Boys Basketball
Leslie Frank, Westwood -- Girls Lacrosse

Paula Hagopian's talent on the soccer field is so obvious she was named Connecticut's Gatorade Player of the Year even though her Kingswood Oxford team finished with a record below .500 last season.

Hagopian, a senior forward, collected 13 goals and 10 assists as a senior, when Kingswood Oxford went 5-7-2. She was also the 2011 Connecticut Soccer Coaches' Association Player of the Year, and has twice been selected as an All-American by the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America.

“Paula is so strong that defenders bounce off her,” said Matt Micros, a club coach with Connecticut FC. “She can hold the ball up well and also spin defenders with ease. What she lacks in technique she more than makes up for with power and pace.”

Hagopian led Kingswood Oxford to the 2010 New England Prep School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class B championship and completed her career with 56 goals and 35 assists. She will continue her soccer career at Yale next fall.

Past winners of the award include Riley Houle (2010–11, Windham), Kate McCarthy, (2009-10, Loomis Chaffee), Jessica Schloth (2008–09, St. Joseph), Alex Uscilla (2007-08, St. Joseph), and Bianca D’Agostino (2006-07, Loomis Chaffee).

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The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletics Association officially announced this morning that they have tapped Medway High School Principal Richard Pearson as its next Associate Executive Director. He will begin July 1 and replace outgoing Deputy Executive Director Bill Gaine, who is set to retire at the end of June.

Here is the MIAA's official release, courtesy of Media Relations director Nathan Bonneau:

Richard L. Pearson, currently principal of Medway High School, has been named Associate Executive Director of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) and the Massachusetts Secondary Schools Administrators’ Association (MSSAA). He will assume his new position in June.

He will succeed William N. Gaine Jr., the long time Deputy Executive Director, who will retire on June 30, 2012.

In making the announcement, Richard F. Neal, Executive Director, said, “Richard has been an active member of our two associations for many years and is well informed on the mission, responsibilities and operations of both organizations. The fact that his peers elected him to serve as MSSAA President this year is testimony to the respect he has among the educational community as a leader.”

With the MIAA, Mr. Pearson has served on many committees, including the Tournament Management Committee and Lacrosse Committee, and is currently serving as Chair of the District C Athletic Committee.

Mr. Pearson was named principal at Medway H.S. in August, 2004. Among his many accomplishments in that position was supervising the opening of a new school. He was assistant principal at Foxborough H.S. from June, 2000 to August, 2004.

A musician by education, he holds a Bachelor in Music Education degree from The Ohio State University. He began his teaching career as Band Director in Walpole and later in Medfield. He holds a Masters in Education degree from Bridgewater State College and is currently in the process of completing course work in the doctoral program at Northeastern University.

Mr. Gaine joined the Associations as Assistant Executive Director in October, 1979 and has had major responsibility in the areas of student/athlete health and safety initiatives over the years. He also had executive responsibility for all phases of management for most Association-sponsored sports with current oversight for ice hockey, football and baseball. He was promoted to his present position in 1994.

Mr. Gaine has been the architect and catalyst for the development and growth of the MIAA’s Student Services Program which includes Sportsmanship, Wellness, Leadership, Community Service and Coaches’ Education. The MIAA and Mr. Gaine have been recognized statewide and nationally for creating programming focused on student athletes that enrich their interscholastic experience through a curriculum of educational athletics.

In its 27th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, Gatorade in collaboration with ESPNHS, today announced Cassidy Stankowski of Frontier Regional as its 2011-12 Gatorade Massachusetts Volleyball Player of the Year. Stankowski is the first Gatorade Massachusetts Volleyball Player of the Year to be chosen from Frontier Regional.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court, distinguishes Stankowski as Massachusetts’ best high school volleyball player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year award announced in December.

The 5-foot-8 junior outside hitter led the Red Hawks to a 23-1 record and the Division 3 state title this season. Stankowski recorded 276 kills, 143 digs, 76 service aces and 20 blocks while posting a hitting percentage of .547. A three-time Division 3 first team All-State selection and a four-time Northern League All-Star, she recorded 87 kills, 50 digs and 29 service aces in five postseason matches this fall, including 24 kills and 16 digs in a 3-0 win over Case for the state title.

