Warriors Sweep Barnstable, Advance to Division 1 Semifinals

By Eliot Schickler

Final Four, here we come is the newest mantra for the Brookline High girls’ volleyball team.

Second-seeded Brookline advanced to the Division 1 semifinals with a 3-0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-17) home victory over seventh-seeded Barnstable High at Schluntz Gym on Saturday, November 9, raising its record to 18-3 in winning their 15th straight match.

“It’s the best feeling ever,” Warriors Coach Caitlin Sobolewski said. “The only thing better is if we make it to the finals.”

Brookline will play on Tuesday, November 12 in the Division 1 semifinal against sixth-seeded Acton-Boxborough High (17-4) at Newton South High at 5;15 p.m.

If the Warriors win, they will play in the Division 1 finals against the winner of top-seeded Newton North High (22-1) and fifth-seeded Needham High (17-5) match, which takes place following Brookline’s match against Acton-Boxborough. The Division 1 championship match takes place
either on Friday, November 15, or Saturday, November 16 at a site to be determined.

Beating Barnstable in the Division 1 quarterfinals is no small feat because of this Hyannis-based school’s rich history. The Red Hawks have won 18 Division 1 titles – including 12 between 2003 and 2016, and have 21 appearances in the Division 1 championship game, but this year wasn’t
their year as they finished the season at 18-5. Tom Turco is in his 37th year as Barnstable’s head coach and has amassed a 763-81 record. His squad lost 3-2 to Newton North in the 2023 Division 1
championship game.

“I think it’s great,” Warriors senior tri-captain Serina Ohyama said. “Brookline girls volleyball hasn’t gotten this far in quite a long time, and it feels amazing.”

Sobolewski said, “We all knew this team is historically well-coached and has a great offense. We only worried about what we could control, and we were able to put Barnstable out of rotation.”

One thing Sobolewski is exceptionally pleased about in this match was that Brookline successfully controlled the one aspect of the game it could control – and that’s serving. Out of 73 serves, the Warriors had only five service errors for an eye-popping 93.2 percent success rate. This gave Brookline a chance to score on 68 out of 73 serves.

The match began with a good omen for the Warriors on the first play of the match when
sophomore lefty Nora Mullen set up classmate Molly Tipton for a kill on Red Hawks senior captain Alyssa McDowell’s serve to force a side-out.

“I was really nervous [going into the match], but at the end of the day, it was just another match,” Tipton said. “Getting the kill to start the match gave us momentum.”

Barnstable didn’t give up easily. McDowell (eight kills, one block, three service points, one ace, nine receptions, four digs), who was tied for her team lead in kills, and a Cape and Island League Honorable Mention, forced a side-out with a kill on junior Bella Bacon’s serve.

That was only a temporary hiccup for Brookline, which played perfect defense when Red Hawks senior captain southpaw Tegan Geraghty served. Warrior junior libero Maya Nock (22 receptions, 11 digs) scooped it up to prevent a kill, and on a second return her way, she got it to Mullen, who set up Ferdinand for the kill to force a side-out.

This set the stage for Nock (eight service points, three aces, four assists) to serve, and she broke the streak of three straight side-outs to start the match with two service points, including an ace. Overall, she was productive behind the service line with only one service error on 14 serves for a 92.9 percent success rate.

The Warriors never trailed in the first set, and they were never threatened once Ferdinand (17 service points, six aces) completed her seven-point service streak to turn a 6-4 edge into a 13-4 profound advantage. She was reliable and consistent behind the service line with only one service error in 23 attempts for a staggering 95.7 percent success rate. The final point of her surge was an ace.

“I serve a lot in practice, and I work on my toss, which helps me during the game,” Ferdinand said.

It all started on defense for Brookline, who prevented many kills from Barnstable’s outstanding hitters. In addition to Nock, Bacon (10 digs, 11 receptions) and Ferdinand (11 digs, eight receptions) played well defensively all match and prevented many potential kills from landing. Also playing well defensively for the Warriors were Mullen (six digs), and junior back-row player Josie Ross (five digs).

“I maintained my composure, and having a good reaction, helped,” Bacon said.

Ferdinand said, “I stayed on my toes, and I moved towards the ball.”

The defense wasn’t the Warriors’ only strength. Their offense was equally proficient with
a diverse attack in which they didn’t rely upon only one hitter. The attack started with the southpaw setter Mullen (29 assists), who has developed into a strong quarterback who deftly directs the offense, and uses every single option that’s available to her.

“I try to spread out [who gets] the ball to keep the other team guessing,” Mullen said. “A lot depends on the pass. The back row was great, which helped.”

Bacon (13 kills) and Ferdinand (10 kills, two blocks) were Mullen’s top two options she set up against the Red Hawks. Following a service ace by the southpaw Gereghty, a First Team Cape and Island League All-Star, Brookline made sure the rally stopped at one point, courtesy of Ferdinand’s
kill from Mullen to force a side-out.

