Apponequet volleyball bounced from playoffs by reigning champs ORR

Nov 4, 2022

ROCHESTER — The Apponequet Regional High School Lakers volleyball team ended its season in a hard-fought playoff loss to the defending state champions.

The Old Rochester Regional High School Bulldogs hosted Apponequet in the MIAA 2022 Girls Volleyball Division 3 State Tournament round of 32. The Bulldogs won the match in three straight sets, but the Lakers improved throughout the match based on the scores of each set and their on-court play. 

The Bulldogs took the first set 25-9, but the Lakers improved their score, losing 25-13 in the second set and 25-18 in the third.

“I think we were a little nervous going in,” said Apponequet Volleyball Head Coach Meg Giammalvo. “By the third set, it was the Lakers that I know that I’ve coached all year.”

The third-set surge happened due to improved teamwork compared to the first two sets, some important points from serves by Lacie Nolin, and strong defense at the net by Caitin Gleavy and Rebecca DiClemente.

The Lakers found a rhythm by the third set that saw their passing and setting improve, but it was “a little too late,” Giammalvo said.

The 28th-seeded Lakers swept 37th-seeded East Boston High School, winning all three sets, to advance from the preliminary round. As the fifth-seeded team in the bracket, ORR bypassed the preliminary round.

ORR won the Division 3 State Tournament last year, beating Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School in the final. The Bulldogs won the South Coast Conference in 2022 with a 12-1 in-conference record and a 14-6 overall record.

Giammalvo said she is already looking forward to next season. She said the team will miss its five graduating seniors, and while the juniors have “big shoes to fill”, Giammalvo thinks they are ready to step up into greater leadership roles.

“I love coaching this team,” Giammalvo said. “We had a lot of laughs this year. From August to now, the amount of growth this team has shown, I’m just so proud of each and every one of them.”