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Multimedia program highlights 'Hidden Gems of Jefferson County'

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Multimedia program highlights 'Hidden Gems of Jefferson County'

WORKING ON PROJECT — C.J. Jordan, a senior multimedia and design student at Jefferson County Joint Vocational School, edits footage. With him are senior Madison Grim and MAD instructor Cody LaRue. — Contributed

BLOOMINGDALE — Multimedia and design students at the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School are shining a spotlight on community groups in a joint venture with the Jefferson County Resource Network and Jefferson County Educational Service Center.

MAD instructor Cody LaRue said he met with Beth Rupert Warren, executive director of the resource network, to create a series of videos entitled “Hidden Gems of Jefferson County” to enhance opportunities for the community, and the first episode focuses on the Eastern Ohio ASPIRE program.

ASPIRE is a statewide initiative funded by the Ohio Department of Higher Education that offers free adult education services to help individuals improve their academic and workforce skills. LaRue’s students organized and filmed interviews and then performed the final edits.

“We are working in tandem with the Jefferson County ESC and the Jefferson County Resource Network to create a promotional video for the Eastern Ohio ASPIRE Program. We hope to inform the public of the program and highlight the importance of programs like this in enhancing opportunities for the community,” LaRue explained. “We were approached earlier in the year by Beth Rupert Warren and met with the leaders of the program in February, then began filming in April.”

The video centers on ASPIRE’S work to help adults enhance their basic literacy, earn a high school equivalency diploma, learn English or prepare for college and career advancement. Participants may complete reading, writing and math classes; undergo high school equivalency preparation to take GED or HiSET exams; complete English for speakers of other languages courses to improve their use of the language; obtain workforce readiness training in employability skills, computer literacy, and career planning; utilize integrated education and training programs to gain industry-recognized credentials; and gain support in transitioning to post-secondary education, vocational training, or employment opportunities.

LaRue said the production prepared his pupils for future careers by giving them practical experience in the field. He noted that his program has worked with the ESC and the partnership gives his students a chance to showcase their abilities.

“We strive to build a reputation for professional quality work and as such, when the leaders of ASPIRE approached (Rupert Warren) with the desire to create an informational video, she recommended me and my class,” Larue said. “So far, this is only the second video we have produced in conjunction with the ESC, but we have attended community meetings held by the JCRN and have met many other community programs and businesses who are interested in working with us. We intend to continue to highlight more of these clients in the future through the video series.”

Seniors C.J. Jordan, Madison Grim, Briley Blancato, Jacob Kendle and Zachariah Murphy were involved in every aspect of the project, including holding initial meetings with clients to discuss the scope, scheduling interviews, creating the narration script and interview questions and filming on location at JCESC in Steubenville, in Lisbon and at the New Castle School of Trades in East Liverpool.

Students put the finishing touches on the video shortly before school ended and it is available on the resource network website. Some pupils said they enjoyed having the chance to highlight their skills.

“I loved the opportunity to get out of the building and work in the field,” said Jordan. “Everyone was really polite and I had a lot of fun.” “It was great,” added Kendle. “I feel like the work we’ve done is really important, and I take pride in helping people get a second chance at an education.”

Senior Executive Director Karla Gregory-Martin said the free program is available in all 88 Ohio counties and offers flexible class schedules and locations to accommodate adult learners. Instruction is tailored to individual needs and students receive personalized learning plans based on assessments conducted during orientation. There are no income or residency requirements, although students must live, work or be enrolled in post-secondary education in Ohio.

“ASPIRE is a valuable resource for adults seeking to improve their education and employment prospects, offering supportive services to help individuals achieve their personal and professional goals,” she said.

She added that ASPIRE joined JCESC last July and Rupert Warren was instrumental in setting the video collaboration in motion.

“Beth has long been a strong supporter of the ASPIRE program and deeply believes in its mission. She is committed to helping more people understand the life-changing assistance ASPIRE offers to individuals across Jefferson County and all the counties it serves,” Gregory-Martin continued. “She often refers to ASPIRE as one of the county’s hidden gems, and her efforts to connect it with innovative programs like MAD at JVS are a reflection of her dedication to expanding opportunity and awareness.”

