2023 Boys Volleyball Showcase Recap

August 7, 2023

Boys Volleyball Showcase took place Saturday, July 8 - Sunday, July 9 at Game On in Fitchburg

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Saturday, July 8

Game #1 - Northeast (25:18, 25:13) VS Metro

In the opening match, Northeast showed that they were here to play, with impressive 5, and 6 point runs in the first set. Liam Quinn (Chelmsford, Chelmsford HS), Walter Palacio (Lowell, Lowell HS), Noah Chanthaboun (Andover, Andover HS), and Ayden Roum (Lowell, Lowell HS) were all great contributors, as none of these players started, however made a great impact for the Northeast squad to take home this win. Metro was unable to recover in the second game, as Northeast didn’t let up. They took the second game 25-13 and completed the opening game sweep.

Game #2 - Central VS West (25:15, 25:18)

West came out firing on all cylinders in this one, with a seven-point run to begin the game. David Dzhenzherukha (Agawam, Agawam HS), Ezekiel Nguessan (Agawam, Agawam HS), and Jake Gagnon (Granby, Granby Jr. Sr. HS) all had great performances, and the bench was up on their feet supporting the whole way. They took the first game 25-15, and really showed their depth in the second game, with players like Michael Swanigan and Zachary Kukharchuk (Westfield, Westfield HS) stepping on the floor for the first time this tournament, and still keeping the same rate of success. The talent and depth of this West squad makes them a tough beat, as they pick up two good wins in their first game.

Game #3 - Southeast (25:19) VS Coastal (25:18)

In this game, Coastal showed great passion, starting out with an immediate four-point run in the first match. They used this energy along with some great serves to help force their way to a 25-18 win, behind the great play of Jason Bryant (Brockton, Brockton HS) and Colin Stuessi (Fairhaven, Greater New Bedford Reg. Voc.-Tech. HS). The second game was a different story however, as Southeast game out more aggressive, and was able to better put their hitters in positions to score. Players like Nick Rosa (New Bedford, New Bedford HS), and Nikolas Brancaccio (Cotuit, Barnstable HS) were able to find their swings, and really put on a show. They took the second match 25-19, resulting in a split of these two games.

Game #4 - Southeast VS Northeast (25:21, 26:24)

This battle featured two very well coached teams, and squads that really wanted to give it their all. The game began close, with Northeast eventually stretching their lead to five points. Noah Allan (Windham, Windham HS), Michael Nguyen (Methuen, Central Catholic HS), and James Levesque (Methuen, Methuen HS) were able to help pick up the first game win for Northeast 25-21. Meanwhile, the second game turned out to be even closer, with players like Nikolas Brancaccio (Cotuit, Barnstable HS), Christopher Milfort (Fall River, B.M.C. Durfee HS) and Camron DeMello (Fall River, B.M.C. Durfee HS) putting in the work to make this one a nail-bitter, unfortunately falling short in the end, as Northeast picked up a huge sweep with the 26-24 win.

Game #5 - Central (25:18, 25:21) VS Metro

Central opened this game with a four-point run, and never looked back. Metro hung around, however Christian Colon (Worcester, Doherty Memorial HS) and Brendan O’Malley (Worcester, Doherty Memorial HS) provided steady production throughout the whole match and Central took it home, 25-18. The second match saw a slightly more contested game, thanks to great hustle and energy from Eric Su (Cambridge, Cambridge Rindge and Latin School), and Josh Burgo (New Bedford, New Bedford HS). Central still took this one 25-21 and picked up two good wins.

Game #6 - Southeast (25:17, 25:22) VS Central

Southeast came out strong in this contest with wonderful all around passing and effort from Hunter Parent (Marstons Mills, Barnstable HS), Davon Shields (New Bedford, New Bedford HS), and Travis Johnson (Taunton, Taunton HS). Central lost the first one 25:17, however, came back stronger in the second game, and seemed to have come back to life. Being as far down as 9, Central was able to cut the lead to 2, however, couldn’t get over the edge, and southeast took the second game as well, 25-22.

