Canton inches closer to league title with sweep of Oliver Ames

CANTON — Facing a school from a higher division typically comes with added pressure. This is especially true if the opponent is a bitter rival.

However, Patricia Cawley has built Canton’s volleyball program into a juggernaut, one which can battle with the likes of anyone, and the Bulldogs were anything but intimidated Wednesday night. Seniors Elizabeth Bickett (10 digs, five kills, three blocks) and Angela Elias (nine digs, five kills, four aces) provided a boost, as the Bulldogs blanked Oliver Ames for the second time this week, 3-0.

“(Oliver Ames) was fighting to tie us for the (Hockomock Davenport) League lead,” said Cawley. “I think there was a lot of pressure on them. I thought my team played well tonight. We didn’t have a great offensive night, but I think Bickett stood out. She was a force at the net.”

The Bulldogs (7-1) won by set scores of 25-13, 25-15 and 25-16. Right from the opening serve, Canton was in control. What made the victory even more impressive was that the Bulldogs were taking on a reigning Div. 1 South sectional finalist. Each time Oliver Ames began to stage a rally during a set, the Bulldogs thwarted their opponent’s efforts and found a way to pull away.

“Division 1 has bigger schools,” Cawley said. “But I think in volleyball, there’s a lot of teams across all the divisions that can compete with each other in the state. We sit in the Hock, and most of the teams are Division 1. To me, it doesn’t matter what division they’re in, we’re competing with them.”

For the early portion of the third, and ultimately final set, the two schools traded punches, before the ball became lodged in one of the gymnasium’s basketball hoops up in the rafters. At the time, Canton was leading, 15-14. Once play resumed after a brief delay, the Bulldogs closed the set on a 10-2 run, clinching the match in the process.

Oliver Ames was powered offensively by senior Sarah Morely (23 receptions, 10 digs) and by junior Hadley Rhodes (14 assists).

While a second straight Div. 2 championship might be out of the cards this year for Canton due to the pandemic, the Bulldogs appear well on their way to clinching at least a share of the Hockomock Davenport title. Canton can win the league outright by sweeping its two games with Foxboro next week.

“I think we can definitely hold our ground with anyone,” Bickett said afterward. “We don’t underestimate anyone. We’re ready for any challenge, and we do a lot in practice to prepare. I think we’re always ready.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2PnA5Gg