She said the video project shined a “well-deserved spotlight” on one of the county’s best-kept secrets and praised the students for their professionalism.

“Through a dynamic and engaging video created in partnership with the talented students of the MAD program at JVS, we aimed to capture the heart of what ASPIRE truly offers: life-changing educational opportunities, second chances and a pathway to success for adults across our communities. This wasn’t just a promotional piece — it was a celebration of resilience, growth, and the power of education to transform lives,” she said. “Thanks to Beth Rupert Warren’s vision and unwavering support, this project became a platform to elevate ASPIRE’s impact and inspire others to take that first step toward a better future. I absolutely loved it. Watching the MAD students bring ASPIRE’s story to life was something special. They really captured the heart of what we do. It was exciting, meaningful, and honestly just felt good to be part of something that helps shine a light on the real impact ASPIRE has. This wasn’t just another project — it felt personal. I’m proud of what we created together.”

Rupert Warren was equally thrilled to see the venture come to fruition. She said she started JCRN two years ago while working for the ESC, beginning with 32 businesses, organizations and agencies and growing to 75 resource categories today that provide valuable support to the community.

“(The MAD program) is doing multiple episodes throughout the year and the first is the ASPIRE program. There are so many resources that people don’t know about. We get 1,200 to 2,500 hits per month on our website and our database has more than 400 emails to share information,” she added. “ASPIRE is part of the ESC and we get to see how it works from the front line. I think one of the biggest hidden gems in Jefferson County is the JVS, and there’s nothing greater than seeing their talent.”

JCESC Superintendent Chuck Kokiko said ASPIRE provided another means to serve the community and he was pleased with the efforts of everyone involved to share the valuable resource. “The Jefferson County Educational Service Center was approached more than a year ago regarding the potential to assume responsibility for the ASPIRE program. In alignment with the board’s vision of serving as a community-centered provider, they enthusiastically embraced this opportunity. Today, we are pleased to observe how various programs are mutually benefiting from this collaboration. For example, students from the JVS are developing a video that will showcase the ASPIRE program on the resource network,” Kokiko concluded. “This initiative helps connect former students with pathways to complete their education, as communicated through the resource network. I would like to express our appreciation to the JCESC board for its foresight and leadership in bringing this initiative together, as well as to the JVS faculty and students for their efforts in creating the video. Additionally, we thank the Jefferson County commissioners for their financial support of the resource network.”

The video can be viewed at jcresourcenetwork.org

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High School Sports

Watch Thursday 9.4 JSZ Football Highlights

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3 months ago

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September 5, 2025

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Watch Thursday 9.4 JSZ Football Highlights

We’ve got Thursday night football to kick off Week 1 around the Garden State as JSZ brings you three games from the gridiron. Princeton and Allentown meet in a Mercer County thriller, Demarest looks to start strong against Bergen Tech plus Washington Township tries to reach 2-0 against Pennsauken in the WJFL. Check back as the highlights are posted throughout the night!

Down 6-0, senior Ellinton Hinds who already had an interception on the first drive of the game, made one of the best catches in all of New Jersey high school football so far this season to keep Princeton (2-0) undefeated in 2025. Hinds had two leaping catches from QB Quinton deFaria, who threw for 109 yards and a TD. The Tigers beat Allentown (0-2) for the first time since 2005 and look to keep their win streak alive with a Week 2 matchup against Ewing.

JSZ’s Tyler Mroz has the highlights + reaction from Allentown: 

Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Princeton and Allentown is brought to you by Princeton Orthopaedic Associates.

The Minutemen took care of business in their home opener by racing out to a 35-0 halftime lead and cruising the rest of the way. Colin Beeler scored a pair of touchdowns to lead a bruising rushing attack in the victory. Paris Pratt hauled in a touchdown and added a fumble return touchdown for Washington Township (2-0). Pennsauken (1-1) will look to bounce back next Thursday against Highland.

