Raider teams triumph over Westboro
Seniors’ last home game ends in win
SENIORITIS –
Seniors on the girls’ varsity volleyball team enjoy a special moment
pre-game. The girls and their parents were honored on Senior Night, held to
celebrate the team’s final home game of the season. BHS seniors on the 2007
team are: Amanda Parker, Kara Cullen, Kortney Kelley, Kristi Everson and
Casey Eagan.
It was a big night for the Barnstable girls’ volleyball team on Wednesday,
and the junior varsity team got the party started in style defeating
Westboro 2-1.Offering the sizeable crowd a solid glimpse of their future
promise, the team put forth a tremendous effort against their well-matched
counterparts.
Although the girls lost the first match 25-22, they rallied and
claimed the next two 25-13 and 25-17, turning out some great volleys and
demonstrating skilled play.
Maribeth Martin and Jackie Friel were excellent at the net, while
Nicole Horvath is to be commended for an incredible diving dig that cleared
the net for a Raider point.
The JV win was simply the beginning of an exciting evening of
volleyball at BHS. The thrill-ride continued when the varsity team took the
floor and handed Westboro their only loss of the season.
The Raiders dropped the first match 25-22 to their strong opponents,
but quickly regrouped to defeat the Rangers 3-1 with scores of 25-18, 25-18
and 25-19.
After falling behind 11-3 in one game, Barnstable refocused with the help of
senior setter Amanda Parker, who sent over six straight service points.
Parker also saw her name hit the BHS history
books when she became the fourth player in Raider history to earn 1,000
assists. Parker added 46 more assists to her tally total during the night.
Kara Cullen led with 23 kills, followed by Stephanie Bristol with 21.
Nora Wood and Kortney Kelley combined for 26 digs, while teammates Steph
Tuepker and Alison Klotz played well for the Raiders.
The game marked the final home game of the 2007 season. The five
seniors on the team were honored as part of Senior Night and were presented
with flowers from their parents, who were also honored. The seniors on the
2007 team are Amanda Parker, Kara Cullen, Kortney Kelley, Kristi Everson
and Casey Eagan.
The Raiders travel to Medfield tonight for a 5:30 p.m. game.
By CAPE
COD TIMES
October 25, 2007
HYANNIS — In the unfamiliar position of underdog, the
Barnstable High School volleyball team responded to a first-game defeat
with energetic victories in the next three games last night to hand
previously unbeaten Westboro a 3-1 defeat.
The scoring went 22-25, 25-18, 25-18 and 25-19.
Amanda Parker, who entered the match as the fourth
player in Red Raiders history to tally 1,000 assists, put the deciding game
in hand with two phenomenal runs at the service line.
Trailing 11-3, Barnstable
(18-1) regained composure when Parker delivered six straight service
points. She returned to the line with Barnstable
behind by a point, serving seven straight points for the victory.
Parker added 46 more assists to her career total,
while Stephanie Bristol had 21 kills, five of which came in that pivotal
final run.
Kara Cullen led with 23 kills, and Alison Klotz and
Stephanie Tuepker came up big in a number of key moments.
Nora Wood and Kortney Kelley combined on 26 digs.
Barnstable 3, North Quincy 0
By CAPE COD TIMES
October 17, 2007
HYANNIS
— The class of the Atlantic Coast League North was no match for the class
of the state.
Barnstable
swept, 25-5, 25-14, 25-6, behind strong serving.
Alison Klotz (seven service points and three aces in
the first game, eight service points and three aces in the second game) and
Nora Wood (11 service points in the first game) led the service parade for
the Hyannis-based Red Raiders (15-1).
Melanie Appleman recorded eight assists in the second
game, which was tied at 11-11.
Stephanie Bristol collected five kills in the first
game, and Kara Cullen and Stephanie Tuepker hurt the Granite City's Red Raiders (14-2) with
three and two kills, respectively.
Kortney Kelley led the way in the decisive third game
with six digs.
Amanda Parker had six assists, and Casey Eagan also
played well.
Barnstable 3, B-R 0
By CAPE COD TIMES
October 16, 2007
BRIDGEWATER — The Red Raiders
made a strong showing in their tuneup for tonight's home match with rival North Quincy.
Barnstable
improved to 14-1 and 6-0 in the Old Colony League with its 25-6, 25-10,
25-10 win over the Trojans.
Junior Alison Klotz led the way with eight aces. Stephanie
Tuepker finished with nine kills and Lilly Lowe pitched in with five kills.
Michelle Begley and Maribeth Martin paced the defense
with 11 combined digs, and sophomore Melanie Appleman had 12 assists.
Barnstable scores big volleyball win
By CAPE COD TIMES
October 15, 2007
HOLYOKE
— Barnstable High volleyball coach Tom Turco couldn't stop talking, he was
that excited.
With good reason. The 13-1 Red Raiders rallied for a thrilling 3-2
victory over Burnt Hills High School of Albany, N.Y., yesterday in the
Volleyball Hall of Fame Showcase of Champions Invitational in Holyoke.
A quick glance at the scores of the win over the sixth-ranked team in
New York
state tells a lot of the story: 18-25, 25-9, 23-25, 25-23, 15-6.
But not all.
"That's as good a regular-season win as we've had," said
Turco, "given their ranking in New
York state and the players they have."
The match may have turned in Game 4 with the score deadlocked at 18.
Burnt Hills' Syracuse-bound 6-2 attacker, Erin
Little, hit a viciously hard shot that was dug out by Alison Klotz and
turned into a kill by senior Kara Cullen.
Cullen, a senior, had 22 kills and was voted Most Outstanding Player
in the match.
The match began as if it would be a blowout in favor of Burnt Hills.
The Red Raiders fell behind 11-0 before fighting their way back into it.
They roared out to a 10-1 Game 2 advantage, with Casey Eagan serving eight
points, including three aces, in the run.
After two highly competitive games in 3 and 4, Nora Wood served Barnstable from a 9-4
to 14-4 advantage in the decisive fifth game.
Junior Stephanie Bristol had 14 kills in the Red Raiders great
defensive effort that also included Wood, Kristi Everson and Courtney
Kelley.
Sophomore Melanie Appleman (18 assists) and senior Amanda Parker (14
assists) also played a key role for the Red Raiders.
Barnstable 3, Attleboro
0
By CAPE COD TIMES
October 11, 2007
HYANNIS — Senior Casey Eagan had 14 service
aces and the Red Raiders rebounded from their first loss since 2002 with an
Old Colony League sweep of the Bombardiers.
Barnstable (12-1, 7-0
OCL) had won a state-record 110 consecutive matches prior to Saturday's 3-1
loss to the Brentwood School in California.