Game #7 - Coastal VS West (25:22, 25:14)

The first set of this match proved to be the better one, as Coastal fought the whole way to stay in this one. With neither team going on runs greater than 3 points, mistakes were limited in this game, as West used great play from Eli Dignazio (Longmeadow, Longmeadow HS), Juan Jones (Springfield, Springfield Central HS), and Ezekiel Nguessan (Agawam, Agawam HS) to take the first game home 25-22. Using that momentum, West carried on to triumph 25-14 in the second game, and once again showed how dominant their defense at the net can be, sweeping Coastal in this matchup.

Game #8 - Coastal VS Northeast (25:20, 25:22)

Northeast came out with the fire in this one, as their intensity, blocks, and bench energy helped power them through this one. A pesky Coastal squad refused to go away however, as Carter Barbosa (South Dartmouth, New Bedford HS) and Amir Slih Tavares (New Bedford, New Bedford HS) both put in valuable effort for this squad. Northeast took the first game 25-20, while the second game saw plenty more substitutions, time-outs, and over-all tighter play. Gyan Mistry (North Andover, North Andover HS) and Bobby Gilbert (North Andover, North Andover HS) were only a couple of the names that helped push this team over the edge in the second game and win it 25-22.

Game #9 - Metro VS West (25:13, 25:16)

In this game, Metro had the tall task of slowing down this West squad, that just seemed focused on winning every play. Continued great teamwork from Aidan Kingsley (Westfield, Westfield HS), Joseph Culhane (Feeding Hills, Agawam HS), and Jake Gagnon (Granby, Granby Sr. Jr. HS) helped propel West throughout the entire match. It seemed they were just picking which corners and lines they wanted the ball to hit, and unfortunately there was nothing Metro could do about it, as West took the sweep, with 25-13, and 25-16 wins.

Game #10 - Central VS Northeast (25:15, 25:16)

In this game, Northeast came in hot, looking to build off of multiple impressive wins. Using continued great play from Noah Allan (Windham, Windham HS), Michael Nguyen (Methuen, Central Catholic HS), and Theodore Addesa (Andover, Andover HS), Northeast was able to keep things rolling with a 25-15 first game win. The second set saw more of the same, as Northeast had scoring runs of 5 and 6 points. Central could not keep up with the high flyers on this Northeast squad, as they dropped the second game as well, 25-16.

Game #11 - Coastal (26:24, 25:21) VS Metro

Right out of the gate in the first match, Coastal was able to build a 7-point lead. Metro never went away however, as Kyle Graham (Sudbury, Lincoln-Sudbury Reg. HS) and Nyron Foster (New Bedford, New Bedford HS) wouldn’t throw in the towel, and helped Metro climb back to a 23-23 game. However, they were unable to complete the comeback as Coastal squeaked this one out 26-24. In the second game, the teams went back and forth for a while, with both squads struggling to find runs, however Coastal prevailed 25-21 behind solid play from Colin Stuessi (Fairhaven, Greater New Bedford Reg. Voc.-Tech. HS), Carter Wilson (Plymouth, Plymouth North HS), and Connor Lloyd (Swansea, Joseph Case HS).

Game #12 - Southeast VS West (25:19, 25:20)

In this match, West came out strong, with stifling defense at the net, and perfectly placed free balls. Southeast hung around with great plays from Nikolas Brancaccio (Cotuit, Barnstable HS), and Davon Centeio (New Bedford, New Bedford HS), however West’s all-around play helped them secure the first game 25:19. The second match began with a game of runs, as West eventually built a slight lead behind the efforts of Zachary Kukharchuk (Westfield, Westfield HS) and Miles Shepard (Wilbraham, Westfield HS), and secured the sweep with a 25:20 win.