Stankowski has maintained a 3.68 GPA in the classroom. She has volunteered locally at the Baystate Medical Center, on behalf of a literacy-outreach program and as part of multiple community service initiatives in association with her church.

“Cassidy Stankowski is as dominant a player that I have ever seen at this level,” Melrose High head coach Scott Celli said. “She single-handedly beat Case for the state title.”

Stankowski joins recent Gatorade Massachusetts Volleyball Players of the Year Maura Manley (2010-11, New Bedford High School), Morgan Thatcher (2009-10, Brockton) and Caitlin Barrett (2008-09, Medfield) among the state’s list of former award winners.

Here's a look at the other New England winners:

CONNECTICUT - KYLEY REED, ROCKY HILL
The 6-foot-1 senior outside hitter and opposite led the Terriers to an 18-4 record and the Class M state title this past season. Reed recorded 578 kills, 460 digs, 133 service aces and 31 blocks while posting a hitting percentage of .598. A 2011 American Volleyball Coaches Association Under Armour First Team All-American selection, Reed was the Class M State Tournament MVP and a three-time Class M First Team All-State selection. She concluded her prep volleyball career with 1,517 kills, 1,097 digs and 362 service aces.

Reed has maintained a 3.37 GPA in the classroom. She has volunteered locally as part of a fundraising campaign to benefit breast cancer research and on behalf of a park beautification project

“Kyley Reed is a kid that raises the level of play of those around her,” said Darien Head Coach Laurie LaRusso. “She is very talented yet doesn’t act better than anyone else. She’s a hard worker, a team player and is coachable with tremendous skill.”

Reed has verbally committed to play volleyball on an athletic scholarship at Rice University beginning in the fall of 2012.

MAINE - BRITTANY BONA, SCARBOROUGH
The 6-foot-2 senior outside hitter recorded 224 kills, 119 digs and 69 service aces this past season while leading the Red Storm (14-3) to the Class A state final. Bona is a two-time First Team All-State selection and was named The Forecaster Fall Athlete of the Year.

Bona has maintained an A average in the classroom. She has volunteered locally delivering food to the needy and assisting special education students at her school.

“She hits the ball well and she serves with power and accuracy,” said Ruth Shaw, head coach of rival Biddeford High. “She also blocks consistently well, and what is most amazing is that she can play the back row like a libero.”

Bona remains undecided upon a collegiate destination.

NEW HAMPSHIRE - KELSEY BERRY, HOLLIS/BROOKLINE
The 5-foot-8 senior outside hitter led the Cavaliers to a 20-2 record and the Division I state title this past season. Berry recorded 224 kills, 220 digs, 73 service aces, 21 assists and four blocks while posting a kill percentage of .382. Berry was nearly flawless in the postseason, committing just 13 total errors in the final three matches for a 95.2 percent success rate. A Division I First Team All-State selection, she recorded 17 kills and 15 digs in Hollis Brookline’s 3-1 win over Merrimack in the state title match.

Berry has maintained a 3.91 GPA in the classroom. The president of the Hollis-Brookline High student body, she has volunteered locally as a peer tutor, a youth volleyball and basketball coach, and as part of a fundraising campaign to benefit breast cancer research.

“Kelsey Berry’s a good player,” said Dan Young, head coach of Salem High. “She was their libero last year, their outside this year. She’s solid—a very good passer and a very strong hitter. She’s very consistent, very solid and very tough.”

Berry remains undecided upon a collegiate destination.

RHODE ISLAND - KELSEY LACE, MOUNT ST. CHARLES
The 6-foot senior outside hitter recorded 281 kills, 116 digs, 80 service aces and 39 blocks this past season while posting a hitting percentage of .537 and leading the Mounties (17-1) to the Division I state semifinals. The 2011 Rhode Island Volleyball Coaches Association Player of the Year, Lace recorded double-digit kills in 16 of 18 matches, including 21 kills in a 3-1 loss to Ponaganset in the state semifinals.

Lace has maintained a 3.91 GPA in the classroom. She has volunteered locally as an elementary school aide, a peer Spanish tutor and as part of fundraising campaigns to benefit ovarian cancer and autism research.

