ATHOL — The defense and communication of the Athol girls volleyball team stood out in a 3-0 loss to Sabis on Monday.
The combination of Skyleigh D’Ambrosia, Lexi Forte and Katelyn Mahan had a combined 28 digs for the Red Raiders in the 25-15, 25-13, 25-13 loss.
Mahan spent much of the match on the gym floor, amassing digs and steadying the defense for the Red Raiders.
“You just have to keep your eye on the ball,” Mahan said. “Stay moving around constantly. I just take the initiative and be aggressive.”
The time spent on the floor diving for the ball led to her favoring her lower half after the match.
“I do that a lot,” Mahan said.
The issue for the Red Raiders (0-5) in the match was generating offense, which starts with passing after the initial dig takes place.
“Passing is the thing we are struggling with right now,” Athol coach Mark Savoie said. “When we can’t get good passes we can’t get good sets on the net. So we give them a lot of easy balls at the moment.”
Alexis Carrasquillo (three kills) and Shaelynn Doherty had a pair of service aces each for Athol.
“We serve pretty well when it is working,” Savoie said. “Sometimes it’s just off for whatever reason.”
One major difference between the teams was the amount of players Sabis had on the bench compared to the Red Raiders, who had three substitutes.
“There’s just not a lot to go to when people are off,” Savoie said.
Ava Cantrell chipped in with four kills for Athol. Passing will be a focal point in practices as the season progresses.
“A good pass makes everything,” Mahan said. “It makes a good set and a good hit. We gotta work on that.”
South Hadley 3, Mahar 1 — The Senators lost on the road to the Tigers.
Mahar almost forced a fifth set, but fell short 25-9, 25-20, 13-25 and 25-23.
Jordyn Berry had seven kills for Mahar (3-2, 2-0 Northern). Aria Flematti led the Senators with five assists, while Lauren Henne added seven digs.
Carissa Johnson was tops in aces, with seven.
Mahar 6, Mohawk 1 — Lilly Fellows had four goals in the Senators’ road win.
Gracie Marsh and Anna Wetherbee also scored for Mahar (3-2, 2-2 Bi County).
Bella Marigliano made three stops.
Pioneer Regional 1, Athol 0 — The Red Raiders stayed with the Panthers, but couldn’t get on the scoreboard in the home loss.
Ryley Pond made 13 saves for Athol (1-4, 1-1 Tri County).
Athol 8, Murdock 0 — Five players scored their first varsity goal in the Red Raiders’ road win.
Jenna St. Cyr, Hannah York, Emily England, Lilly King and Sophie Putnam all found the net for Athol (4-2, 2-2 Pioneer North).
Putnam’s goal came on a penalty kick.
Shelby Mailloux also scored, with Ally Raymond leading the team with a pair of goals.
Hailey Wrigley made two saves.
Mahar 2, Smith Academy 1 — The Senators stayed unbeaten behind a second-half goal by Henry Ndayisaba.
Miguel Gomez assisted on the goal. Andrew Herk scored in the first half for Mahar (5-0, 4-0 McGrath).
Ethan Williams stopped three shots.
Hopkins Academy 20, Mahar 4 — Isaiah Baker picked up the lone individual win for the Senators (0-6) in the loss at Ellinwood Country Club.
Baker beat Luke McPherson, 3-1, while shooting a 68. Tucker Ninteau had the best individual round, shooting a 47 for the Senators.
Athol 14, Pathfinder 6 — The junior varsity football team came out on top at home on Monday.
Tim Casavecchia threw two touchdown passes for the Red Raiders. The first was a 2-yarder to Josh Thompson before a 40-yarder to Isaac Bastine in the third quarter.
Bastine caught the ensuing 2-point conversion.
Damien Fields and Casavecchia had interceptions for Athol’s defense.
Mahar 2, Pope Francis 0 — The Senators’ junior varsity girls soccer team got a third consecutive shutout from Maddison Lloyd last Friday
Lloyd made seven saves for Mahar. Isabella Zani and Grace Rich scored for Mahar, with Maddie Blattenberger assisting on both goals.
Mahar 8, Gateway 0 — Emi Carfagna scored twice in a win for the Senators last Wednesday.
Mari Mannino, Natalie Apteker, Rich, Blattenberger, MacKinley Drew and Soibhan Davis also scored.
Lloyd made two saves for Mahar.
Athol 2, Narragansett 2 — The Red Raiders boys middle school soccer team got goals from Kyle Berthiaume and Ben Kearney, but settled for the tie last Friday.
Pioneer Regional 4, Athol 2 — Kearney scored twice, but the Red Raiders lost on Monday.