But the Raiders were back in fine form yesterday, beating Attleboro 25-9, 25-6, 25-5.
Kara Cullen had seven kills and Stephanie Tuepker and
Stephanie Bristol four apiece to highlight a standout effort.
The Raiders are off until Sunday, when they take on
Burnt Hills High (Albany, N.Y.)
in a 24-team volleyball invitational at Holyoke Community
College.
Barnstable 3, Medway 0
By CAPE COD TIMES
October 02, 2007
MEDWAY — The Red Raiders pushed their record to 10-0
in preparation for this weekend's games in California.
Barnstable
topped the Mustangs by scores of 25-10, 25-11 and 25-16.
Kortney Kelley and Nora Wood combined for 22 digs for Barnstable, while
Amanda Parker finished with 32 assists.
Kara Cullen had 17 kills and Stephanie Bristol added
12 kills. Both contributed two blocks.
Stephanie Tuepker and Alison Klotz had four digs
apiece.
Kristi Everson and Casey Eagan combined for six kills.
And for their
next act….
By Don Sherlock
GateHouse News Service
Wed Sep 26, 2007, 02:43 PM EDT
Barnstable
-
“Most teams go through rebuilding phases. This team reloads.”
Those words from Barnstable High School athletic director Steve Francis aptly
describe the dynasty volleyball coach Tom Turco has built at the West Main Street
gym in Hyannis.
It seems nothing less than perfection will satisfy Tom Turco, and his
players have been nothing but perfect for almost two full years. The last
game Turco’s Terrors lost was Oct. 27, 2005. The last match they lost was
Nov. 13, 2002 in the state semifinals.
So when Barnstable’s JV team pumped three
serves into the net with the score tied at 15, 17 and 19 in Friday’s
preliminary against Notre Dame of Hingham,
the 53-year-old adaptive physical education teacher of special needs
students was not happy.
"Three serves in a row into the net; three serves in a row into the
net … knuckleheads!" he muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.
Turco and Barnstable’s
varsity squad were waiting for their shot at history, and he was not in a
patient mood. A fourth serve found the net. "I'm outta here!”
The JV lost that second game, 25-21, but when they scored the first five
points of the deciding third game, Turco had reappeared and called for the
varsity to prep for its shot at state history.
Turco is methodical. His rotations are done with purpose. He’s firm, but
fair and his criticisms are done with a calmness not generally associated
with coaches these days.
When the team runs onto the court for warmups, they come out revved,
jumping right into rolling exercises, in preparation for diving all over
the floor after their opponents spikes. Nobody gets a pass. They all do it
together, as a team.
Player introductions usually feature a step forward; for Barnstable, the whole team takes a step
back to give the individual the spotlight … and they do that as a team as
well.
Turco, now in his 20th season and the winningest volleyball coach in state
history with a 428-43 record, honors his seniors every year. And at the
conclusion of Friday’s record-breaking 105th straight win, he took the
microphone and named all the seniors in the classes of 2003, 2004, 2005 and
2006 who were part of that streak.
There was a small scare when the Raiders fell behind 10-6 in the first game
against Notre Dame, but five straight points put them ahead and then seven
straight making it 21-14 put an end to any fears. After losing the first
point of the second game, the well-oiled machine hit its stride behind
“Hammer Time” Kara Cullen (14 kills) and solid play by the entire team.
Setter Amanda Parker played a stellar match and has been a part of the
streak since 2004. Kortney Kelley strung together seven straight points on
serve, including an ace, during the surge that made it 21-9 in the third
game. And Turco was still pacing the sideline. Then Stephanie Bristol
scored on a touch, Nora Wood had a service winner, Bristol nailed a kill and
finally, at 6:25 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21, Kristi Everson, Bristol and
Stephanie Tuepker went up in the air at the net to block a weak shot and
produce a 25-19, 25-6, 25-9 victory for the Barnstable team.
And Tom Turco finally smiled. “I’m glad it’s over; it’s good for these
kids. They had to prevail in a stressful moment,” Turco said. “It’s
awesome.”
For the record, the JV won that third game, 25-3. Turco may have to do some
extra work on the serving game of his future stars, but chances are Barnstable will remain
in the thick of the state title chase for many more years.
Barnstable 3, Dartmouth 0
By CAPE COD TIMES
September 25, 2007
HYANNIS
— With a new mark in the books, it was the same old story at the Barnstable
High gym.
The Red Raiders (7-0, 4-0 Old Colony League) won their
state record 106th consecutive match with a 25-12, 25-9, 25-7 victory over
the Indians.
Stephanie Bristol and Kara Cullen each registered nine
kills. Casey Eagan, Amanda Parker and Kortney Kelley combined for nine
aces.
Alison Klotz, Nora Wood, Stephanie Tuepker and Kristi
Everson all excelled in the Raiders' victory.
Barnstable volleyball nets record
win
From left,
Kristi Everson, Stephanie Bristol and Stephanie Tuepker of Barnstable’s
Red Raiders block a shot by Notre Dame
Academy during the teams’
volleyball match in Barnstable
last night. More coverage in Sports /C-1Cape Cod
Times/Ron Schloerb
By ADAM
SMARTSCHAN
STAFF WRITER
September 22, 2007
HYANNIS
— The three of them leapt all at once, with a singular purpose.
And, though Kristi Everson, Stephanie Bristol and
Stephanie Tuepker surely weren't thinking it at the moment, it was an
absolutely perfect capper to the Barnstable
High School girls
volleyball team's absolutely perfect run.
With the Red Raiders on the verge of a state record
105th consecutive victory yesterday, leading Notre Dame (Hingham)
2 games to none and 24-9 in the third game, the Cougars were scrambling to
return Kortney Kelley's Barnstable
serve.
After some confusion on the Notre Dame side, a Cougars
player managed to poke the ball over from close range.
It didn't go far.
As soon as it cleared the net, the ball hit the flying
wall of Everson, Bristol
and Tuepker. Down it went on the Notre Dame end of the court, and down went
Joseph Case High School's
state record of 104 straight match victories.
On their own, Everson, Bristol or Tuepker might not have gotten
to it. The sneaky shot could likely have gotten through the arms of one, or
past two.
But it didn't. All of them jumped. All of them did it.
To clinch a record that took 30 players of all shapes
and sizes — and, of course, coach Tom Turco — more than four seasons to
build, the last stuff of the 25-19, 25-6, 25-9 triumph was more than
fitting.
It was perfect.
For a program riding four straight Division 1 state
titles and 12 straight Div. 1 South Sectional crowns, the consecutive wins
record was never about any one of them, or even any one year's worth of
them.