“Kelsey Lace has a good whip, a big block and can do pretty much everything—even take tickets at the match,” said Scott Reslow, head coach of Toll Gate High. “Kelsey always seemed to be the best player in the gym night in and night out.”

Lace has verbally committed to play volleyball on an athletic scholarship at New York’s University of Saint Rose beginning in the fall of 2012.

ESPNHS editor Eric Snyder has a rundown on the finalists for Massachusetts' Gatorade Player of the Year award in volleyball. Leading the list is Brookline senior outside hitter Maya Midzik, who helped lead the Warriors to the Division 1 state semifinals, where they lost to eventual state champion Barnstable.

The award will be announced later this month.

From the ESPNHS Gatorade Player of the Year blog:

Maya Midzik
Senior outside hitter/middle blocker, Brookline (Mass.)

2011 Team record: 19-3
2011 Team standing: Lost in Division 1 state semifinals

2011 Kills: 262
2011 Blocks: 15
2011 Digs: 87
2011 Aces: 61
2011 Assists: 5

Academics: A average
Collegiate destination: Yale (verbal)

How she’s played herself into the State POY conversation: USA Volleyball High Performance Department’s 2011 U.S .Women’s Junior A2 Team member. Two-time Division 1 First Team All-State selection.

Cassidy Stankowski
Junior outside hitter, Frontier Regional (South Deerfield, Mass.)

2011 Team record: 23-1
2011 Team standing: Won Division 3 state title

2011 Kills: 276
2011 Blocks: 20
2011 Digs: 143
2011 Aces: 76
2011 Assists: 15

Academics: A-minus average
Collegiate destination: HS junior

How she’s played herself into the State POY conversation: Three-time Division 3 First Team All-State selection. Starter since seventh grade. More than 1,000 career kills.

Make no mistake, the Gatorade State Volleyball Player of the Year race isn’t over yet. Time remains for one standout student-athlete among thousands to rise to the top of our list. Here are some more of many who’ve been in the conversation throughout the 2011 campaign.

Kayla Crook: Barnstable (Hyannis, Mass.) junior setter
Kaylee Deluga: Barnstable (Hyannis, Mass.) senior outside hitter
Taylor Fearing: Marlboro (Mass.) senior setter

NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. -- Maintaining success year after year at the high school level in Massachusetts is something only a few teams have been able to accomplish, especially in an era where more and more talented athletes are emerging in every city and town across the Commonwealth.

The Barnstable girls volleyball program is one of those that seems to have the state championship formula figured out. The Red Raiders laid claim to their 14th Division 1 state title, sweeping Central Catholic by scores of 25-13, 27-25 and 25-14 Saturday evening at Algonquin High School.

"The highest compliment you can give you a group of players is that they are competitive warriors," Barnstable head coach Tom Turco said. "That's what they were tonight and thats what they've been all season. Thats the type of players I have in this program so I'm proud of them."



Barnstable (23-0) was led by Kaylee Deluga, who recorded 20 kills. Lynne Hibbard added 10 kills and Carolyn Morin had seven, all the beneficiaries of a strong passing night courtesy of junior setter Kayla Crook, who had 33 assists.

Central made them work for it, and a 5-1 stretch early in the first game left the two squads deadlocked at 8-8. That's when Barnstable took over. With Crook spreading the ball around amongst Deluga, Regan Bristol, Hibbard and Anna Strock, the Red Raiders scored eight of the next 10 points, and put together a pair of smaller runs to close out the opener.

The second game was one Central Catholic needed. The Raiders got contributions from Hunter Tuck, Amanda Williams, Alexis Michal and Claire Foggo while taking Barnstable's best punches to take a 20-17 lead.

When Barnstable fought back, the Raiders hung tough and the two teams found themselves tied five times until Barnstable managed to string together consecutive points on a Morin slam and a net violation that ended it.

"That was a good fight. That's what I'll remember my girls for. I'm proud of that," Central head coach Gannon Paris said. "We stood toe to toe for them for a good 35-40 minutes. You want to capitalize on those things and when you have a chance to beat a team like that in a spot like that, you need to capitalize."



Central wasn't able to, and while they were able to keep it close in the third (tied 12-12 midway through), Barnstable simply had too many weapons to overcome and the Red Raiders broke it open with a 9-0 run. The Red Raiders attacked relentlessly from the outside as Crook set up both Deluga and Hibbard for a combined 13 kills.

