New London, CT - Strong late season runs, in sports, have a way of defining a season. For the Williams College women’s volleyball team (24-7, 9-1), after Saturday, their late season run includes an impressive 13 victories in 15 matches. The Ephs did not drop a game in the regular season’s final NESCAC weekend and notched two more conference victories in the process to finish 9-1 in NESCAC play.
Playing host Connecticut College in the first match of the day, the Ephs handed the Camels their first home defeat of the season, 3-0 (30-25, 30-17, 32-30). The Camels had, earlier in the season, defeated Amherst, handing the NESCAC’s top team their only conference loss of the season.
In the regular season finale, the Ephs defeated Trinity 3-0 (30-25, 30-27, 30-19). The win was extra special for senior captain Liz Hirschhorn, whose only kill of the match turned out to be the game three’s decisive thirtieth point. With the score 29-19, Hirschhorn successfully performed a second ball dump, which caught the Bantams off guard and ensured that her final regular season match was a victory.
“There was a good combo on the floor today and everyone’s confidence is running high,†said head coach Fran Vandermeer. “We are really feeding off each other and playing some aggressive and efficient volleyball.â€
Against the Camels, the key was the block and service game of the Ephs. Sophomores Andrea Scioscia (2 service aces, 10 digs), Melissa Pun (4 service aces, 8 kills, 15 digs), and Chelsea Kubal (2 service aces, 15 digs) led a strong serve attack, while sophomores Whitney Hitchcock (5 blocks, 7 kills with no errors on 12 swings) and Alisha Cahlan (5 blocks, 13 kills), and first year Nicole Ballon-Landa (2 blocks, 7 kills) were strong up front. First years Emily Avis (36 assists) and Eleanor Levine (12 digs, 4 kills) also posted strong numbers.
“This was a good match to start the day,†said Vandermeer. “Conn College is a strong team on their home court, but we played with the intensity we’ve been expecting and played aggressive offensively.â€
There were no cliffhangers in the season finale, as the Ephs took control of the match from the start en route to the 3-0 victory over the Bantams. Leading the offense for the Ephs were Avis (45 assists, 11 digs), Pun (12 kills, 20 digs), Ballon-Landa (13 kills, 5 blocks), Hitchcock (5 kills, 3 blocks), first year Kate Anderson (2 kills), and Cahlan (15 kills, 2 blocks), who has posted great numbers down the stretch for this surging Ephs team.
On defense, the usual suspects, junior captain Riki McDermott (12 digs), Kubal (19 digs), Scioscia (12 digs, 2 service aces), and Levine (9 digs, 6 kills), were strong for the Ephs. The aforementioned Liz Hirschhorn also added 2 assists to go along with her key kill.
“I thought we were consistent and when Trinity would make a run, we would regroup and we were confident in each other,†said Vandermeer. “Overall, we had excellent serving all weekend and that would give us better opportunities on offense. All our players served tough and gave us a lot of free ball opportunities, which we took advantage of.â€
With the regular season in the rear view mirror, the Ephs now travel to Amherst next weekend for the NESCAC Championships. The second seeded Ephs look to avenge a loss in last season’s NESCAC Championship match to Amherst. The winner of the tournament receives an automatic bid into the NCAA Championships.
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.
Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.
The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.
Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.
Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.
Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.
Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.
The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.
The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.
Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.
Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years.
He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.
Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.
Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.
Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.
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