"Every individual from previous years has
definitely contributed to this win," said senior setter Amanda Parker,
a veteran of the 2004, 2005 and 2006 state championship clubs. "They
should get a lot of credit for it. We just happened to be here for this
win."
"This" win, and a slew of others.
The 2007 Raiders are 6-0, and haven't dropped a game
all season. But that's nothing new — Barnstable
swept all 25 matches last season, and last lost a game in a 3-1 home
victory over Medfield on Oct. 27, 2005.
The last match loss came to North
Quincy in the Div. 1 state semifinals on Nov. 13, 2002.
"I'm proud of these kids. That's what I told them
after the game," said Turco, who ran his career record to 426-43.
"They respect and have looked up to the '03, '04, '05 and '06 teams.
In that situation, they were the ones who had to carry it through."
This year's Raiders haven't disappointed. They opened
the season by sweeping Dennis-Yarmouth for No. 100, beat Taunton on Wednesday for No. 104 and,
now, stand alone with perfection.
As alone as they can be, that is, standing
shoulder-to-shoulder with years of teammates sharing in the achievement.
"We all so excited, but also excited for the
teams from the past," said Kelley, a senior. "Just to be part of
the program, it's awesome."
Staff writer Adam Smartschan can be reached at asmartschan@capecodonline.com.
Barnstable volleyballers set
record with 105 straight wins
Members of the 2007 Barnstable
squad take a moment to celebrate their milestone. With yesterday’s 3-0 triumph, the Red Raiders passed
Case High for the most consecutive volleyball victories.
Cape Cod Times / Ron
Schloerb
By K.C. MYERS
staff writer
September 22, 2007
HYANNIS — The Barnstable girls
volleyball team spiked the state record last night, winning its 105th match
in a row.
The last time the Red Raiders lost was in 2002,
ancient history in teenage years. None of the current players has ever
experienced a defeat.
But even for a team clearly familiar with victory,
last night's win was extra special. The Red Raiders beat the state record
of consecutive wins formerly held by Swansea's
Joseph Case High School.
And it happened at home.
The fans had filled the stands, including the
flash-bulb-popping parents, but also folks like Jack Durant of Osterville,
who began following the team's success in the sports pages four years ago,
and soon became a regular in the stands.
Students also packed the gym, chanting and shouting as
the points stacked up steadily against Notre Dame Academy.
"We take a lot of pride in the volleyball
team," said Rob Bancroft, a senior.
It was toward coach Tom Turco that much praise flowed
after the match. The quiet yet intense special-needs gym teacher has taken
four consecutive teams to state championship success.
While Turco had little to say last night beyond
"thank you" to the audience after the record-breaking display of
volleyball dominance, people had plenty to say about him.
"He's built the entire program from the ground
up," said Brian Cattabriga, a former junior varsity volleyball coach.
"He's very positive. He's very focused. He provides young kids with a
positive focus."
Elementary-age students start learning volleyball in
Turco's recreation programs. Cattabriga said more than 200 signed up to
play this summer. "He starts exposing them to the game from a very
young age," Cattabriga said of the volleyball machine that Turco has
crafted and honed to perfection. "At this point, it just feeds
itself."
Turco intently studies the game and refers constantly
to his dog-eared copy of Pat Riley's book, "The Winner Within,"
said his wife, Diane. "He has the girls study it, too," she said.
"They write reports and make presentations on
it."
Then he works his players hard. "We sweat more in
practice than we do in games," said former player Carly Newton, who
graduated in 2006 and now plays volleyball at Keene State College in New Hampshire.
While the Red Raiders posted a 3-0 result last night, Notre Dame Academy put up a good fight.
In the first match, Notre Dame was several points
ahead in the early going, and the stands became quiet. The fans grew still
and eyes widened in shock with each point notched against Barnstable. For a few minutes anyway, the
Red Raider faithful contemplated the unthinkable, defeat.
"We've been so spoiled," said Ward Parker,
the father of senior setter Amanda Parker.
What would he have done if they lost?
"Well, there are two bridges on the Cape," Parker joked.
Barnstable High has won four consecutive state girls
volleyball championships, and 10 championships in 13 years.
Turco has said his players became determined to not
lose a game at the start of the 2003 season. They've been on a roll ever
since.
After last night's match ended, the girls hugged and
cheered. Fans posed with uniformed players as though the high school girls
were high-paid professionals.
High School principal Pat Graves patted Turco on the
back. "This instills a tremendous amount of pride in the whole
community," Graves said.
Coach Gary Patch of Assumption
College in Worcester drove more than two hours to
scout players from both teams.
"Barnstable
has notoriously been the number one team for four or five years,"
Patch said. "We know them very well."
K.C. Myers can be reached at kcmyers@capecodonline.com.
Barnstable spikes win record
By Jack McCluskey, Globe Correspondent | September 22, 2007
HYANNIS - Notre
Dame Academy
coach Josh Shepherd popped "Miracle" into the bus's entertainment
system on the way to Hyannis
yesterday. The choice was fitting, since a miracle might be the only way
anyone can beat the Barnstable Red Raiders.
With last night's 3-0 victory, the Barnstable
girls' volleyball team set a state record for consecutive wins with 105,
breaking the mark set by Swansea's
Case High in 1991.
With more than 500 fans watching and cheering, Barnstable
endured a slow start to sweep Notre Dame of Hingham, 25-19, 25-6, 25-9.
Asked what the record-setting win meant, coach Tom Turco said, "It
means we're 6-0. That's what it means."
The match was scheduled as a home game for Notre Dame, but at the
request of Barnstable athletic director
Steve Francis, Notre Dame agreed to play in Hyannis.
"It seemed like the right thing to do," said Shepherd.
The record Barnstable
set? "It's pretty impressive," said Shepherd, before adding with
a laugh, "I'll tip my hat to them and say that they're good. They're
fantastic."
The Cougars, who practiced with simulated crowd noise to learn to play
in a hostile environment, were not intimidated initially. After Barnstable senior Kara
Cullen started the scoring with one of her 14 kills, Notre Dame used a hit
by Rebecca Gwaltney and two errors by the Red Raiders to take the next 3
points. The teams exchanged runs, and Notre Dame led, 10-6, before a 5-0
Barnstable run put the Red Raiders up to stay.
Using strong hits from Cullen and Stephanie Bristol, strong passing by
setter Amanda Parker - including several spectacular sprawling digs - and
tight overall defense, the Red Raiders were never really threatened after
the middle of the first game. Kathleen Colpoys, who led the Notre Dame
offense in kills, had Barnstable
scrambling early, but Cullen and the defense adjusted.
"They played a good game," said Cullen, a middle hitter and
captain. "We were really nervous going into the game, and so it had to
do with that. I think once the game went on, we got more confident and felt
more comfortable."