“Nora is a good setter, and her sets were on target today,” Ferdinand said. “We work on running faster balls. I try to take my time before I hit it.”

Mullen also deftly set up 6’2 junior middle hitter Stasya Budnik (six kills, four blocks) and Tipton (six kills, one dig). Both hitters deftly found gaps on the court to hit it to. Following a service ace by the southpaw Gereghty (four service points, two aces), a First Team Cape and Island League All-Star, Budnik combined with Mullen for a block to force a side-out.

Ferdinand then served the next three points, the middle one being a well-placed ace. The first point came during this spurt when Mullen set up Bacon’s kill – the latter who hit her kills in different ways. She clinched this point with a basketball pass, which faked out the Red Hawks and landed perfectly on their side of the net.

“I received really good sets from Nora, which helped,” Bacon said. “I also had a good placement on my hits, and I swung away.”

Junior libero Jazlyn Coyer (35 receptions, three service points, two aces, eight digs, one assist) a Cape and Island League was Barnstable’s last hope serving in the opening set. Coyer began with an ace and added another point, but her streak stopped at two when Mullen set up Ohyama’s kill to
clinch the opener.

Although Ohyama (one kill, one dig) didn’t have eye-popping statistics, her play was
instrumental in helping Brookline’s hitting game thrive.

“Having great serve-receive and great sets from Nora, helped,” Ohyama said.

The second set was the most in doubt of the three with nine ties and three lead changes. The last deadlock was 15-15 when Ferdinand’s return forced a Red Hawk hitting error to force a side-out.

Tipton (eight service points, two aces) served four straight points to give the Warriors a 19-15 lead – an advantage it never relinquished. Overall, the 5’11 sophomore was perfect in putting the ball in play with zero errors on 10 serves. Moreover, she’s battling shin splints in her left foot but hung tough in the face of adversity.

“I focused on getting my serves over,” Tipton said. “I’m coming back from an injury, and it’s becoming easier.”

Budnik (two service points, one ace) clinched the set with the final two service points. Bacon’s slam on the penultimate shot of the game was impossible for Barnstable to handle.

The Warriors opened the third set with a 4-0 lead, which set the tone for the duration of the match. Bacon (six service points, three aces) figured in all four markers, first with a slam that led to a Red Hawks violation, followed up with three straight services aces, the first two which
hit off the net and landed in the right spot for the point. Overall, she had only one error in 11 serves for a 90.9 percent success rate.

Barnstable cut its deficit to one point on three occasions, the last time at 8-7, with Cape and Islands League MVP Molly Gleason leading the charge. The senior captain Gleason (eight kills, seven digs) had a chance to tie it, but a Red Hawk error cost her.

Ferdinand was up next and served four points to give the Warriors a six-point cushion, 13-7. Her first two points were aces.

Brookline’s lead didn’t dip below three points the rest of the way. Bacon added two service points, which both ended with Ferdinand delivering kills to maintain a comfortable buffer for the Warriors, who led 18-12 after the second kill, which came off a return at the net. Her first kill was set up by Nock (four assists).

“Maya is a great setter,” Ferdinand said.

Speaking about Nock, she added two service points to increase Brookline’s lead to seven, 21-14. Mullen set up Tipton’s kill for the first point, followed by a hitting error forced by Ferdinand.

“Definitely the sets help,” Tipton said. “I’m working hard on it in practice, it has paid off.”

Having a poised quarterback setting her up has helped Tipton as well as the other Warrior hitters. The lefty Mullen could be the best setter in Brookline’s history when she graduates.

“Before every play, we communicate and cheer each other on,” Mullen said. “We all know where we are, and we’re there for each other.”

The Warriors could taste victory after Mullen set up Bacon’s kill on Gleason’s serve, which made it 24-16 and forced a side-out. McDowell’s kill on Ferdinand's serve temporarily postponed the clincher, which came on the next play – courtesy of a Red Hawks violation.

“We maintained our energy throughout the match,” Ohyama said. “Working hard in practice helps with that.”

Beating a state powerhouse in the Division 1 quarterfinals is huge, but to do it with a clean sweep is enormous.

“Obviously, we prepare for every situation, whether it’s to lose a set or go five sets,” Sobolewski said. “We were focused, and when we’re focused, we’re a hard team to beat.”

Brookline hopes to remain focused for two more matches. If the Warriors win them both, they will be Division 1 Champions for the first time since 1979.

“It’s amazing,” senior tri-captain Laurel Zahka said. “We’re so proud of our team, and we’re excited. We’re ready for our next tournament game.”

Senior tri-captain Bella Wong said, “It feels very good, and I’m super proud of the team. We got a lot better all year because we’re able to stay mentally focused.”