Explained Crook, "Whenever the hitters go up I always look to my right to see if there's any spots open for them and I'll tell them in between plays then just try and get the ball to my hitters and let them take care of it."

Deluga also pointed to her more defensive-minded teammates as one of the Red Raiders biggest keys.

"They have some really good hitters but we have some really good blockers. We have Lynne and Regan up there at the net and they were on blockers really well. We had good block coverage by our libeiro, my cousin Nikki (Deluga). We had good defense, we dove for balls and Kayla made an awesome play off block and ran into the stands."

Added Hibbard, "Blockwise I think we did very well. We were able to match up with their hits very well. Defense-wise we were picking up tips amazingly. The back row did a great job of picking up all the hits from the middle."

NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. -- When the chips were down, Marlborough knew its weapons were still there. It was just a matter of getting everything in synch.

The Panthers did just that, rebounding from a disappointing first game to take the next three and capture the Division 2 state championship by knocking off Melrose, 22-25, 25-23, 25-13, 25-20.

The title is Marlborough's third, with the previous two coming in 2003 and 2004. With a final record of 24-0, the Panthers also capped the second perfect season in program history.

Setter Taylor Fearing led the way, dishing out a whopping 51 assists over the four games. Alexa Fearing paced the offense with 22 kills, while Melissa Scott added 20 and Laura Silverman contributed 12.

"We started off slow in the first game and we realized you can't do that against a good team like this," Fearing said. "You have to go out and play every point like its going to be your last."

While the Panthers appeared to be battling the jitters of the state championship stage early on, credit Melrose (23-2) for contributing to their struggles. The Raiders played spectacular defensively, getting either a block or a tip on nearly every ball Marlborough sent toward their half of the court.

Junior middle hitter Sarah McGowan had seven or team high 16 kills in the opener as Melrose led by as much as seven points and held off the Panthers comeback bid.



"I think we had some nerves in the first game," admitted Taylor Fearing. "We were making some stupid mistakes but we really pulled it together. We wanted to show Melrose how Marlborough plays volleyball and I think we really ended up doing that."

The rally definitely helped Marlborough, who looked much more like the team that run through a perfect regular season and postseason. A 6-0 run turned a four-point deficit into a 13-10 Panther lead. Melrose fought back and even regained the advantage at 23-22, but an Alexa Fearing kill and two straight violations gave the game to Marlboro.

Alexa Fearing took over the third game, collecting seven kills, and the Panthers used an 11-1 stretch to build a big lead that they would never relinquish.

Game four resembled a heavyweight championship fight, a confident Marlborough squad trying to fend off a game and determined Melrose group. The game featured 14 ties after reaching a score of 18-18, but the Panthers took seven of the final nine points, appropriately ending the match and the quest for a championship on one final slam by Alexa Fearing.

"Game one that was the case, we did play great defense," Melrose head coach Scott Celli. "And then we just lost the momentum in game two. We didn't serve well and it took us out of some runs. We fell behind and it was tough to catch up, especially against a good team like that. I thought we started to regain that in game four but we could never really get that lead that we could build on. It was always back and forth and they just had a little too much firepower for us at the end."

NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. – Even after losing nine members from last year’s Division 3 state championship, Frontier Regional had enough in the tank to pull out a gutsy 3-2 victory against Case.

Saturday marked the third straight season in which the Red Hawks (23-1) and Cardinals (22-2) met in the title match.

The Red Hawks came from behind to pull out a dramatic fourth set, 26-24, forcing a deciding set. They settled down in the fifth set, taking a 15-11 win and giving the program its fourth state championship Saturday at Algonquin Regional High School.

“I have to tip my cap to Case,” Frontier head coach Sean MacDonald said. “They made us work for every point. I think this one stands up as one of the sweetest ones.”

Although the Red Hawks lost most of their rotation from last season, they still relied on junior outside hitter Cassidy Stankowski providing an array of powerful kills with a strong service game.

“Cassidy came up big for us,” MacDonald said. “She struggled a little at the end, but we ask too much from her, more than anybody should ask from one player.”



The pivotal moment of the match game in the fourth, when MacDonald rallied his troops to force a deciding fifth set.