There were nerves involved, Cullen said, but it was more about the crowd
than the streak.
"For us, it was just our sixth game," Cullen continued.
"We don't really think about the record that much."
Turco, who has compiled a 427-43 record in 20 seasons, said his team has
been through this before. "We had a winning streak that was at 90, and
the one thing I learned from that is that you play for this year.
"You don't play for anything that's in the past."
Parker, a captain, agreed. "It feels good to win, but all the other
girls from all the other teams get a lot of credit. We just happened to be
here for this win."
While the real reward for setting the streak may not sink in right away,
a more immediate one was awaiting the Raiders: a congratulatory cake.
Victory is sweet.
Barnstable volleyball ties state
mark with 104th straight win
By CAPE COD TIMES
September 20, 2007
HYANNIS — One more to go for the Barnstable High School girls volleyball team.
The Red Raiders tied the state record with their 104th consecutive
victory yesterday, sweeping Taunton
25-7, 25-13, 25-10.
The Red Raiders can set a new state record for consecutive
girls volleyball wins Friday when they face Notre Dame (Hingham)
at Barnstable
High School at 5 p.m.
Barnstable, which has won four
straight Division 1 state championships, will try to take the record all to
itself tomorrow, when it hosts Notre Dame (Hingham) at 5 p.m.
Yesterday, senior Kara Cullen contributed a team-high 12 kills for Barnstable (5-0).
Junior Stephanie Bristol chipped in with eight kills, and Kristi
Everson and Nora Wood added four kills apiece.
"The young kids played well, and it was a match that all 13 players
played well," Raiders coach Tom Turco said.
Kortney Kelley and Allison Klotz took care of the back row, combining
for 12 digs. Sophomores Mary Beth Martin and Melanie Appleman set for eight
and seven assists, respectively, and senior Amanda Parker helped out with
seven assists of her own.
Michelle Begley, Lilly Low, and Stephanie Tuepker all stepped up with
impressive play defensively.
The Raiders were last beaten in the 2002 state semifinals at
Mansfield High, losing to North Quincy.
School volleyball:
Victory puts Barnstable a step
closer to history
By CAPE COD TIMES
September 18, 2007
HYANNIS
— The Barnstable Red Raiders marched to the brink of the record books with
a precision 3-0 girls volleyball victory over Bridgewater-Raynham yesterday.
Tomorrow's home match with Taunton
will be an attempt at Barnstable's 104th
consecutive triumph, which would make Friday's match with Notre Dame of Hingham a bid to set a new standard in Massachusetts high
school volleyball.
That game with Notre Dame, originally scheduled to be
played at Hingham, has been moved to Barnstable's home gym
at 5 p.m. on Friday.
Nora Wood, Stephanie Tuepker, Stephanie Bristol and
Kara Cullen had five kills apiece against the Trojans. Kortney Kelley led
the Red Raiders with 12 service points, while Kristi Everson had 10 and
Alison Klotz added eight.
Amanda Parker finished with 20 assists for the Red Raiders,
now 4-0 this season.
Barnstable volleyball reaches 100 straight
wins
By Rob Duca
September 11, 2007
HYANNIS
— The only banners in evidence were the 10 championship flags on the wall
at the far end of the gym. No one held up a sign proclaiming the 100th
straight triumph.
When it was over, and the Barnstable High girls
volleyball team had done what it has in every match since the beginning of
the 2003 season, there wasn't even a whiff of a wild celebration.
"It's just another match on the schedule,"
senior setter Amanda Parker insisted.
Not quite. Yesterday afternoon marked the 2007 season
opener for the Red Raiders, who rolled to a 3-0 victory over
Dennis-Yarmouth. And that meant something to coach Tom Turco and his girls.
It meant they are 1-0.
"You never want to let the kids lose focus that
this is their season and only their season," Turco said. "For the
first time we addressed the streak in our meetings. I told them, 'Play for
this season. You own this season. Those other kids aren't here. Don't play
for the ghosts of the past.' "
For the record, last night pushed the Red Raiders'
winning streak into triple digits, leaving them only four to go to tie the
state record held by Swansea's Joseph Case High.
None of the girls wearing red shirts and black shorts
has been around for all 100 triumphs. But Turco has been the one constant,
and as he stood at center court following the milestone win, he pulled out
a paper on which were typed the names of every player and assistant coach
who has been with the Red Raiders over the past five seasons.
"From a program standpoint, it's kind of hard to
believe," he said. "What goes through my mind is an appreciation
of the players, starting with the 2003 group that came back after a loss
and was determined not to let it happen again. That started
everything."
You would never know about this history or tradition
of excellence if you walked into the gym at around 6 p.m. last night,
unaware of the program built by Turco. The Red Raiders chalked up No. 100
just as they captured No. 82, or No. 46 or No. 1. No trash-talking. No
gloating. No swagger. No acknowledgement of anything other than the
business at hand.
"We didn't even think about the record,"
junior middle-hitter Stephanie Bristol said. "This is the program's
100th straight win, but it's not our team's. It's a great accomplishment
for all the teams before us, and congratulations to them. But we never talk
about (the streak) when we play. We take it one match at a time and try to
play our best."
The Dolphins gave the Red Raiders all they could
handle in the first game of the match before losing, 25-17. The Red Raiders
settled down and took control in the middle game, rolling 25-7. After
falling behind 4-2 in the third (stop the presses!), they took the
clincher, 25-10.
As always, they were methodical, unrelenting and
supremely confident. It's a new team and a new year, but little appears to
have changed.
"It was a little nerve-wracking," Parker
conceded after some prodding. "We talked about (the streak) during the
summer, that we wanted to keep it going. We just played one point at a
time. There's always pressure, but you have to just settle down and go back
to basics."
Here are the basics for Barnstable volleyball: Play hard, keep
your composure, maintain your focus. The Red Raiders' success has been
built on an unwavering dedication and commitment that flows through every
practice and meeting. And they worry only about preparing for the
postseason and another state crown.
Before this season is completed, they will play road
matches in New York and California, refusing to protect the
streak. Turco has never scheduled to maintain the undefeated record.
"Our goal is to win the state title," Parker
said.
That's down the road. For right now, their goal is to
beat Attleboro
tomorrow and improve to 2-0.
"There's definitely pressure to keep the streak
going, for the program and what it has become," senior middle-hitter
Kara Cullen said. "But I think we handle it pretty well."
You could say that about the 2007 team and all those
girls who have come before them, always playing in the shadow of past
greatness. Try doing anything 100 straight times without messing up.
Try sinking 100 straight 2-foot putts. Or making 100
straight uncontested layups.
