2023 Girls Volleyball Showcase Recap

July 28, 2023

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

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Saturday, July 8

Game #1 - Central (25:13, 25:12) vs West

The Central girls team opened up the Girls side of the showcase with strong play from Katy O’Connell (Northborough, Algonquin Reg. HS) and Lily Davidson (Rutland, Wachusett Reg. HS), leading them to a 25-13 first game win. The second game saw more of the same, as the Nault twins Victoria, and Sabrina (Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury HS) also helped power Central to a dominant game one performance, winning the second set 25-12.

Game #2 - Southeast (25:23) VS Coastal (25:15)

Southeast and Coastal started off strong, with good, competitive play throughout the entire first match, as Southeast used a good effort from Grace MacGilvray (Weymouth) to build a 5-point lead late in the set. Coastal challenged them however, using great plays from Addison Shelton (Attleboro, Attleboro HS) and Molly Simpkins (Plymouth, Plymouth South HS) to get southeast within one point, but fell short 25-23. In the second game, they redeemed themselves with standout performances from Haley Jenkins (Dartmouth, Dartmouth HS) and Addyson Smock (North Easton, Oliver Ames HS), forging runs of 4, and 8 points, coasting their way to a 25-15 win.

Game #3 - Northeast (25:13, 25:11) VS Metro

Despite Metro making strong plays early on in the first set, especially from Tatiana Sanabria (Chelsea, Chelsea HS) and Erin Higdon (Lynnfield, Lynnfield HS) helping them jump out to an early lead, Northeast found their game not long into this match, and was able to storm their way to a 25-11 win. The second set saw more of the same, with Akira Sopheap (Dracut, Bishop Guertin HS) and Meghan Downs (North Billerica, Billerica Memorial HS) getting involved. The team played fantastically together and went on to win the second set 25-11.

Game #4 - Central (25:16, 25:15) VS Metro

Central came out firing on all cylinders in this game with a lot of strong hitting and great team play from Teeghan Patch (South Grafton, Westborough HS), Katy O’Connell (Northborough, Algonquin Reg HS.) and Katelyn Julian (Mendon, Nipmunc Reg. HS). The second game was closer contested towards the beginning, with Erin Higdon (Lynnfield, Lynnfield HS) putting in a good fight, however the continued Central attack with Alexyss Chartier (Blackstone, Blackstone-Millville Reg. HS) and Ava Lemire (Webster, Bartlett HS) was too much, as Central marched their way to a 25-15 second game win.

Game #5 - Northeast (25:10) VS Southeast (26:24)

In the first set, Northeast was able to use a dazzling 12-point run to be on their way to a dominant first game, with the efforts of Gabriella Burdier (Bradford, Haverhill HS), Kathryn Driend (Sandown, Methuen HS), and Emmerson Cerasuolo (Bradford, Haverhill HS), taking the first set 25-10. In the second match, Southeast completely flipped the script on Northeast, forcing a locked, competitive game throughout. Despite Southeast’s steady lead, Northeast threatened with multiple runs. Caroline Gray (Whitman, Whitman-Hanson Reg. HS), and Keora Deeney (Norwell, Norwell HS) helped Southeast stand their ground, and take the second set, 26-24, forcing a split in the match.

Game #6 - Coastal (25:16, 25:21) VS West

This match featured an impressive start for the West squad, as they held the lead numerous times thanks to Sasha Fyfe (Dalton, Waconah Reg. HS) and Gabrielle Adams (Greenfield, Frontier Reg. HS). Unfortunately, they were unable to hold the lead, as Coastal stormed back to grab a 25:16 win in the first set, and rolled through the second game as well. Although closer in the end, the Coastal team found success thanks to consistent play from Haley Jenkins (Dartmouth, Dartmouth HS) and Hannah Storm (Swansea, Joseph Case HS).