JSZ’s James Mooney has the highlights from Sewell:

Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Washington Township is made possible by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.

With lead running back Reed Kauderer unavailable for the majority of the game, the Norsemen needed their other playmakers to step up. They ultimately answered the bell. Quarterback Joseph Yun accounted for three total touchdowns as Demarest (1-0) begins their 2025 season with a bang. Daejuan Joseph caught a pair of touchdown passes in the win. Bergen Tech (0-1) will now turn their focus to a game against Ferris next week.

JSZ’s Sean Dugan has the highlights from Little Ferry:

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High School Sports

High school football

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3 months ago

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September 5, 2025

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High school football

Five games dotted the high school football schedule Thursday night.

In Class AA, Butte stormed past Billings Skyview 33-13 on the road while Missoula Sentinel knocked off No. 3 Great Falls CMR 6-0. A big showdown in 8-Man lived up to its billing as No. 3 Fort Benton beat No. 2 Belt 24-22.

Check out the highlights and details below:

CLASS AA

Missoula Sentinel 6, No. 3 Great Falls CMR 0

After a scoreless first half, Sentinel struck with a 32-yard touchdown pass from Rudy Hess to Kyler Haslam. That ended up being the game’s only score, as the Spartans’ defense kept Great Falls CMR off the scoreboard entirely.

WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS:

Missoula Sentinel knocks off No. 3 Great Falls CMR in defensive slugfest

Sentinel held CMR to six first downs, and 0-for-9 showing on third down and 132 total offensive yards. The Spartans’ Jake Boggust recovered a fumble on a promising CMR drive in the fourth quarter that helped preserve the shutout.

Butte 33, Billings Skyview 13

Hudson Luedtke caught three touchdown passes from Brooks Vincent to lead Butte to a road victory. Peyton Johnson had a scoring run and Jaeger Hansen returned an interception for a TD as the Bulldogs built a sizable first-half lead.

WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS:

Butte picks up convincing win at Billings Skyview

The Falcons got their points on two touchdown passes from Jaxon Zagata to Jackson Carter.

At halftime, Skyview celebrated the 30th anniversary of its 1995 state title team. That year, the Falcons went 11-1 under coach Rob Lebsock and won the Class AA championship with a 27-20 victory over Bozeman.

1995 Billings Skyview

The 1995 state champion Billings Skyview Falcons are honored at Daylis Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in Billings.

8-MAN

No. 3 Fort Benton 24, No. 2 Belt 22

Truman Giese’s fourth-quarter touchdown and two-point conversion gave Fort Benton the lead and two defensive takeaways in the final minutes helped maintain it as Fort Benton knocked off Belt in a ranked matchup.

WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS:

No. 3 Fort Benton knocks off No. 2 Belt in 8-Man showdown

Blake Waldner set an early tone for the Huskies with a 29-yard touchdown run, but Giese scored from 3 yards out to help tie it 8-8 in the second quarter.

Slater Lords had a long catch and run for a touchdown, putting Belt up 16-8, but a Giese-to-David Olson TD pass tied the game again. In the third, Waldner turned a Huskies interception into another touchdown run as Belt grabbed a 22-16 advantage. But it didn’t hold up.

Other Thursday scores:

8-Man

Fairview 64, Poplar 0

6-Man

Highwood 62, Alberton 0

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What is the Fastest Tennis Serve of All Time?

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3 months ago

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September 5, 2025

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What is the Fastest Tennis Serve of All Time?

In this countdown, we look back at the fastest recorded tennis serves of all time.

Service speed remains a dominant feature in the modern game and can become a player’s trump card out on the court.

With players getting stronger and cutting-edge technology in tennis racquets making leaps and bounds, serves today are faster than ever.

We take a look at the fastest serves ever recorded by men and women out on the tennis court.

Men’s fastest tennis serve

Sam Groth – 263.4kph (163.7mph.)

Australian Sam Groth has the honour of having the fastest recorded tennis serve of all time.

