LYNNFIELD — Lynnfield volleyball coach Brent Ashley has spent nearly a year trying to figure out how, and why, the 2023 season came to a sudden, disappointing and unexpected end.
The Pioneers had their ups and down during the regular season, finishing 10-9, but they looked to be peaking just in time for the Division 3 state tournament with three victories in their last four matches.
The No. 17 seed, Lynnfield had a first-round bye, but was shocked in the round of 32 by No. 16 Lynn Classical, 3-2, a team the Pioneers had shut out, 3-0, a couple of weeks before in less than 30 minutes.
That match marked the first time in 15 years that the Pioneers failed to win a match in a tournament. Ashley said he has several takeaways from the experience, starting with a lighter schedule.
“We’ve definitely made some changes from last year,” Ashley said. “Since I’ve been here, we’ve always played 20 matches. I talked to the former Ipswich coach and she said she’s always played 18 because there is just so much going for these girls. To try to play 20 games, to try to play three scrimmages, to try to win six games in the tournament is a lot; it’s just too much. Last year, we ran out of gas. It was that simple. We had injuries. We had kids sick with COVID and the flu and, unfortunately, it just amounted to a perfect storm.”
This year’s tryout turnout included 50 players. Ashley said he has never come close “to touching 50 in his tenure.”
Six seniors return to the team with significant varsity experience last year as juniors. Captains have not yet been announced, but Ashley expects they will be named early next week.
Erika Pasquale and Chase Carangelo lead the senior charge.
“Having those two back is fantastic,” Ashley said. “Erika is coming off a year in which she missed 11 games with a broken ankle and she is going to play a bigger role. She’ll be a six-rotation outside hitter. She’s a quiet leader and I really want her to get into it more and get a little louder.”
Ashley said Carangelo will, likely, move from outside hitter to the middle.
“She’s going to have to learn a whole new position, but I’ve had players in the past who have been very successful making that transition,” Ashley said. “I’m confident Chase can do the same.”
Senior Erin Higdon is also moving to the outside.
“She is a fantastic passer who had 140 aces for us last year and for her to go into that outside rotation, her leadership is going to have to be huge,” Ashley said. “She is going to be able to put the ball where everyone wants it to be.”
Seniors Ava Willoughby and Kim Staffieri also return. Ashley expects both to play key roles defensively.
“They played more of a bench role last year, but will have important roles as defensive specialists this year,” he said.
Senior Kacie Lilly will be challenging Lexi Vaquerano, who started last year as a sophomore, for a spot in the middle.
Junior Olivia Kelter also returns. She started last year at libero and according to Ashley, “will most likely start at libero this year.”
Ashley said a couple of sophomores are also in the mix for playing time. Audrey Manning will see time as a right-side setter and Thayer Sutherland will fill the void left by Janhavi Joglekar, who led the team in assists last year and is now playing at MIT.
Ashley expects the toughest teams in the Cape Ann League will be Newburyport and Ipswich, the Division 4 state champion from last fall.
“This year, we are going to be competitive with both those teams,” he said.
As is the case every year, Lynnfield has a competitive non-league schedule with matches against Reading, Masconomet, and Stoneham.
The Pioneers kick off the season at Stoneham Monday, Sept. 2 at 5:15 p.m. Their first CAL match is at Ipswich on Friday, Sept. 5 at 5:30 p.m. Lynnfield’s first four games are on the road before its home-opener against Newburyport on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 5:15 p.m.