Game #7 - Southeast VS Central (25:22, 25:14)

Game #7 started off with competitive play, and neither team being able to grab a big lead. This is when Central used quick substitutions, a deep lineup, and a 5-point run to end the game and win 25-22. In the second game, Central used an 8-point run and very little substitutions to win 25-19 behind balanced attacks from Isabel Heithoff-Veldpape (Bolton, Nashoba Valley Technical HS), Alexyss Chartier (Blackstone, Blackstone-Millville Reg. HS) and Ava Lemire (Webster, Bartlett HS).

Game #8 - Northeast (25:19, 25:16) VS Coastal

Northeast picked up two huge wins over coastal in a match that saw great performances, and a well-balanced attack between Julie Hall (Lowell, Central Catholic HS), Sydney Chalupa (Methuen, Methuen HS), and Adrie Waldinger (Andover, Andover HS), which helped them on multiple runs of 5 points in their first game, and 7 and 4 points in the second set, winning 25-19, and 25-16.

Game #9 - Coastal (25:10, 25:15) VS Metro

This match saw Coastal jump out to a hot start, with runs of 5, 4, and 5 again. They never gave Metro the chance to gain their footing, and used Molly Fredo (Centerville, Barnstable HS), Jaden Sabina (Taunton, Taunton HS), and Logan Hurwitz (Barnstable, Barnstable HS) to power their way to a 25-10 first set win. In the second set, Chloe McKinnon (Dartmouth, Dartmouth HS), and Sadie Wellbeloved (Cotuit, Barnstable HS) also got in the mix playing great team volleyball to secure the sweep, and a 25-15 second set win.

Game #10 - West VS Southeast (25:15, 25:21)

During this match, Southeast used a 6-point run, along with multiple diving plays to help propel them to a quick 25-15 first-game win. In the second game, West used great efforts from Chloe Schott (Longmeadow, Longmeadow HS) and Gabriella Manes (Feeding Hills, Agawam HS), however it wasn’t enough as Zoe Smallman (Weston, Weston HS) and Caroline Gray (Whitman, Whitman-Hanson Reg. HS) continued their good performances on the day, winning the second game 25-21.

Game #11 - Metro VS West (25:15, 26:24)

In this match, the West squad was able to use efforts from Allie Pierce (West Whately, Frontier Reg. HS), Ariana Miller (Greenfield, Frontier Reg. HS), and Angela Humble (Longmeadow, Longmeadow HS) to topple Metro 25-15. Metro came back into the second set with a little more flare however, as they used steady, consistent scoring from Bianca Greenan (Groton, Groton-Dunstable Reg. HS), and Valerie Ramirez (Chelsea, Chelsea HS) to get within one, however it wasn’t enough, as West took the second set as well, 26-24.

Game #12 - Central (25:22) VS Northeast (25:19)

Game #12 saw a Central team fight for, and establish an early lead versus northeast, chipping away point after point. Solid effort was put in from Isabel Heithoff-Veldpape (Bolton, Nashoba Valley Technical HS) and Jordan Child (Clinton, Assabet Valley Reg. Tech. HS) to take the first game 25-22, however Northeast played with passion in the second set, flipping the script and establishing a lead in the beginning, and never letting go. Emma Quin (Billerica, Billerica HS), and Emmerson Cerasuolo (Bradford, Haverhill HS) did their fair share in the second game, and Northeast never lost the lead on their way to a 25-19, second set win.

Game #13 - Southeast (25:16, 25:10) VS Metro

Southeast opened up this one strong with runs of 6, and 5 points powered by Soley Rodriguez-Martinez (Canton, Canton HS), and Kiara Shields (Brockton, Brockton HS), and took the first match 25-16. Despite great efforts from Metro libero Eleonore Alley (Dedham, Needham HS), the Southeast offensive attack was too much, and Southeast ran all the way to a 25-10 second game win.

Sunday, July 9
Game #14 - Northeast (25:13, 26:24) VS West

In the beginning of this match, the Northeast team had good input from Julie Hall (Lowell, Central Catholic HS), and Gabriella Burdier (Bradford, Haverhill HS), leading them to an impressive 25-13 win. West fired back with a competitive second match with great efforts from Meghan O’Bryan (Dalton, Wahconah Reg. HS) and Ariana Miller (Greenfield, Frontier Reg. HS). With rapid fire substitutions and multiple four-point runs, the West squad had it at a one-point deficit, 22-23, but Northeast prevailed 26-24.

