WEARE – The girls on the John Stark volleyball team know all about putting an end to championship droughts.
Many of the same players on the roster recently helped the Generals bring home their first state title on the softball diamond in 2018, and then for good measure, went out and won the whole thing again this past spring to repeat. That same core is now hoping that winning touch carries over to the gym where Stark is aiming to be the last team standing for the first time in program history.
“It does (help) because with the softball girls, they know how to win, right? They won two state titles. When you have girls that know how to win, that breeds confidence. That brings in winning,” Stark coach Jeff McClellan said after the Generals won in straight sets for the seventh time this season with Saturday’s 3-0 sweep over Somersworth.
“The key for me is not to push them too hard,” McClellan said. “We’re trying to build our momentum as we get deeper into the season. I’m just grateful to have kids who want to come in and work hard.”
In total, there are five holdovers from the softball team on the roster looking to bring some more hardware back to Weare, including sisters Izabella and Sydney Nelson, captain Lillian Stogner, setter Brooke Patnode and defensive specialist Lauren Desrosiers.
Having that built-in chemistry is a big reason why the Generals are 10-3 and have played themselves right into the championship conversation in Division II.
“It’s definitely been our team communication,” said Stogner when asked about what’s worked so well this fall. “We started off really close and our practices are always good and upbeat, that’s definitely been a huge key into how we play.”
The tight-knit group has been rolling since the first serve of the season, and the Generals put all their skills on display Saturday in front of a Homecoming crowd against an overmatched Hilltoppers squad.
Stark controlled the match from start to finish. The Generals jumped all over Somersworth in the first set for a 25-15 victory, watched their early second-set lead balloon from six points all the up to 11 before winning, 25-10, and then mixed in some reserves to close the door on the Hilltoppers, 25-13, in the final set.
“We just need to keep that mindset that even though they are not that high of a team, we still have to play our own game and take care of business,” junior captain Riley Lord said.
And that’s exactly what the Generals did.
The offense hummed behind setters Patnode and Brianna Bodner – 11 assists apiece – as the pair consistently created opportunities for the big hitters on the outside. And those hitters didn’t miss. Along with two aces and a block, Stogner delivered a team-high seven kills, while Lord added six kills with three aces.
“It’s just good team chemistry. They’re not worried about making mistakes anymore. They’re just going out and playing,” McClellan said. “I don’t think there’s a whole lot that I do. I just make sure to stay calm. If I stay calm then they play well.”
While Somersworth (2-10), a team still trying to find its identity, didn’t offer the type of challenge Stark is sure to face come tournament time, the Generals already believe they are battle-tested.
Stark has gone 2-2 against the best of the best in the division, a group that includes undefeated and defending champion Gilford, as well as Plymouth, Milford and Oyster River.
Those four teams entered Saturday with a combined record of 44-6. The Generals beat both Oyster River and Plymouth, lost to Milford in a sweep and became just the second team all season to take Gilford the distance before falling in five sets.
“We can stack up with everybody,” McClellan said. “We should have had Gilford in five. We had them in the first set, and the fifth set was a battle the whole way. Against Milford, we didn’t play well, but we stack right up with them. Plymouth, we beat, and now they’re rolling. So we just want to be playing our best volleyball at the end of the season.”
(Jay McAree can be reached at 369-3371, jmcaree@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @JayMcAree.)
Girls’ Soccer
Kearsarge 1, John Stark 0
Key players: Kearsarge – Jordan Busch (G), Caroline Camp (A), Mary Meagher (shutout); John Stark – Emaly Roy (goalkeeper)
Highlights: Busch and Camp combined with a give-and-go that opened Busch up for a beautiful shot from the corner of the 18-yard box that sailed through the upper far corner of the net.