Yesterday afternoon the Barnstable girls volleyball program — and
it is about the program — won its 100th straight match. It was another
match on the schedule, and another night of perfection.
Barnstable girls' volleyball win
streak reaches century mark
By Conor Nevins, Globe Correspondent | September 11, 2007
When it comes to landmark winning streaks, the same rules apparently
apply in volleyball as they do with a possible no-hitter in baseball. Until
the achievement is realized, there can be no speaking of it. The
difference in the case of the Barnstable
girls' volleyball team, as it tried for its 100th straight victory in its
first match of the season yesterday, is that the silence came not from fear
of a jinx, but as a way to underscore the streak's significance.
The Raiders reached the milestone by defeating Dennis-Yarmouth, 3-0, and
"as a program, we're proud of it," coach Tom Turco said.
"But the only streak in our sights is to be able to run a 5-0 streak
at the end of the year [in the state tournament].
"We were quiet about [100 straight wins] . . . I didn't talk
about it pregame; it didn't matter.
"What matters is that we're 1-0."
Although Turco seemed hesitant to play up the milestone, in a nice bit
of symmetry, Dennis-Yarmouth was the very team the Raiders defeated in 2003
to begin the streak.
Barnstable
had come close to the century mark almost a decade back, when it reached 90
straight wins in 1998 before losing. A state championship that season made
up for that missed opportunity.
With 422 career wins and 10 state championships, it's easy to see why
Turco, now in his 20th season, doesn't give a whole lot of weight to
milestones. More rewarding is the high level of quality and consistency his
teams have maintained.
The seniors who began the streak in '03 are now in their senior year
of college, and he has sophomores on the varsity who were in the sixth
grade when it began.
"The town's definitely supportive of volleyball," Turco
said.
Barnstable
prevailed by scores of 25-16, 25-7, 25-20.
Senior Kara Cullen and junior Stephanie Bristol delivered 11 kills
apiece.
Senior Amanda Parker chipped in with 25 assists
The Barnstable
girls volleyball team opened the season the same way it finished 2006 . . .
and every other match the Red Raiders have played during a span of five
seasons. The Red Raiders picked up their 100th straight victory by knocking
off Dennis-Yarmouth 25-16, 25-7, 25-10 in a nonleague home match yesterday.
Barnstable has not dropped a match since
falling to North Quincy in the 2002 state
semifinals and has lost only eight individual games total during their run.
“It gives me a tremendous feeling of appreciation for all these kids that
play in this program,” coach Tom Turco said.
Middle hitters Kara Cullen and Stephanie Bristol had 11 kills each,
and setter Amanda Parker had 25 assists. Kortney Kelley chipped in 14 digs
and played a strong match along with Nora Wood, according to Turco.
“We have a two-person serve-receive, and they just nailed it all
day,” Turco said.
While the current players put the cap on the milestone, Turco said
the genesis of the streak came from the seniors on the 2003 squad who were
stung by the tournament loss to North Quincy
after an undefeated regular season.
“It fueled them that entire year,” Turco said of former Red Raiders
standouts Casey Buss, Whitney Davis, Brittany Enz and Lucy Sweeney.
“Finishing second wasn’t an acceptable thing in their eyes, which was huge.
“That’s a remarkable thing about the kids in this program. They’re
extremely self-motivated. When they’re not playing well, they know it.”
Barnstable travels to Attleboro
tomorrow, but Turco said the streak could get a test when he takes his squad
to California
in October. The Raiders will face Beverly Hills,
a team they beat last season in Marshfield,
then will play a Brentwood High squad that is ranked among the top teams in
the Golden State. . . .
2006
Newspaper Clippings
|
November 19, 2006
Unmatched Barnstable wins its fourth straight
Div. 1 title
By ROB DUCA
STAFF WRITER
HUDSON
- They were the definition of dominance from the year's opening match.
Last night Barnstable High applied the exclamation point to a seasonlong
journey that concluded just as one might expect with another state
championship.
With their 3-0 triumph over Newton North at Hudson High, the Red
Raiders captured their fourth consecutive MIAA Division 1 trophy, their
99th straight match (25-0 this fall) and, in a season of true perfection,
finished 75-0 in games.
After watching the 25-11, 25-12, 25-20 dismantling of his Tigers,
Newton North coach Richard Barton was asked about the difficulty of
slowing down the Red Raiders once they got on a roll.
''To be perfectly blunt, it's kind of tough to slow them down when
they're not on a roll,'' he said. ''Everybody can pass, everybody hits it
in, everybody serves, everybody has skills all around. The chance for a
team like Newton North to beat them is for everyone on our team to play at
their best every single moment. That's kind of unlikely.''
And so seniors Erin Johnson, Jessi Goode, Allie Appleman, Natalie
Cohen and Marissa Pita played their final games in Barnstable red and white, without
tasting defeat in four seasons.
Juniors Kara Cullen and Amanda Parker will return next fall, along
with spectacular sophomore Stephanie Bristol, undoubtedly ready to extend
their streak to a cool three figures and past the state record of 107
held by Case High.
''Some people expected us to lose (against Beverly Hills, Calif.),''
Johnson said, referring to a match during the regular season. ''But
that's when we realized we were really good.''
And just in case opposing coaches are hopeful 2007 might bring a
return to earth for the mighty Red Raiders, coach Tom Turco said after
last night's win, ''The kids who didn't even play in this game, you know,
they're pretty good.''
Last night was no contest. The Red Raiders pounced to a 4-0 lead in
the first game with Pita at the service line. The Tigers rallied and were
within two points (10-8) after consecutive aces by Sarah Berkland, but
that only served to arouse the Red Raiders.
Bristol
served six straight points (with Cullen collecting two kills) and the
Raiders were off on a 15-3 run that closed out the game.
Bristol finished with six kills, while
Cohen, Johnson and Parker also contributed winners, providing evidence of
Barnstable's
depth.
The second game was even quicker. With the game deadlocked at 1,
Johnson pounded a winner that began a 12-0 blitz. Cohen was on the line
for 11 straight points.
The Red Raiders simply never let up.
''The intensity that they show out there is the intensity they show in
practice,'' Turco said. ''That carries to the court, the same disciplined
way of playing.''
The Tigers finally provided competition in the third game. They led
5-1, only to see the Red Raiders score five straight points for a 6-5
edge.
There were four lead changes and 12 ties before the Red Raiders took
control for good on Pita's ace for a 21-19 advantage.
Moments later, Cohen's spike ended it, sparking what has become an
annual championship celebration.
''We played quite a good game, and then we had a few glitches and the
game was over,'' Barton said.