The 6ft 4 Australian set the record during an ATP Open Challenger match in Busan, South Korea, in 2012 against Belarusian tennis player Uladzimir Ignatik.

Groths serve clocks in at a staggering 263.4kph (163.7mph).

Honorable mentions

Second Fastest Recorded Serve in Tennis

Albano Olivetti – 257.5 kph (160mph)

Frenchman Albano Olivetti holds the record for the second-fastest serve ever recorded. The French tennis pro also remains the second person to break the 160mph serve speed barrier.

Olivetti’s serve came in 2012 at the challenger level during the Internazionali Trofeo Lame Perrel–Faip.

Albano Olivetti

Albano Olivetti holds the second-fastest record serve on the tour.

Third Fastest Recorded Serve in Tennis

John Isner – 253 kph (157.2 mph).

It would be hard not to include the American giant John Isner in this list. The 6ft 10 American is known best for his monster serves, which are delivered consistently throughout.

His monstrous serve is thanks in part to his stature. Isner clocks in as the third-tallest tennis player on the ATP behind the Croatian giant Ivo Karlovic and American young gun Reilly Opelka (both 6ft 11 inches). Ivo Karlovic currently holds the record for the fourth fastest recorded tennis serve.

Isner currently holds the third fastest serve in tennis. The Americans serve, clocking in at 253 kph (157.2 mph) during a 2016 Davis Cup tie against Bernard Tomic.

John Isner also holds the record for playing the longest match in Grand Slam history against Nicolas Mahut. During Wimbledon 2010, Isner beat Mahut in 5 sets: 6–4, 3–6, 6–7, 7–6, 70–68. The match lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes.

Isner’s serve is the fastest recorded serve in tennis, recognised by the ATP.

Fastest Tennis Serve Female

Georgina García Pérez – 220kph (136.7 mph)

Spaniard Georgina Garcia Perez holds the record for the fastest recorded tennis serve by a woman.

Perez clocked a serve of 200kph (136.7 mph) during the Hungarian Ladies Open in 2018.

Georgina Garcia Perez

Georgina Garcia Perez holds the record for the fastest serve by a female.

Why is it nearly impossible to hit a 160 mph tennis serve?

A considered calculation of stature, technique, coaching, mechanics and good old practice is said to make the perfect concoction for a fast serve.

A direct correlation has been proven between the height of a player and power during a serve. Therefore, it is no coincidence that the top servers of the game are all giants by nature.

The trajectory of a serve remains ever important. Players who are 6ft 7 or above have the ability to hit the ball with a downward trajectory, whereas those who are under that height are unable to do so.

Modern technology has also greatly aided in the incremental increase of server power over time. The changeover from wooden rackets to today’s modern racket is a huge factor in determining serve power. Advancements in string technology and racket materials also play a huge part in determining a fast serve.

Other mitigating factors include court conditions. Faster serves are much more likely to happen on a hard court and during hotter temperatures, where there is less resistance to air density, translating to faster speeds.

When you compare the fastest tennis serve with other sports, you can see how fast it is.

Fastest Football shot – 114 mph by David Hirst in 1996
Fastest Baseball pitch – 105.1 mph by Aroldis Chapman in 2010
Fastest Cricket Bowling speed – 100.2 mph by Shoaib Akhtar in 2003

What is the average tennis serve speed?

The average tennis serve speed differs between both men and women, as well as between pros and amateurs. Data shows us that for professional male tennis players, the average tennis serve speed is approximately 114 mph (on their first serve) and 93 mph (on their second serve).

For women, the average tennis serve speed clocks in at 98 mph (on their first serve) and 82 mph (on their second serve).

This data was recorded between 2002-2013, so bear in mind the average speeds have likely increased by a few miles per hour in the modern era, as racquet technology and athletes continue to evolve and adapt within the sport.

Check out Wired’s video, which covers the topic more in-depth.