Coaches’ quotes: “The team worked really hard today. We knew that John Stark would be a tough opponent and they did not disappoint. I am proud of our team for fighting hard to the end to get the team win.” – Kearsarge’s Emily Wagaman
“We have to be able to take our training sessions and implement them in the game. We have the skill and knowledge, and now we just have to follow through.” – John Stark’s Chris Pike
Records: Kearsarge 6-5-1; John Stark 6-5-1
Pittsfield 2, Concord Christian 0
Key players: Pittsfield – Kianna Vincelette (G, A), Gwen Cloug (G), Jolene Wood (A), Bryana Morris (defense), Nel Bouguzewski (defense), Paige Provencal, Tori Lee, Haylee Gilleney, Rebecca Smith (8 saves)
Highlights: After a scoreless first half, Clough scored her first varsity goal and Vincelette added a goal 10 minutes later. The Panthers defense was locked in all day giving the Kingsmen limited chances.
Coach’s quote: “It was senior day and our defense played tremendous today and really limited CCA to just long shots. The second half we really woke up and applied pressure and we were able to put a couple on the board with some hard work and hustle.” – Pittsfield’s Jayme Kennedy
Records: Pittsfield 3-10; Concord Christian 6-4
Coe-Brown 2, Kearsarge 1, OT
Key players: Coe-Brown – Hogan Cain (10 saves); Kearsarge – Seth Rutledge-Davis (12 saves), Parker Root (G), Peter Russell (forward), Tyler Skidmore (forward), Aidan McCullough (midfield), Nathan St. Pierre (midfield), Patrick Geary
Highlights: The Bears connected on a header off a corner kick in overtime on Friday night. Coe-Brown scored in the 20th minute before Root evened the score in the second half to force extra time. The Bears have gone to overtime five times in the last six games.
Coaches’ quotes: “We were generating chances and put away a header off a corner kick for the win. Our defense did a nice job limiting their chances during the last stretches.” – Coe-Brown’s Christian Gompert
“The team fought hard tonight but got an unlucky break in overtime. Thanks to all the seniors for all the hard work they have put in this season.” – Kearsarge’s Matt Burch
Records: Coe-Brown 7-5-1; Kearsarge 6-5-2
Pelham 2, John Stark 0
Key players: John Stark – Sydnee Pelletier (16 saves), Gracie Bolduc (midfield), Aubrey Fischer (midfield), Olivia Desainde (defense)
Highlights: The Pythons jumped out early, scoring on two corners for a 2-0 halftime lead. The Generals controlled most of the second half but couldn’t find the back of the cage.
Coach’s quote: “We played our hearts out today against one of the best teams and a title contender in our division. We are very close to making that next step.” – John Stark’s Dennis Pelletier
Records: Pelham 9-3; John Stark 6-6
Coe-Brown 1st, Concord 4th
Key players: Coe-Brown – Aidan Cox (4th, 16:16), Luke Tkaczyk (5th, 16:25), Wyatt Mackey (12th, 16:39), Dawson Dubois (13th, 16:39), Carter Sylvester (19th, 16:47), Patrick Hill (22nd, 17:16), Logan Mihelich (24th, 17:16); Concord – Ryan Devine (16th, 16:40), David Cook (20th, 17:00), Eben Bragg (21st, 17:13), Ryan Ciesluk (27th, 17:24), Brayden Kearns (33rd, 17:36), Sam Hilts (42nd, 17:55), Martin O’Sullivan (47th, 18:06)
Highlights: The Bears won the Wickham Park Invitational in Manchester, Conn., the site of this year’s New England Championship, topping Connecticut and Rhode Island’s best to remain undefeated. Coe-Brown’s 45 points was enough to best Tolland, Conn. (54), Cumberland, R.I. (93) and Concord (106) in a field of nine of New England’s best teams.
