Tight-knit Scarlet Hawks pushing for postseason

By Chris Villani

The Milford High girls’ volleyball team lost several standout players from a team that finished fourth in the competitive Hockomock League a season ago and earned a spot in the tournament. But head coach Tammy Webber said she has a team this year that plays well together and has enough heart and hustle to overcome a relative lack of experience.

“I kept a smaller number this year, but I feel like they are a little bit more close-knit,” Webber said. “We also have a lot more kids that are more intense, they won’t let a ball hit the floor.”

Webber said she is already seeing the fire in her players during the first week of practices.

“They are chasing the ball into the bleachers in practice, never mind in a game,” she said. “I think we have been missing that for a couple of years and I am hoping the intensity will help us this year.”

Milford finished with a .500 record in the fall of 2022. Webber finds herself training a new setter and looking to replace power up the middle, but several key players are back this fall.

Senior Maeve Driscoll will likely move to setter this year after playing outside hitter a season ago. Webber said she is looking to TJ Downing, a junior, along with junior Claudia Solitro and senior Olivia Luchini, to anchor the attack on the outside.

Khatrina Leger is an athletic player in the middle with a big block, Webber said; and newcomer Laysa Kuhna could be another impact athlete as a middle hitter. Senior Kacey Fritts will return to the floor after she, like Luchini, missed most of last year with an injury.

Senior Nicolette Macchi and junior Gianna Lebron will hold down the back row as defensive specialists. 

Webber stressed that the Hawks are not going to “overshoot” when it comes to setting goals this fall, but the primary objective is going to be earning a spot in the state tournament.

“That always has to be our first goal, but it’s tough because of our league and even our non-league schedule is pretty tough this year,” Webber said. “Last year, even if we didn’t come away with a win, we were able to take some sets off teams and I’m hoping we can do the same this year.”

But Webber is taking things day by day with a new roster.

“We want to play tough in every match and keep improving,” she said.