Then, the Red Hawks were two points away from losing the match. Down 23-22, Frontier came back to force a fifth set with Stankowski providing a tip block on Case’s Danielle Robillard.

Having to work for this one only sweetened the victory.

“Last year was a twenty-six-and-oh season, but this it was like, ‘Oh, it’s a rebuilding year,’” “Obviously, it was not. We proved that today and it was amazing for my team. I’m so proud of them.”

FIELD HOCKEY
Division 1
Andover 1, Longmeadow 0

Division 2
Watertown 3, Oakmont 1

SOCCER

Boys Division 2
Groton-Dunstable 2, Concord-Carlisle 0

Girls Division 2
Auburn 1, Canton 0

VOLLEYBALL Division 1
Barnstable 3, Central Catholic 0

Division 2
Marlborough 3, Melrose 1

Division 3
Frontier Regional 3, Case 2

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- There’s something in the water when it comes to Barnstable girls' volleyball.

The Raiders used a swarming defensive effort — where it looked at times there were eight or nine red jerseys on their side of the court — and a powerful display at the net by Kaylee Deluga (18 kills) and Lynne Hibbard (eight kills) to take out Brookline 3-1 (25-14, 25-18, 22-25, 25-15) in the Div. 1 state semi-finals last night at Bridgewater-Raynham High.

Barnstable (22-0) will now play Central Catholic in the state finals in hopes of securing a 14th championship trophy.

“I’m proud of my girls, they rose to the occasion,” said Raiders coach Tom Turco, who has been at the helm for 24 seasons. “You have to give these girls credit.”

Turco’s crew was able to establish a presence at the net early in the first game. Hibbard had three blocks for kills in the early stages and Deluga showed off her ability to put away points with a big, sweeping lefty strike in the 25-14 win for the Raiders.

The key for Barnstable was limiting the Warriors’ key outside hitter, Maya Midzik, from causing havoc on the Raiders back-line. And for two and a half games — including a 25-18 second game victory — the Raiders were able to keep the Warriors (20-3) threat under wraps.

“The thing about their offense is that they don’t just go to her exclusively. They trust their other hitters, but we had to key in on her,” said Turco. “I thought we did a good job and we adjusted our defense outside the block more and came up with some key digs. She’s not going to hit into blocks, she’s going to hit around the blocks and to our kids credit they did that well.”

Midzik and the Warriors did get things together when it looked like the Raiders would wrap up the clean sweep late in the third game. With the Raiders leading 21-17, Brookline went on a 9-1 run to take a 25-22 victory and extend the match.

The Warriors did most of their damage off the serve of Marie Fleming, as Midzik put away four keys points in that stretch, including a loud kill to complete the comeback.

“We executed our game plan,” said Warriors coach Mike Frank. “That was probably the best eight points we played all night, in a row anyway. We didn’t quite execute what we wanted to do.”



The Warriors had all the momentum going into the fourth game, but the Raiders calmly got back to the defense at the net and the ability to withstand the rushes from Midzik and the other outside-hitters to grab a lead at 3-2 and never look back.

Hibbard starred again as she teamed up with Regan Bristol to record a few blocks and form a wall at the net, and the back-line did it’s job in funneling the ball to their attacking offensive players to finish off the match with a 25-15 win.

“We just knew that we had to step up the intensity and we didn’t talk as much as we should have,” said Hibbard. “We knew that we had to come together as a team, because we wanted it and we got it.”

LEOMINSTER, Mass. -- Every time Cassidy Stankowski went up in the air to unleash one of her powerful serves or spikes, the collective student section from Frontier Regional emphasized the moment with a loud chant of "BOOM!"

The fact that you could still clearly hear the sound of her hand striking the ball was indicative of the strikes the Red Hawks junior was delivering.

Stankowski dominated both offensively and from behind the service stripe, collecting 17 kills and seven aces as Frontier bested previously unbeaten Lynnfield in three straight, winning 25-17, 25-18 and 25-20, in Tuesday's Division 3 state volleyball semifinal at Leominster High School.

The Red Hawks (22-1) will look to defend their state title on Saturday (12 p.m.) at Algonquin High School against the winner of Wednesday's semifinal matchup between Case and Millis.