Hopkinton 6th, John Stark 11th
Key players: Hopkinton – Shepyrd Murdough (12th, 17:01), Theodore Mollano (19th, 17:29), Michael Eggers-Emerson (26th, 17:41), Nick Simpkins (37th, 18:07), Parker Wuellenweber (40th, 18:15); John Stark – Jack Hagan (23rd, 17:33), Reece Montague (49th, 18:53), Jack Barnes (59th, 19:34), Marcus McFall (67th, 20:25), Devin Patterson (72nd, 21:12)
Highlights: The Hawks had some breakout performances in a sixth-place finish at the Pelham Invitational run at Nashua High School South. Hopkinton’s 134 points were just shy of D-III title contender Campbell’s 130. Windham’s Rohan Rai won the 5K in 15:47 to lead Windham (59 points) to the team title out of 12 teams from all three NHIAA divisions. Souhegan (90), Sanborn (102) and Nashua South (107) rounded out the top four. John Stark scored 270 points to finish 11th, but topped D-I Spaulding (321).
Coach’s quote: “More PRs for the boys today with three boys in the 17s and Shepyrd just short of breaking 17.” – Hopkinton’s Rob Rothe
Bishop Brady 3rd at
Lakes Region Invitational
Key players: Bishop Brady – Oscar Miller (10th), Colby Despres (11th), Max Brown (15th), Conor Donovan (20th), Abby Shagena (3rd, 20:22 in girls’ race)
Highlights: The Giants finished third out of nine teams at Friday’s Lakes Region Invitational hosted by Gilford. Inter-Lakes won the team title with 71 points, while Brady wasn’t far behind with 81 points. Gilford’s Patrick Gandini was the individual winner. The Giants did not have enough runners to score as a team on the girls’ side, but had a great run from Shagena.
Concord 2nd, Coe-Brown 4th
Key players: Concord – Sophie Hopkins (11th, 20:37), Morgane Orcutt (12th, 20:44), Molly Nyhan (13th, 20:48), Katherine Kennedy (23rd, 21:22), Katie Watt (25th, 21:37), Alexis Christie (26th, 21:39), Abby Goulas (29th, 21:42); Coe-Brown – Abby O’Connor (5th, 20:03), Mallory Taylor (14th, 20:57), Sheldyn Fisher (15th, 21:04), Samantha Lemay (27th, 21:40), Tessa Millette (32nd, 21:58), Amelia Edmonds (40th, 22:39)
Highlights: The Tide finished second at the Wickham Park Invite, just six points behind Glastonbury, Conn., 68-74. Immaculate, Conn. (78) and Coe-Brown (84) rounded out the top four of seven of New England’s best programs that competed in the championship race.
Hopkinton 2nd, John Stark 7th
Key players: Hopkinton – Emma Rothe (7th, 19:36), Cailey Stockwell (9th, 19:55), Sydney Stockwell (11th, 19:59), Hannah Bennett (12th, 20:05), Cate Westbrook (18th, 20:27), Clark Locke (24th, 20:42), Lily Sabol (30th, 21:01); John Stark– Brianna Langdon (15th, 20:22), Katie Palmateer (31st, 21:02), Madison McDonald (34th, 21:23), Grace Caplan (38th, 21:54), Libby Barnes (61st, 24:13)
Highlights: The Hawks placed four runners in the top 12 to finish second out of 10 teams at the Pelham Invitational run at Nashua South, topping teams from all three divisions of NHIAA competition. Souhegan’s Chloe Trudel won the 5K in 17:52, leading a 1-2-3-5 finish for the Sabres. Souhegan’s 19 points easily topped Hopkinton’s 57 points, while the Hawks are undefeated against D-III opponents this season. Salem (104), Campbell (124) and Windham (157) rounded out the top five. John Stark (179) finished seventh.
Coach’s quote: “It was a day of PRs on a fast course under great conditions and a chance to get in a practice race on the Meet of Champions course. Even being down one of their regular scorers, the girls had another strong day pulling from their deep roster and ran a smart race pushing each other the whole way. They ended the day with a second-place finish overall and three girls under 20 minutes.” – Hopkinton’s Rob Rothe