Game #15 - Central (25:23, 25:19) VS Coastal

Central opened up this game at a deficit, calling their first time-out down 12-19. However, using multiple aces, and intense rallies, they fought their way back to take a two-point win in the first match. In the second game, the confidence carried over, as Central used a hot start and great performances from Alexyss Chartier (Blackstone, Blackstone-Millville Reg. HS) and Ava Lemire (Webster, Bartlett HS) to secure the sweep over coastal, and take the second set, 25-19.

Challenge Game #1 - Southeast (25:10, 25:17) VS Metro

Southeast continued right where they left off versus Metro, with an identical 25-10 win. During the second match, Metro posed a challenge, even holding the lead towards the beginning thanks to strong play by Erin Higdon (Lynnfield, Lynnfield HS), however southeast was ready for the semifinals, ultimately winning the second set 25-17 using multiple 5-point runs.

Challenge Game #2 - Coastal (25:21, 25:23) VS West

A rematch of game #6 from earlier, West was able to find themselves in a closer contest. Consistent, steady production from hitters led the West squad to be within reach of taking the first set, however a strong 8-point run for Coastal sealed it. The second game saw another close match, as the Middle Blockers on West, specifically Brianna Manes (Feeding Hills, Agawam HS), and Quinn Rowe (Westfield, Westfield HS) were able to help neutralize the Coastal attack, however Molly Fredo (Centerville, Barnstable HS), and Jaden Sabina (Taunton, Taunton HS) powered Coastal through to the semifinals with a 25-23 win.

SEMI #1 - Northeast (25:16, 25:22) vs Southeast

In this semi-final match, the Northeast team was able to use runs of 5, and 7 to help put them over the edge in a solid 25-16 win in set one. In a closer contested second set, Southeast used great effort from Zoe Smallman (Weston, Weston HS) however great defense and solid performances from Kathryn Driend (Sandown, Methuen HS) helped push Northeast into the Semi-Finals.

SEMI #2 - Central VS Coastal (25:10, 25:15)

In this semi-finals match-up, a rematch from Game #15, Central could not keep up with the powerful offense, ignited by wonderful passing that included Sadie Wellbeloved (Cotuit, Barnstable HS), and Molly Simpkins (Plymouth, Plymouth South HS). This well-balanced Coastal team found their way all weekend long, especially in closer fought battles, and in this one, they showed they were ready to compete for gold against the Northeast team.

BRONZE Medal Game - Southeast VS Central (25:13, 25:23)

The Central girls squad came out strong in their bronze medal match versus Southeast, with runs of 4 straight, and five straight points in the first set. Great defense by middle blocker Katy O’Connell (Northborough, Algonquin Reg. HS), and libero Laura Piekarski (Upton, Nipmunc Reg. HS) helped propel Central to a dominant first set. The second game saw more of the same early on, however Southeast challenged Central, tallying 10 more points than they had in the first set. Continued strong play from Zoe Smallman (Weston, Weston HS) and Caroline Gray (Whitman, Whitman-Hanson Reg. HS) helped contest Central in the second game, however it wasn’t enough, as Central grabbed the 25-23 win, and the bronze medal.

GOLD Medal Game - Northeast (27:25, 25:15) vs Coastal

In the first match of the gold medal game, both teams jostled for position attempting to build a lead, however it was Coastal who jumped out to the early advantage featuring great offense from Molly Fredo (Centerville, Barnstable HS). It was Northeast however, who never fell behind more than 4 points, and swooped in to snag the 27-25 win, with solid, consistent play from libero Erin Workman (Andover, Andover HS), and strong swinging from Gabby Burdier (Bradford, Haverhill HS). The second game saw more of this, as Northeast dominated on their way to a gold medal. Strong play also from Adrie Waldinger (Andover, Andover HS) and Kathryn Driend (Sandown, Methuen HS) all weekend helped Northeast take home the gold.

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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.