Sunday, July 9
Game #13 - Central VS Coastal (25:18, 25:19)

Central versus Coastal started off with a bang, as Coastal made a furious seven point run to assist them on their way to a great 25-18 win. Great serving, and great defense was the feature in this game, as down the stretch, players like Amir Slih Tavares (New Bedford, New Bedford HS), Brooklyn Rodrigues (New Bedford, New Bedford HS), and Carter Barbosa (South Dartmouth, New Bedford HS) were featured in the 25-18 Coastal win. The second set seemed similar to the first, in that Coastal was doing a great job getting the ball to their setters, and having their hitters be able to pick which spots to aim for. Central brought a little more defensive intensity, however it wasn’t enough, as Coastal completed the sweep with a 25-19 win.

Game #14 - Northeast (25:23) VS West (25:23)

In this sneak-peak of the championship match-up two very evenly matched teams got off to a fast start, with lots of scoring early on. As the game wore on Noah Allan (Windham, Windham HS), and James Levesque (Methuen, Methuen HS) did their best to fend off this West squad, however they would not go away. Northeast took the first game by the slimmest of margins, 25-23. West flipped the script on them however in the second game with multiple great scoring runs, and rapid-fire substitutions to show off that deep line up. Juan Jones (Springfield, Springfield Central HS), Jake Gagnon (Granby, Granby Jr. Sr. HS), and Eli Dignazio (Longmeadow, Longmeadow HS) made the difference in this one, as West held on to grab the second set 25-23.

Game #15 - Southeast (25:17, 25:23) VS Metro

In the final game of pool play, Southeast was able to jump out to a six-point lead during the first set and rode this all the way to a 25:17 win. In the second game, Metro played them a lot closer, forcing Southeast into longer, more drawn-out volleys, and was able to capitalize on some of their mistakes. Players like Sebastiano D’Ambrosio (Lincoln, Lincoln-Sudbury Reg. HS) and Ian Lewis (Arlington, Arlington HS) made it tough on Southeast, forcing them to earn every point. Southeast stayed patient and used the wonderful play of Davon Centeio (New Bedford, New Bedford HS), Daniel Freitas (East Taunton, Taunton HS), and Christopher Milfort (Fall River, B.M.C. Durfee HS) to take home the sweep, with the second set score being 25-23.

Challenge Game #1 - Coastal (25:11, 25:19) VS Metro

In the first challenge game, Coastal came out hot, playing stifling defense at the net, while also playing great team ball, mixing the passes around, and attacking from different angles. With the help of Colin Stuessi (Fairhaven, Greater New Bedford Reg. Voc.-Tech. HS), Carter Wilson (Plymouth, Plymouth North HS), and Carter Barbosa (South Dartmouth, New Bedford HS), Coastal coasted to a 25-11 first set win, and the second set saw much of the same. The lack of substitutions for Metro could have been costly, as unforced errors seemed to be one of the only thing getting in the way of a second set win, as Coastal took that one as well, 25-19, moving on to the semi-finals.

Challenge Game #2 - Southeast (25:23, 25:20) VS Central

Southeast versus Central started off with a bang as both sides accumulated numerous aces right, making for a quick, fast-paced game. Towards the back half of the first set, players Nikolas Brancaccio (Cotuit, Barnstable HS), Davon Shields (New Bedford, New Bedford HS), and Camron DeMello (Fall River, B.M.C. Durfee HS) were all difference-makers in Southeast’s narrow 25-23 win. In the second set, Quinn Mahar-Killelea (Leominster, Leominster HS), Bryan Pedraza (Fitchburg, Leominster HS), and Cameron Kelly (Worcester, Doherty Mem. HS) all put in work for Central, however Southeast was on a mission, as they advanced to the semi-finals with a 25-20 win.

SEMI #1 - Northeast (28:26, 15:9) VS Coastal (25:22)

In the first set of this semi-finals match, it seemed that neither team was willing to give an inch. Great rallies, all time-outs being used, and plenty of action was featured in this first game, as Northeast snuck away with a 28-26 win. In the second game, Coastal came back, knowing they needed a win, with good performances from Connor Lloyd (Swansea, Joseph Case HS), and Carter Barbosa (South Dartmouth, New Bedford HS). They were able to better adjust to the powerful attack of Northeast, and better set up their hitters for point-scoring opportunities, eventually taking the second set win, 25-22. In the third, tiebreaker set, it was Cody Fitzpatrick (Lowell, Lowell HS), Michael Nguyen (Methuen, Central Catholic HS), and Gyan Mistry (North Andover, North Andover HS) who helped send Northeast into the Gold Medal game with wonderful, timely performances. Northeast took the last set 15-9, knocking off Coastal, and sending them to the Bronze Medal game.

