Byline: DAN KEATS
The last time the Mount Alvernia volleyball team was at Hudson High, it was 2005 and the Mustangs were on the wrong end of the Division 3 state final against Greenfield.
Senior Katie Duggan was an eighth-grader and on the bench in that contest, and in her return she was determined that yesterday would not play out the same.
A force at the middle of the net and when serving, she led fifth-seeded Mount Alvernia to a 25-13, 25-18, 25-14 sweep of No. 3 Whitinsville Christian in the Division 3 Central final.
'We saw how upsetting it was after that loss and we didn't want to face that,' Duggan said. 'We wanted to keep going in the tournament and that gave us the motivation.'
Duggan had a 10-point service run that included four aces in the opening set to break open a close game and let Mouth Alvernia run out to the opening win.
It also was fitting that the player that had the biggest impact on the match be the one to send the Mustangs into the semifinals as she blocked the final hit with the Crusaders player only able to catch the ball in a reactionary move.
Medfield 3, Hopkinton 0 - The Warriors set the tone in the opening moments and swept Tri-Valley League rival No. 6 Hopkinton 25-17, 25-13, 25-20 at Hudson High as they improved to 23-0 on the season, only conceding five sets along the way.
'It's been a great season so far, been a great run,' said outside hitter Morganne Gagne, who along with Jessica McLeod, forms the state's most lethal setter-hitter combination, 'but it would be really nice to win states.'
The serving of outside hitter Georgia Naumann and libero Ally Le-Bruno on the first two rotations served notice to a Hillers squad that they would need to play nearly perfect if it wanted to capture the school's first sectional title. Naumann ripped off five points and Le-Bruno followed with nine, including three aces in opening up a 16-2 advantage.
When Hopkinton managed to settle itself, even opening the third set with leads of 8-1 and 9-2, the Hillers simply didn't have the firepower necessary to dethrone the Warriors.
Quincy 3, Newton South 2 - The Presidents (20-0) rallied twice from a one-set deficit to capture the Division 1 Central East title, 17-25, 25-17, 21-25, 25-17, 15-13.
'It was a great match,' Quincy coach Jacqueline Niosi said. 'We just picked up our defense in the last two games and we also served a lot better at the end of the match.'
Leading the way for Quincy was the trio of Stella Edwards, Meghan McCarthy and Kylie Kozlowski, who combined for 33 kills. Kori Sorensen had 26 digs and played a pivotal role down the stretch with her serving.
Lincoln-Sudbury 3, Westford Academy 1 - The top-seeded Warriors (20-2) defeated their Dual County League rivals for the third time this season to capture the Division 1 Central West crown, though it didn't come easily.
The teams split 25-23 wins in the first two games. Lincoln-Sudbury took the third game, 25-21, then fell behind 8-2 in the fourth game before Meagan Simons and Amanda Nash took over. The duo combined for 18 service points and four aces to help the Warriors take charge.