Some people say the issue was decided each time the Raiders arrived at
the gym this season, regardless of the opponent. In 2006, they were that
overpowering.
''We just took it one step at a time,'' Johnson said. ''We were never
thinking we were going to have a perfect season.''
But perfect it was, once again.
(Published: November 19, 2006)
|
|
Barnstable goes fourth
By Bruce Lerch/ Div. 1 Volleyball
Sunday, November 19, 2006 - Updated: 02:48 AM
EST
HUDSON - Four seasons, 99 straight victories since 2003, four consecutive
Division 1 state championships, one well-oiled machine.
In what could be termed
“business as usual,” Barnstable capped an impressive streak by defeating
Newton North, 3-0, to capture the Div. 1 girls volleyball state title last
night at Hudson High.
Barnstable won by scores of 25-11, 25-12
and 25-20.
“It doesn’t ever get to be
routine,” said Barnstable
coach Tom Turco following his 10th state title. “Every year brings a new group
of kids and a new set of goals. I couldn’t be prouder of this group. I have
tremendous admiration for what they have accomplished.”
Red Raider after Red Raider echoed the same sentiment
about what has allowed them to achieve such tremendous success over the
past four seasons - practice makes perfect.
“There really is very little we
see on the court that we haven’t already seen in practice,” Barnstable senior
co-captain Natalie Cohen (three kills) said. “We’ve faced a lot of great
players, including (Newton North), but we face great players every day in
our practices. Everything we do there translates onto the court.”cw-2
Added senior captain Marissa
Pita: “Something like this just goes to show how our hard work really does
pay off. We go at each other with such intensity every day, it’s just hard
to put into words what that does for us when we face another team.”
The Raiders came out fast, opening
up fairly insurmountable leads in each of the first two games behind the
duo of Stephanie Bristol (13 kills) and Amanda Parker (22 assists). Newton
North battled hard throughout, and in the third game, the Tigers showed
that they belonged on the same stage as the Barnstable powerhouse.
The Tigers never held a lead
until roaring to a 5-1 margin to start the third game, thanks to the great
play of Sarah Berkland (six kills, two aces) and Hester Breen (eight
kills). They withstood the inevitable Barnstable
run and hung tough to keep the game tied as late as 19-19, before a pair of
Pita aces keyed a title-winning 6-1 run.
“We have nothing but the utmost
respect for what that group of girls has been able to accomplish,” Newton
North coach Richard Barton said. “We showed in the third game that we were
capable, but our consistency was nowhere near theirs.”
In regard to the impressive run
he has overseen, Turco pointed out the only streak that he really cares
about.
“We’ve
won 99 games in a row, which is a historical fact that we are very proud
of,” he said.
Barnstable unbeatable
By Denise LaForgia,
Mike Lipka, and Jeff Powalisz, Globe Correspondents | November 19, 2006
It wasn't Barnstable
coach Tom Turco's idea.
His players meet behind closed doors at the start of each season to come
up with goals. And it was they, not he, who wanted not only to go unbeaten,
but to avoid losing a game all season.
"When you've got them saying that to you," Turco said, "that's
unbelievable."
What's more unbelievable is that Barnstable
did it. The Red Raiders (25-0) last night proved again that they play
volleyball on a different level from the rest of the state, completing an
epic campaign as they defeated the Newton North Tigers, 3-0 (25-11, 25-12,
25-20), in the MIAA Division 1 state championship at Hudson High School.
It was the 99th straight win and fourth straight state title for Barnstable, which has
won 10 state championships in 19 years under Turco, and won every game of
the season for the second time, the first coming in 2003.
"Consistency," said Newton North coach Richard Barton.
"That's why they are the team that they are."
"We've always been taught, 'Never get down,' " said Barnstable senior
libero Marissa Pita. "We always try to stay at our own level."
Barnstable
created a comfortable cushion midway through Game 1 behind sophomore
Stephanie Bristol, who finished with 13 kills.
Game 2 was more lopsided, as 11 straight service points from Natalie
Cohen -- with four Bristol
kills mixed in -- made it 13-2. Late in that game, a Bristol spike bloodied the nose of Tiger
star hitter Sarah Berkland.
Newton North (21-2) kept pace for most of Game 3, but couldn't hang in
at the end, as a Cohen kill set off a wild pileup on the court. Seniors
Erin Johnson (8 kills) and Pita (4 aces) were vital for Barnstable.
Barnstable
is 'unstoppable'
By Jeff Powalisz, Globe Correspondent | November 16, 2006
WHITMAN -- There's unbeaten, and then there's Barnstable.
Lincoln-Sudbury, which entered last night's Division 1 state volleyball
semifinal at Whitman-Hanson with a 23-0 record, was the latest to find out.
Three-time defending state champion Barnstable (24-0), which has made
quick work of its competition throughout a large portion of coach Tom
Turco's 19 illustrious seasons, extended its winning streak to 98 matches
last night, outhitting, outserving, outkilling, and dominating what could
be considered an elite team in a 52-minute, 3-0 shutout.
"There's nothing you can do, they're unstoppable," said L-S
coach Judy Katalina. "It's very hard to coach against a team like
that. It's not somebody you play everyday."
Barnstable, which has not lost in its
latest run through the state tournament -- including 3-0 wins over Marshfield, Fontbonne, and previously undefeated New Bedford -- will face Newton North for the state
title Saturday at Hudson.
"It's where we want to be," Turco said. "Tonight, we
moved one step forward."
Lincoln-Sudbury did not have an answer in the first game for Barnstable's middle
line, which eliminated chances for the Warriors behind the play of
Stephanie Bristol (13 kills, 6 blocks) and Kara Cullen (8 kills, 3 blocks).
The Red Raiders took an 18-2 lead, double-blocking nearly every Warrior
attempt, and won, 25-10.
"This is how they always play," said Turco, who is going for
his 10th state title. "It's how they play in practice. They set the
tempo from the beginning."
Katalina said nerves might have plagued her squad.
"In that first game, it was all nerves," she said. "The
thought is, that we're playing 'The Great Barnstable.' That's tough for any
16-, 17-, or 18-year-old girl."
Barnstable
jumped out to a 10-1 lead in the second game. Dive after dive by the L-S
defense made for a good effort, but Barnstable
spikes were consistently forceful. Then, despite a small series of L-S
rallies, the Raiders kept the pressure on and finished the game, 25-14.
Lincoln-Sudbury made it a contest in the third game, albeit for brief
stretches, taking its first lead at 10-9 after storming back from a 9-6
deficit.
"They calmed down and their passing got better," Katalina
said. "We brought everything we had with us and put it on the
floor."
Cullen and Bristol,
however, continued their unstoppable prowess at the net, and combined with
Marissa Pita's serving, the Red Raiders calmly went back to a 13-12 lead.