SEMI #2 - West (25:18, 25:15) VS Southeast

In this game, West came out strong, with multiple points scored in bunches, and played the game for each other. Juan Jones (Springfield, Springfield Central HS), Nolan Rodgers (South Hadley, Westfield HS), Andrew Szpakowski (Wilbraham, Minnechaug Reg. HS), and Miles Shepard (Wilbraham, Westfield HS) all contributed to this 25-18 first set win, and game two started off looking to be more of the same. Using runs of 5, and 6, the West squad was able to confidently power their way through to the Gold Medal game.

BRONZE Medal Game - Southeast (26:24) VS Coastal (25:19, 15:9)

Teams that had split their last match met again in the bronze medal game. Coastal came out on a mission in the first set, seeming to be one step ahead of Southeast. They went on runs of 4 and 5 during the first set, as players like Amir Slih Tavares (New Bedford, New Bedford HS), Carter Barbosa (South Dartmouth, New Bedford HS), and Connor Lloyd (Swansea, Joseph Case HS) all pitched in for the 25-19 first set win. Southeast followed their common theme and played their best volleyball with their backs against the wall. Nikolas Brancaccio (Cotuit, Barnstable HS), Davon Shields (New Bedford, New Bedford HS), and Hunter Parent (Marstons Mills, Barnstable HS) all made a difference for Southeast in the second match as they tied it up with a 26-24 win. In the third and final set, Coastal used great service, and crucial mistakes on Southeast’s part to have a come-from-behind win 15-9 and take home the bronze medal.

GOLD Medal Game- West (25:20, 15:12) VS Northeast (25:19)

The two best teams of the weekend met in the championship, and as expected, it was tightly contested the whole way. Not many mistakes on either side, and plenty of substitutions highlighted the tactical battle. Michael Nguyen (Methuen, Central Catholic HS), Noah Allan (Windham, Windham HS) and Mason Holmes (Haverhill, Haverhill HS) were shining early on, but it was West who came storming back in the first set to take it 25-20. The second set saw another close game with neither team gaining a lead greater than four points. However, Northeast was able to break away in the end to a 25-23 win in the second set. In the final set of the tournament, Juan Jones (Springfield, Springfield Central HS) and Miles Shepard (Wilbraham, Westfield HS) led the West squad to an impressive win to capture gold for the West team in the 2023 Bay State Games Boys Volleyball Showcase.

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Bay State Games Awarded a B.A.A. Gives Back Grant

November 24, 2025

Fall edition of the B.A.A. Gives Back Grant Program awards $125,000 to local non-profit organizations