Stankowski's impressive game will undoubtedly be drawing the attention of college recruiters from elite level programs in the coming months, if it hasn't already. Her devastating serve starts from a spot near the back wall of the gymnasium, continues as she tosses the ball into the air with her right hand, then culminates after several steps as she unleashes her power through her strong right arm.

The key, she says, is in the toss.

"I just got my confidence back in my jump serve and to have that for the tournament really helps me out," Stankowski explained. "It's all in the toss. My toss before was everywhere all over the court, I finally got a pretty consistent toss down so it really helps."

Not only was she able to get her points, but Stankowski strong hitting also prevented Lynnfield (23-1) from getting settled into its offense for a return.

"I think Cassidy was the big difference," admitted Lynnfield coach Michelle Perrone. "Her ability to put the ball down offensively, serving and hitting. I think that makes a huge difference. I think we played well against them but she made the biggest difference.

A GAME OF RUNS
Despite the fact that Frontier swept the Pioneers, each of the three games was a match unto itself. In the opener, Stankowski served five straight points, including three consecutive aces, to kick off a 12-2 run that turned a 12-11 nailbiter into a comfortable 24-13 Frontier lead.

In the second, the Red Hawks took advantage of several Pioneers mistakes during a 7-0 spurt that again turned a one-point lead into a 15-7 margin from which Lynnfield was unable to recover.

Finally, while trailing, 11-10, in the final game, Stankowski had three kills during a game-changing 8-0 stretch. While the Pioneers certainly made the Red Hawks work for every point, those runs simply made Frontier too difficult to catch in the end.

"I just think the nerves started to smooth out a little bit," said Frontier coach Sean MacDonald when asked to explain his team's ability to bunch points together. "It's just a numbers game and a chance game at some point. You’re going to get some of those runs and you’re not going to get some of those runs. The first time you serve you might, and the next time you serve might not. Sometimes its just the luck of the draw, especially when you have a good team over there making it hard for you every time."

A 'CLASS" CLASS OF SENIORS
While Frontier advanced to the state championship game for the fifth time in seven seasons, Lynnfield was making its second straight appearance in the semis. Perrone took over four years ago for previous coach Robert Clearly, who left the job to become the school's principal.

This current group of seniors represents her first full class of graduates, a group that includes Cape Ann League/Northeast Conference MVP Julia Goldstein (team high nine kills) and fellow All-State performer Liz Vo.

"They’ve come so far not only as players but as young women," said Perrone in praise of her seniors. "The things they do on the court are amazing but the things they do off the court are even more amazing. We raise money for ovarian cancer and breast cancer every season, thousands of dollars. These seniors are leaders and they bring their team with them and their team responds. I’m so proud of them. I’m going to miss them."

BOYS' SOCCER
Division 3 North
Georgetown 1, Rockport 0
Lynnfield 6, St. Mary’s 1

GIRLS' SOCCER
Division 2 North
Newburyport 1, Gloucester 0
Stoneham 1, Arlington 0 (OT)

Division 3 North
Georgetown 1, Lynnfield 0
St. Mary’s 3, Watertown 2

GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL
Division 1 North
Andover 3, North Andover 0
Central Catholic 3, Reading 0

Division 1 South
Barnstable 3, New Bedford 0
North Attleborough 3, Brockton 0

Division 1 Central-East
Brookline 3, North Quincy 2
Newton North 3, Quincy 0

Division 1 Central-West
Acton-Boxborough 3, Franklin 0
Lincoln-Sudbury 3, Algonquin 0

Division 2 South
Bishop Feehan 3, Dennis-Yarmouth 0
Fairhaven 3, GNB Voke 0

Division 2 Central
Marlborough 3, Westborough 0
Hopkinton 3, Canton 0

Division 3 North
Austin Prep 3, Shawsheen 0
Lynnfield 3, St. Clement 0

In his 41st year at the helm of Plymouth Regional's storied football program – a span that's produced a state-record 334 wins and 18 championships – Chuck Lenahan has surely experienced it all.

Yet it was the manner in which the Bobcats won their most recent matchup that had the gruff-voiced grid coach admitting, “I'm kind of numb.”

It's understandable. Lenahan approved the call for a fourth-quarter fake punt that produced the game-winning touchdown. Plymouth celebrated a 21-14 Division IV semifinal win Nov. 5 against longtime rival Laconia High.