Barnstable
then claimed 12 consecutive points, racing ahead to the finish.
November 12, 2006
Barnstable volleyball keeps on rolling
By GEOFF CONVERSE
Contributing Writer
WAREHAM - The fact that Barnstable captured the Division 1 South volleyball
crown for the fifth straight year should come as no surprise.
The final score of 3-0 should not shock anyone as this year's edition
of the Red Raiders has yet to lose a game, much less a match.
But in this case, looks can be deceiving. This was no walk in the
park as the top-seeded Raiders were stretched to the limit before
prevailing over previously undefeated New
Bedford, 25-21, 25-13, 25-23.
Barnstable's 97th consecutive victory
stretching over four seasons improves the Raiders to 23-0 and advances them
to the state semifinal Wednesday at Whitman-Hanson High
School. They face the winner of last night's
Central/West final between Lincoln-Sudbury and Franklin.
For second-seeded New
Bedford, the loss is the only blemish on its record
as the Whalers finish at 22-1.
Barnstable relied on its poise under pressure, refusing to break as
the Whalers tied the first game at 16 before Barnstable seemingly broke it
open with six of the next eight points, only to have New Bedford tie it again
at 21 before the Raiders locked it up with the final four points of that
game.
The Raiders rolled to a one-sided win in the second game, thanks to
outstanding play by sophomore Stephanie Bristol and junior Kara Cullen
(each with 11 kills) along with Natalie Cohen and some timely blocks. A 9-0
run to end the game was a microcosm of how dominant Barnstable was. Erin Johnson served out
the game with eight straight winners.
In what turned out to be the final game, Barnstable
jumped out to an 8-1 advantage and some of the Barnstable
spectators started to leave the Wareham
High School
gymnasium.
That action was a little premature as the gritty Whalers clawed their
way back, tying it four times and actually grabbing a brief 18-17 lead. The
play of Julie Clerc, Sarah Mello and Lauren Safioleas keyed the Whalers'
resurgence.
''These kids played their hearts out,'' said New Bedford coach Neil Macedo, who has
been knocked out by the Raiders for the fourth straight year. ''To beat Barnstable, you have
to play a perfect match. There were times out there where we didn't execute
and Barnstable
was able to capitalize on those opportunities.''
Though tested throughout, the Red Raiders failed to buckle under
pressure. And some key points were scored off the strength of the play of Bristol and Cullen as
well as sophomore Alison Klotz.
''We play an incredibly competitive schedule throughout the season
just so we can be ready for games like this,'' said Barnstable head coach Tom Turco. ''We
want the kids tested throughout the regular season, so they won't buckle
under pressure. Tonight, our blocks were very good and our kids up front
did a tremendous job as did our back line and our subs.
''These kids have icewater in their veins and they don't rattle
easily. It's amazing the amount of composure these kids have.''
Keeping up the volley
Raiders again headed to finals
By Kathleen Szmit
kszmit@barnstablepatriot.com
They are the Tiger Woods of volleyball
and right now the BHS girls varsity team is reigning supreme over their
opponents.th straight.
On Monday the
Raiders played in the first round of the MIAA Division I South volleyball
tournament, walking away with the win.
While a raucous
crowd cheered them on BHS proceeded to take Marshfield 25-10, 25-9 and 25-17,
improving to 21-0 for the year. The win marks the team’s 95
Marshfield took a quick lead in game
one, but Barnstable
quickly regrouped and came back in fighting form. Before long they had
worked to a 13-7 advantage on terrific service from Alison Klotz, who
netted six kills and two aces for the night.
In the second game,
it was all BHS as the Raiders leapt to a 10-0 start thanks to the skilled
service of Kortney Kelley and Natalie Cohen. Cohen played a tremendous
game, adding six kills and a whopping nine service aces.
The third game gave
the crowd a bit of anxiety, as it seemed that Marshfield might rally. However, Kara
Cullen, who turned in 10 kills and two blocks in the intense matches,
combined forces with Cohen to take the team to 20-10.
Refusing to go
quietly, much like the crowd, the Rams mustered enough of a rally to bring
the score to 23-17 before the Raiders finished things off.
Raiders Down the
Ducks
On Wednesday night BHS clinched a spot in
the South finals, defeating the Fontbonne Ducks 3-0.
The evening began when the Ducks’ first
serve hit the net. Seizing the moment, the Raiders quickly vaulted to a 7-0
lead, backed by Cohen’s stellar serving and Stephanie Bristol’s strong play
at the net.
It was Allie Appleman who brought the
team Game 1 with nine straight service winners.
The Ducks narrowed the score to 6-5 in
Game 2, prompting the spirited crowd to increase its ever-growing volume.
Perhaps feeding off the energy, Kortney
Kelley served up a 6-0 scoring run, assisted in the dig department by
Marissa Pita.
Casey Eagan stepped up, contributing two
aces during a 7-0 run to bring the score to 21-8 before freshman player
Maribeth Martin aided Bristol
in a clean spike to end the match.
During the final game BHS had nice 7-0
and 8-0 runs, including an excellent tip from Cohen, working on a great
serve from Amanda Parker, who had 21 assists during the evening. When all
was said and done Barnstable
emerged victorious at 25-5, 25-11 and 25-7, bringing their season total
stats to 22-0.
Saturday night the team travels to Wareham to compete in
the South finals, a match many anticipate will result in another
championship. Go Raiders!
November 9, 2006
Barnstable volleyball in another South
final
BY PAUL GODFREY
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
HYANNIS - For a team that hasn't lost a game the
entire season, it comes as no surprise when the Barnstable volleyball team finishes off
its opponents rather quickly. Last night they prevailed before the winning
50-50 raffle number was even announced.
The three-time defending state champion Red Raiders advanced to the
Div. 1 South final with a three-game sweep over Fontbonne Academy
last night before a large crowd at the Barnstable High gymnasium. Senior
Amanda Parker had 21 assists while middle-hitters Kara Cullen and Stephanie
Bristol dominated the net with nice kills apiece in the 25-5, 25-11, 25-7
win.
The top-seeded Red Raiders improve to 22-0 with their 96th
consecutive match win and head to Wareham for the South final Saturday at 6
p.m. Barnstable will host second-seeded New Bedford, who defeated Brockton
3-0 in last night's other semifinal. The Whalers are 22-0 as well.
Natalie Cohen had six kills and one ace while Erin Johnson had five
assists, Bristol
five aces and Cullen three blocks.
''They have some kids who can really serve well and we were able to
execute our offense off of their serving,'' Red Raiders coach Tom Turco
said. ''The defensive intensity was there as well. We picked a lot of balls
up and made some really good saves off of deflected blocks and loose
balls.''