Fancy writing for us: Apply to become a Sports Writer at the Sporting Ferret

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High School Sports

Poudre tennis top singles player Owen Addington voted Blue FCU Athlete of the Week

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September 5, 2025

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Poudre tennis top singles player Owen Addington voted Blue FCU Athlete of the Week

It’s the second edition of Blue Federal Credit Union‘s Fort Collins-area Athlete of the Week for the 2025-26 high school sports season.

And this week’s honor is hitting the local tennis courts with a top singles player.

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Poudre boys tennis player Owen Addington took top honors in the Fort Collins area for the week of Aug. 25-30 after a couple of dominant sweeps.

Playing on the No. 1 singles line, the Impalas senior dropped just six games in four sets across two match wins over Windsor and Northglenn’s top players.

He beat Windsor’s Joseph Bisceglia (6-2, 6-3) and followed that up with a 6-0, 6-1 over Northglenn’s Emrah Mehidic.

Poudre's Owen Addington bends down to hit a shot during a city rivalry boys tennis dual on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024 at Fort Collins High School in Fort Collins, Colo.

Poudre’s Owen Addington bends down to hit a shot during a city rivalry boys tennis dual on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024 at Fort Collins High School in Fort Collins, Colo.

Addington, also a basketball player and tennis team captain, has helped Poudre get off to a 3-1 start this season that also included a team tournament title at the Thompson Valley Invitational.

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The senior and third-year varsity player is the first tennis player to earn Blue FCU Athlete of the Week honors in the award’s third school year. He joins Rocky Mountain’s Bode Nesbitt as the first winners in the 2025-26 prep sports season.

Poudre fans pushed Addington atop the polls, giving him the victory with 51.5% of the fan vote.

That propelled him past these other four outstanding Athlete of the Week nominees:

  • Brooke Pravlik, PSD flag football (runner-up at 36.7%)

  • Taylor Morgan, Wellington softball

  • Judd Nikkel, Fossil Ridge boys golf

  • Nora Ebel, Rocky Mountain girls cross country

The Blue Federal Credit Union Athlete of the Week series features five nominees on Mondays, with voting at Coloradoan.com until 11:59 p.m. every Wednesday.

Fans can nominate their favorite athletes (deadline: 11:59 p.m. every Sunday), and the Coloradoan Sports staff will ultimately select the nominees each week.

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If you have nominations for a future Athlete of the Week, please send them via email to ChrisAbshire@coloradoan.com for consideration.

View the full results:

Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Poudre tennis’ Owen Addington voted Blue FCU Athlete of the Week

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High School Sports

7 high school takeaways from Thursday, or as we call it High School Football Eve

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3 months ago

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September 5, 2025

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7 high school takeaways from Thursday, or as we call it High School Football Eve

BB&N senior Sam Kelley (right) announced he will play football at Brown. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff

With sincere apologies to all the games played Thursday, here at Globe Schools it feels a lot like Christmas Eve, with a full slate of high school football arriving under the tree Friday evening.

Over the last two weeks we talked to nearly 200 football coaches and wrote more than 30,000 words previewing every team in Eastern Mass. There’s still time for a cram session!

Team-by-team previews for every Eastern Mass. program

Trevor Hass wrote about Whittier football coach Kevin Bradley, who is continuing to coach the team while battling tongue cancer. Read coach Bradley’s inspirational story.

The first three football games of the season were played Thursday night, with Pentucket topping Northeast (26-22), Waltham holding off Belmont (24-12), and Brookline beating Lexington (27-10).

1. Milestones

▪ Two golf teams made history, as Canton set a new low home score at Blue Hill Country Club, scoring a 138 as a team to best Mansfield by 15 strokes thanks to 1-under-par 33s from senior Joey Ryan and freshman Chase Thomas.

▪ Rockport set a record for most points on its home course, Rockport Country Club, posting a 168-151 win over Hamilton-Wenham behind a 38-point showing from Sam Kesterson, who shot a 1-under-par 34 with three birdies.

▪ St. John Paul II field hockey coach Leah Pierce got her first win with the program, beating Bishop Stang, 3-0. Ariana Liakos got her first win helming the Pembroke girls’ volleyball, beating Falmouth, 3-1. And Acton-Boxborough girls’ soccer coach Manny Lopes notched his first victory, 4-0, over Algonquin.