The scenario: Plymouth was forced to punt from its 32-yard line in a 14-all game. The game clock showed less than nine minutes remained in regulation.

Special teams coach Chris Sanborn persuaded Lenahan to fake the punt. The Bobcats desperately needed a spark. Their rushing attack, which generated two lengthy first-half scoring drives capped by Cole Brooker touchdown runs, was stifled after halftime.

Standout senior Taylor Newberry (37 carries for 205 yards) was asked to fake the punt for the first time in his career. It worked out better than even Lenahan could have expected.

Newberry gained the three yards necessary to extend the drive. He also picked up 65 more yards, cutting left-to-right across the field, dodging would-be tacklers, and ultimately celebrating a 68-yard TD run.

“We actually just set that up (in the week leading up to the semifinal). We were 50-50 on it,” Newberry said. “I guess it worked.”

Plymouth – a year removed from missing the playoffs on a three-team tiebreaker – actually plays the role of underdog in the Nov. 12 final.

The second-seeded Bobcats (9-1) travel to Manchester's Gill Stadium for a showdown with No. 1 seed Trinity High (10-0). The Bobcats were stunned at home in Week 4 by the Pioneers, allowing a pair of late-game touchdown passes in a 12-7 loss.

It snapped Plymouth's 40-game home win streak.

“Another week,” Lenahan said. “The kids wanted it bad. What the heck. We might as well take a trip to Manchester.”

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FIELD HOCKEY
Division 1 North
Acton-Boxborough 2, Chelmsford 1
Andover 4, Weston 2

Division 2 North
Belmont 2, Newburyport 1
Watertown 2, Winchester 0

BOYS' SOCCER
Division 1 North
Billerica 3, Peabody 1
Chelsea 3, Somerville 2 (OT)
Masconomet 1, Acton-Boxborough 0
Medford 2, Lincoln-Sudbury 1 (OT)

Division 1 South
BC High 1, Catholic Memorial 0
Greater New Bedford Voke 2, Wellesley 1
Nauset 2, Brockton 0
Needham 2, Silver Lake 1 (OT)

Division 2 North
Concord-Carlisle 1, Melrose 0
Danvers 2, Pentucket 1
Wayland 1, North Andover 0 (OT)
Winchester 2, Stoneham 0

Division 2 South
Canton 3, Westwood 2
Hingham 1, Norwell 0
Hopkinton 2, Bishop Feehan 0
Sandwich 4, Duxbury 0

Division 3 South
Bristol-Plymouth 1, Archbishop Williams 0
Cardinal Spellman 4, Seekonk 0
Dover-Sherborn 4, Hanover 0
Nantucket 2, Old Rochester 1 (PKs)

GIRLS' SOCCER
Division 1 North
Acton-Boxborough 2, Lexington 1
Chelmsford 4, Newton North 3 (OT)
North Andover 4, Medford 0
Peabody 3, Concord-Carlisle 0

Division 1 South
Bishop Feehan 1, Franklin 0
Marshfield 3, Notre Dame (Hingham) 1
Oliver Ames 5, Needham 0
Whitman-Hanson 4, Dartmouth 3 (OT)

Division 2 North
Stoneham 1, Arlington 0 (OT)

Division 2 South
Canton 6, Scituate 0
Dedham 1, Cardinal Spellman 0 (PKs)
Duxbury 1, East Bridgewater 0
Medfield 2, Old Rochester 0

Division 3 South
Dover-Sherborn 6, Nantucket 0
Norwell 4, Carver 0
Seekonk 7, Old Colony 1
Ursuline 4, Norfolk Aggie 2

VOLLEYBALL
Division 1 South
Barnstable 3, New Bedford 0

Division 1 Central/West
Franklin 3, Westford Academy 0

Division 2 North
Bishop Fenwick 3, Stoneham 0
Melrose 3, North Reading 0

Division 2 Central
Marlborough 3, Westborough 0

Division 3 North
Lynnfield 3, St. Clement 0

Division 3 South
Case 3, Sacred Heart 0
Holbrook 3, Bristol-Plymouth 0

Division 3 Central
Douglas 3, Hopedale 2
Millis 3, Marian 0