Georgetown
Coach Ryan Browner: (2nd year, 1-18)
2023 record: 1-18, lost in D5 First Round
Returners (12): Gabrielle Aulson, Sr., MH; Samantha Carter, Sr., MH; Melania Molis, Sr., OH; Jacqueline Soucy, Sr., OH; Hannah Stevens, Sr., MH; Rowan Richards, Sr., OH; Olivia Hughes, Jr., OH; Neve McNally, Jr., OH; Ava Fair, Jr., MH; Kiera Lafferty, Jr., S; Gillien Figueroa, Jr., S; Ellie Barbarick, Soph., MH;
Newcomers: Abigail Gathii, Sr., MH; Isabella Doran, Sr., S; Thays Terrero, Jr., MH; Emily McManus, Jr., OH; Chloe Morrison, Jr., MH;
Returning honorees: None
Captains: Gabrielle Aulson, Jacqueline Soucy, Hannah Stevens
Odds and ends: Athletic Director Ryan Browner has returned for his second year as the program’s coach. The Royals made some statewide news last fall when they went winless during the regular season, still made the Division 5 playoffs due to the strength of the CAL, and persevered to win their first game during the preliminary round. … A talented trio from the softball team, which made the Div. 5 state championship game this past spring, has come out to play volleyball. Ellie Barbarick is already a two-time Daily News All-Star who is hitting an unbelievable .585 (76-for-130) with 77 runs scored, 53 RBI and 19 home runs over her first two years of high school. Ava Fair hit .467 (35-for-75) with 21 runs scored and 19 RBI last year, while Gillien Figueroa slashed .397 (27-for-68) with 27 runs scored, 19 RBI and 3 home runs. … Melania Molis has been a staple on the lacrosse team over the past few years as well.
Assistants: Josh Keilty
Newburyport
Coach Lori Solazzo: (8th year, 69-63)
2023 record: 14-8, Lost in D3 Round of 16
Returners (8): Madeline Bell, Sr., DS; Charlotte Cotter, Sr., RH; Olivia Foley, Sr., MB; Nora Geerlings, Sr., Libero; Laney Schwab, Sr., OH; Abigail Baker, Jr., S; Brooke Lawton, Jr., DS; Lucy Rimer, Jr., DS/OH
Newcomers: Gretchen Boelke, Jr., S; Payton Keller, Jr., RS; Courtney Metzdorf, Jr., DS; Sadie Reardon, Jr., RS; Sophia Rully, Jr., DS; Sadie Sherman, Jr., OH/RH; Laurel Smith, Jr., OH; Ava Bailey, Soph., MB; Ellie LeDuc, Soph., OH; Gabriella Vigeant, Soph., OH/MH
Captains: Olivia Foley, Nora Geerlings, Laney Schwab
Returning honorees: Nora Geerlings: Daily News All-Star, All-CAL; Olivia Foley: CAL All-Star
Odds and ends: Now in her eighth year at the helm, coach Lori Solazzo has the program rolling after back-to-back trips to at least the Division 3 Round of 16 (Final Four in 2022). The Clippers opened their season with an impressive non-league win over Peabody last Friday, 3-1. Newcomer sophomore Ellie LeDuc — the younger sister of former Daily News All-Star Lily LeDuc (now playing for Assumption College) — had 11 kills in the victory. … The Clippers will also have one of the better defensive pieces in the league with returning Daily News All-Star libero Nora Geerlings … Middle hitter Olivia Foley, a returning CAL All-Star from last year, had 10 kills with a staggering 11 blocks during the team’s opening win. She was also a Daily News Basketball All-Star last winter (10.1 ppg), and is one of three hoop standouts leading the volleyball team along with Laney Schwab and Ava Bailey. … Schwab is also an excellent spring track athlete who placed seventh out of 71 athletes at the MSTCA Heptathlon North Championship last year (3,536 points).
Assistants: Paula Stallard, Sara Cokonis
Pentucket
Coach Kelly Lyons: (3rd year, 6-27)
2023 record: 6-12, didn’t make tournament
Returners (14): Emily Bethmann, Sr., OH; Shannon Christopher, Sr., DS; Kat Valeri, Sr., DS; Kailyn Cray, Sr., S; Mia Bartholomew, Sr., MB/RS; Clara Cavallini, Sr., DS; Amber Wood, Sr., S; Jocelyn Bickford, Sr., Libero; Brie Brancato, Sr., DS; Maisie King, Sr., RS; Carly Foley, Jr., DS; Amelia Crowe, Jr., MB/RS; Tey Turner, Jr., OH; Michaela Gabardi, Soph., MB/RS;
Newcomers: Alanna Cepeda, Jr., MH; Emma Burkinshaw, Soph., S
Captains: Jocelyn Bickford, Maisie King, Mia Bartholomew
Returning honorees: Jocelyn Bickford: Daily News All-Star, All-CAL
Odds and ends: Now in the program’s sixth year of existence, Pentucket has its best chance to make its first ever state tournament appearance this season. The Panthers had just four combined wins over their opening four years, but went 6-12 last fall and finished one spot out of the Division 3 playoff field at No. 33 in the final rankings. … With only two seniors having graduated out, Pentucket returns the bulk of its roster. … Returning Daily News All-Star Jocelyn Bickford will be a leader of that effort, and is certainly one of the better liberos in the CAL. She is also one of a handful of softball players on the team along with Mia Bartholomew (.344), Michaela Gabardi and Emma Burkinshaw. … The Panthers then have multiple members of the basketball team on the roster with Amelia Crowe, Maisie King and Carly Foley. Last winter, Crowe was named a Daily News All-Star after averaging 15.0 ppg with 38 3s. … Emily Bethmann is a standout track athlete during both indoor and outdoor season who excels in the jumps. … The Panthers opened their season with a victory over Hamilton-Wenham.
Assistants: Emily Leblanc
Triton
Coach Bob Van Etten: (6th year, 31-61)
2023 record: 6-12, Lost in D3 First Round
Returners (5): Laura Zahornasky, Sr., S; Rowan Cole, Sr., OH; Olivia Polan, Sr., libero; Emilee Cooper, Sr, S; Aubrey Jodz, Jr., DS
Newcomers: Aileen Huang, Sr., libero; Maria Powis, Sr., OH; Colleen Johnson, Jr., MH; Danika Prendergast, Jr., MH; Abigail Richard, Jr., OH; Elinor Leahy, Jr., S; Ava Connolly, Jr., OH; Janey LeBlanc, Soph., OH; Ava Martin, Soph., libero; Emma D’Andrea, Soph., MH; Olivia Basile, Soph., OH; Gracelyn O’Neill, Soph., MH
Captains: Laura Zahornasky, Rowan Cole
Returning honorees: Laura Zahornasky: Daily News All-Star, CAL All-Star
Odds and ends: The Vikings have made three straight trips to the Division 3 playoffs, but will be relying on a bunch of new faces to step into starting roles this year. … One constant, however, will be returning Daily News All-Star Laura Zahornasky, who has been a top setter in the CAL over the past couple of seasons. … Something you can be sure about, though, is that a smart crop of newcomer Vikings will pick up on the coaching of sixth-year man Bob Van Etten quickly. All 12 new members of the varsity team were on the Triton Regionl Honor Roll list last year. … Both Colleen Johnson (hurdles/jumps) and Danika Prendergast (distance) are standout members of the track team during the winter and spring seasons.
Assistants: Karen Christian