2. Upset city

▪ No. 4 Needham girls’ volleyball knocked off preseason No. 1 Brookline, 3-0, just a day after falling, 3-0, to No. 2 Newton North.

▪ On the pitch, No. 18 Medfield boys’ soccer shocked No. 10 Oliver Ames, the defending Division 2 state champions, with a 2-0 win powered by goals from Max Tillmann and Sebastian Cole.

3. College corner

Keene State freshman Kayla DiPasquale, a Marshfield High graduate, was named Little East Conference women’s soccer Rookie of the Week after scoring her first two collegiate goals in a 4-2 win over Rivier.

4. Commitment central

BB&N senior captain Sam Kelley, a 6-foot-2-inch, 228-pound two-way athlete from Natick, announced he will play football at Brown.

5. Soccer leaderboard

Goals

Talia Lowney, Greater Lowell, 5

Mary Kudarauskas, Sturgis West, 4

Rowan Malvey, Marshfield, 4

Miguel Armaczuk, St. John Paul II, 3

Cody Boghdan, St. John Paul II, 3

Jackie Fritz, Salem, 3

Linda Jenner, Sharon, 3

Leah Monahan, Lowell, 3

Angie Niz, Lynn Tech, 3

Devon Weafer, Medfield, 3

Bella Wen, Westwood, 3

Davide Vitale, Shawsheen, 3

Points

Lowney, Greater Lowell, 10

Kudarauskas, Sturgis West, 8

Malvey, Marshfield, 8

Kaylee Barrett, Lynnfield, 7

Jenner, Sharon 6

Lauren Sutliffe, Duxbury, 6

Vitale, Shawsheen, 6

Lyla Chapman, Tewksbury, 5

Ava Damiani, Lynnfield, 5

Jocelyn DeMedeiros, Sturgis West, 5

Zach Dziggle, Shawsheen, 5

Maddie Fernandes, Mansfield, 5

Sophie Hano, Manchester Essex, 5

Cory Lloyd, O’Bryant, 5

Sera Eramo, Greater Lowell, 5

6. Field hockey leaders

Goals

Hannah D’Angelo, Pembroke, 4

Dani Ekyman, Sutton, 4

Julie Pacheco, Somerset Berkley, 4

Anthony Ford, Lowell, 3

Alyssa Norden, St. Mary’s, 3

Abbie Poole, Malden Catholic, 3

Natalie Ramcharan, Malden Catholic, 3

Maura Richardson, Joseph Case, 3

Points

Emma Bouchard, Joseph Case, 5

Pacheco, Somerset Berkley, 5

D’Angelo, Pembroke, 4

Ford, Lowell, 4

Richardson, Joseph Case, 4

Vaught, Somerset Berkley, 4

Caitlin Patten, Hingham, 3

Sam Rudick, Hingham, 3

7. Girls volleyball leaders

Kills

Kiera Clark, Milton, 17

Kyra Ward, Chelmsford, 15

Julie Hall, Central Catholic, 14

Sadie Stants, Needham, 14

Norah Downey, Braintree, 11

Assists

Sophie Derwinski, Milton, 27

Madison Blanchet, Central Catholic, 24

Ellen Griswold, Chelmsford, 22

Bella Lee, Needham, 17

Audrey Manning, Lynnfield, 14

Digs

Alexia Vaquerano, Lynnfield, 14

Brooke Braswell, Lynn Classical, 12

Angelina Silva, Tewksbury, 12

Blocks

Alexia Faria, Central Catholic, 10

Downey, Braintree, 5

Manning, Lynnfield, 5

Aces

Morgan Etna, Hamilton-Wenham, 9

Hall, Central Catholic, 7

Maria Rosario, Greater Lawrence, 6

Downey, Braintree, 4

Stants, Needham, 4

Brendan Kurie can be reached at brendan.kurie@globe.com. Follow him on X @BrendanKurie.

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