Published November 29, 2018
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — One member of the North Reading High volleyball team received post-season honors from the Cape Ann League coaches. Brooke DeGrande made the CAL Second-Team All-Stars. She was a co-captain along with Molly Feffer and played setter.
“I wasn’t sure what position she was going to play at the start of the season,” admitted Hornets head coach Mike Milone, who just completed his ninth year at the helm. “But, due to her leadership skills, we decided to put her at setter as the quarterback of our offense.”
SENIOR CAPTAIN Brooke DeGrande was named a 2018 Cape Ann League second-team All-Star after an excellent season as the setter for the NRHS volleyball team. (John Friberg File Photo)
The Hornets also had their awards banquet night as three players took home awards. DeGrande was named the team’s MVP. Sophia Trischitta received the Unsung Hero Award while fellow sophomore Elizabeth Kelly took hone the Coaches Award.
“Sophia took over the role of opposite hitter early in the season and gave us an emotional lift,” said Milone. “Elizabeth was our best overall player and most consistent. She was also a sound passer.”
The Hornets, who were one of the youngest teams in the league this season, finished at 3-15 overall. They went 3-11 in the CAL.
“We lost a lot of seniors from last year and the sophomore class had to step up despite their lack of experience,” recalled Milone, as the team made the Division 2 state tournament last fall. “As the season went along, we got more competitive.”
The Hornets will lose only two players, DeGrande and Feffer, to graduation as Milone is slate to return over 20 players next September.
“We have some talent back and that is not including the current eighth-graders who will be freshmen next year,” said Milone.