After Fontbonne's initial serve went into the net, Barnstable
raced to a 7-0 lead behind the serving of Cohen and the play of Bristol at the net.
They finished off Game 1 behind nine straight service winners from Allie
Appleman.
The Red Raiders led just 6-5 in the middle game before Kortney
Kelley's serving sparked a 6-0 run aided by some great digs by Marissa
Pita. Casey Eagan had a pair of aces on a 7-0 run to make it 21-8 and
freshman Maribeth Martin set up a Bristol
spike to wrap up the game.
''We've got the option to go to two or three (touches),'' said Turco.
''We've got a lot of kids who can pass well. We're primarily passing
with two people but we can go to three with confidence and it gives us
another option and definitely makes us stronger.''
Barnstable
had 7-0 and 8-0 runs in the final game with a beautiful tip from Cohen
setting up a match-point win on Parker's serve.
The Barnstable
juggernaut was all too familiar for Fontbonne coach Katherine Hanchett, who
played for the Red Raiders as a freshman and sophomore in the mid-90s.
''Barnstable
is a whole 'nother level, a different level than a lot of teams,'' said the
third-year coach whose club was 1-17 two years ago.
''Their defense is very, very quick. Their offense is quick. They're
ready for pretty much anything.''
Saturday night it could be yet another South championship.
November 7, 2006
Barnstable, Bourne cruise to 3-0 wins
CAPE COD
TIMES
HYANNIS - It was just another day at the office
for the Barnstable
volleyball team last night in the first round of the MIAA Div. 1 South
tournament.
After finishing with yet another perfect regular season, the
three-time defending state champion and top-seeded Red Raiders hardly broke
a sweat en route to a methodical three-game sweep over No. 9 Marshfield,
25-10, 25-9 and 25-17.
BHS improves to 21-0, increases its consecutive match win streak to
95 straight and hosts Fontbonne
Academy in the
quarterfinals tomorrow at 7 p.m.
The Rams, who advanced to the first round with a 3-2
preliminary-round win over Braintree, finish 11-11 overall.
''We missed some serves in that third match and after getting a big
lead, didn't match their intensity,'' Barnstable
coach Tom Turco said. ''But overall, our girls had some nice digs and did
what they needed to do to get to the next round.''
Kara Cullen led the Red Raiders with a match-high 10 kills and two
blocks, while Stephanie Bristol contributed eight kills and two service
aces.
Natalie Cohen played a terrific all-around match with six kills and a
match-high nine service aces. Alison Klotz added six kills and two aces,
while Erin Johnson played well in the frontline with four kills.
In the first game, the visitors took a quick 2-0 lead before the Red
Raiders regrouped to take a 13-7 advantage on solid service by Klotz and
strong front-line play by Johnson, Cohen and Cullen.
Barnstable
vaulted to a quick 10-1 start in the second game behind the service of
Kourtney Kelley and Cohen and consistent all-around team play.
During the third and final game, the Red Raiders seemingly broke open
a close 7-6 match with kills by Cullen and Cohen to take a 20-10 lead.
The Rams made it interesting, closing the gap to 23-17, before BHS
finally won out
Another perfect season
BHS girls varsity volleyball does it again
By Kathleen Szmit
kszmit@barnstablepatriot.com
The Lady Raiders ended another perfect
season this week with a win against Case on Monday evening before beginning
preparations for tournament play that begins on Tuesday.
In Monday’s 3-0 game BHS was the
dominating force from the get-go, with the team demonstrating the
communication and cohesiveness that has garnered them such success.
The Raiders swept Case with a perfect 20-0
match followed by 25-14, 25-6, and 25-6, impressing the gathered crowd
immensely.
Stephanie Bristol had 13 strong kills in
the four matches while Kara Cullen turned in nine. Marissa Pita greatly
assisted in the win by chipping in five aces.
In the setter position Amanda Parker was
formidable, providing a stunning 36 assists for the Lady Raiders.
Playing in their last official regular
season game were seniors Erin Johnson and Natalie Cohen. Always fiery,
Johnson and Cohen pitched in six kills each. "Natalie has had a very
productive season with great play both at the defensive and offensive
end," said head coach Tom Turco. "Erin Johnson’s versatility at
the Right Front position gave us an effective block on the outside and
another setting option."
Turco also noted that Nora Wood, Allie
Appleman and Jessie Goode have been excellent defensively, while Casey Egan
and Kristi Everson contributed greatly to the offense late in the season.
"Perhaps the most improved player
has been Kortney Kelley," said Turco. "She has done a great job
defensively and produces from the service line."
The win caps another stellar season for
the Raiders who finish at 20-0. On Tuesday the team takes to the court at 7
p.m. for the South Sectional Quarter Finals, sure to be electric. "The
goal of the team is to win a state championship, and to along the way put
themselves in a situation that would allow us home court advantage,"
explained Turco of his team’s tournament mindset. "It is a five-step
process to achieve their goals. You can’t skip a step and you can’t get to
the next step without climbing the one in front of you."
October
31, 2006
Barnstable perfect again
CAPE COD
TIMES
SWANSEA -
Barnstable High dominated from start to finish, coming away with a 3-0
volleyball win over Case yesterday.
The Red Raiders, which finished the regular season a perfect 20-0,
won 25-14, 25-6 and 25-6.
They have captured 94 straight matches.
Sophomore Stephanie Bristol collected 13 kills and junior Kara Cullen
added nine. Seniors Erin Johnson and Natalie Cohen had six kills apiece.
Marissa Pita reinforced the victory with five aces.
Setter Amanda Parker played a strong game for the Red Raiders with 36
assists.
October
27, 2006
Raiders blank Case
CAPE COD
TIMES
HYANNIS - It was Senior Night at Barnstable and the Red
Raiders' volleyball team didn't disappoint, sweeping Case 3-0 last night to
win its 93rd straight match.
Barnstable
improves to 19-0 with the 25-9, 25-9, 25-11 victory. The Red Raiders, who
cap the regular season Monday at Case, are closing in on the Cardinals'
state record of 107 consecutive girls volleyball victories.
Barnstable
had outstanding play from its seniors: Natalie Cohen, Erin Johnson, Marissa
Pita, Allie Appleman and Jessie Goode. Cohen and Johnson had six kills and
an ace apiece, Pita had seven aces, and Appleman and Goode combined for 11
digs in the back row,
Amanda Parker finished with 29 assists for the Raiders. Stephanie
Bristol had 11 kills, Kara Cullen six and Nora Wood three.
October
26, 2006
Unbeaten Raiders cap OCL campaign
CAPE | 