Bay State Games Announces 2025 Future Leaders Scholarship Recipients

November 18, 2025

The Bay State Games has selected six statewide scholarship recipients for the 2025 Future Leaders Scholarship Program. These student-athletes were selected from a large applicant pool after a process that included committee reviews of all applications and virtual interviews with selected applicants. These future leaders were selected based on their achievements and involvement in academics, community service, athletics, and leadership roles. The Bay State Games Future Leaders Scholarship program was established in 1989 and has since distributed nearly $400,000 in financial aid. Each of these high school seniors will receive a $1,000 scholarship for their first year of college. “Bay State Games is proud to continue the Future Leaders Scholarship program which since 1989 has provided over $400,000 in aid to support the continuing education of outstanding young leaders." said Kevin Cummings, Executive Director of the Bay State Games. “These well deserving student-athletes have excelled in the classroom, on the field and in the community, representing a variety of schools, sports and regions across Massachusetts” This year’s six scholarship recipients are Elyse Bissada, Brooke Blahut, Abigail Howie, Olivia Laaper, Sabina Mackechnie, Molly McIntyre. Elyse Bissada is a senior at Dover-Sherborn High School, where she is a four-year varsity field hockey and track & field athlete, as well as the team captain for both sports. In 2025, Elyse was a member of the Bay State Games Southeast field hockey team where she won a gold medal. Elyse is the founder of the Veterinary Medicine Club at her school and in her free time volunteers at local farms and Animal Rescue Leagues across the state. Elyse has committed to play field hockey and study biology at Hamilton College, where she plans to pursue veterinary medicine and ultimately establish an affordable low-cost clinic that serves her community. Brooke Blahut is a senior at North Quincy High School where she is a 4-year varsity member of the soccer team, and captain of the varsity ice hockey team. Brooke is also a well accomplished figure skater. She began skating at age 2 at Winterland Skating School and is now a U.S. Figure Skating Gold Medalist. Brooke has participated in Bay State Games annually since 2016, medaled 6 times, and is a 4-year Bay State Games High School Ambassador. Brooke is also the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Ambassador for NQHS. Brooke is Vice President of her class, a member of the National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society and academically ranks in the top 5% of her class with a 4.6 GPA. Brooke is a two-time team leader and participant in the FBI Teen Leadership Academy and plans to pursue her master’s in forensic science and criminology and become an FBI Special Agent. Abigail Howie is a senior at Wilmington High School, where she is on the varsity soccer team and is captain of the Winter and Spring Track teams. Abigail serves as President of Student Council and the Wildcat Service Council, where she founded the “Bridging Generations” community initiative. She is a member of the National Honor Society, DECA, and Best Buddies. Abigail coaches a Wilmington fourth-grade team and is a USSF-certified soccer referee. She has most recently created an Alzheimer's Awareness community service project for her senior year. She hopes to continue her athletic career in college while studying sports management and marketing. Olivia Laaper resides in Stow and is a senior at Fusion Academy in Burlington. Laaper has been a captain of multiple high school sports teams including Track & Field and Swimming. Olivia is captain of her archery team at Riverside Archers and has won multiple medals in archery at Bay State Games and state competitions. Beyond athletics, Olivia has gained hands-on experience in emergency medicine as a high school intern with Pro EMS and plans to take her EMT certification this fall. She gives back to her community by lifeguarding and coaching youth swimming at Goldfish Swim School, volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters and at local food banks. In college, Olivia plans to pursue a degree in nursing with a minor in emergency medicine and psychology. Sabina Mackechnie is a senior at East Longmeadow High School where she is a three sport athlete and captain in Soccer, Basketball and Lacrosse. She has earned all-league and second-team All-Western Mass honors in soccer and lacrosse. Sabina has been a By State Games Ambassador for two years and is a member of her school's Athletic Leadership Council and Pink Ribbon Club. Sabina participates in canned food drives and fundraisers for her school sports teams. Sabina will continue her lacrosse career at Springfield College while pursuing a degree in Education. Molly McIntyre is a senior at Norton High School where she is a three-sport captain in cross country, basketball, and outdoor track, earning multiple TVL All-Star honors, and MVP awards. Molly serves in key leadership roles on Student Council, DECA, Best Buddies, and five National Honor Societies. She volunteers at local youth sports programs, community events, and the MSG Gregory Trent Foundation. Molly works part-time at a donut shop and local ice cream store. She plans on attending Stonehill College where she will compete in track and study Finance and Marketing. For more information on the Future Leaders Scholarship Program, click here. For a list of past recipients and the colleges and universities they've attended, click here . About the Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation/Bay State Games The Massachusetts Amateur Sports Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was established in 1982 to host the first sanctioned state games of the Commonwealth. It operates with the mission of promoting personal development, education, physical fitness, teamwork, and sportsmanship to Massachusetts citizens of all ages and abilities. The Foundation is recognized for hosting high quality, Olympic-style events through the Bay State Summer and Winter Games, as well as educational programs, including the Future Leaders Scholarship Program, and the High School Ambassador Program.