SCHOOL ROUNDUP

Latin Academy girls keep it perfectly simple

By Jack McCluskey, Globe Correspondent | October 31, 2007

As music blared and the opposition warmed up on the court, the Latin Academy girls' volleyball team huddled quietly in the Madison Park gym.

The 11 girls, clad in black and gold, and none taller than 5 feet 6 inches, listened intently as their coach, Robert Huie, gave instructions. Then they broke the huddle with a simple, emphatic cheer: "1-2-3 Dragons!"

Just like the cheer, the game plan that Latin Academy used to beat O'Bryant, 3-0, for its fourth straight Boston City championship, was no-frills.

"To me it's all about the basics," said Huie, citing consistent defense, passing, and serving as keys to the 25-17, 25-14, 25-9 victory.

It would take just over an hour for the Dragons to serve, pass, and hit their way to the finish of a 19-0 season. Relying on its fundamental approach, Latin Academy wasn't just perfect in matches; the Dragons didn't lose a game all season - only once allowing an opponent to top 20 points.

"They're solid," said O'Bryant coach Trudy Fisher, whose team had to settle for second for the second straight season. "They serve well, they pass well, they hit well."

The trophy featured a player holding a volleyball aloft, ready to serve - fitting, since Latin Academy had three players in double figures in service points (Evis Muhameti, Kristian Tran, and Sue Hua) and only two service errors.

So what was better, the perfect season or the fourth straight city championship?

"Honestly, I'm proud of the perfect season, because the championship game you know you're really pumped up," said Muhameti, the team's only senior, as her teammates posed for pictures with the trophy.

"The games throughout the season are really the hard ones, because they're the ones you've got to [get] pumped for."

How does Muhameti plan to celebrate today?

"I still trick-or-treat," she said with a laugh. "I know I'm a little too old, but, oh well."

Nonleague: Jean Yau had 20 digs and Megen Mills collected six aces and 12 kills as Brockton took care of Weymouth, 3-0 . . . Jackie Atkinson had 12 kills, Amy Lepley collected 11 kills and two blocks, and Kristen Walsh added five kills and three aces as Bishop Feehan improved to 19-1 with a 3-1 win over Medway.

Boys' soccer
Mayflower: Sean Miller scored in Blue Hills's 1-0 win over Minuteman.

Tri-Valley: Austin Goldenberg scored twice and Tom O'Loughlin added another in Holliston's 3-2 win over Hopkinton.

Nonleague: Carver (15-0-3) completed the first undefeated season in program history by beating Scituate, 3-1. Kerieth Pinnock scored twice and Bryan Kennedy added another for the Crusaders.

Girls' soccer
Bay State: Sam Villaboa scored her 19th goal of the season in Norwood's 2-1 win over Walpole. Cory Ryan scored earlier in the game for Norwood.

Northeastern: Marissa Gambale scored twice and Jen Cleary added another in Swampscott's 3-1 win over Beverly.

Vocational tourney: Cassandra DaSilva scored the tying and winning goals, and Casey Romalho added a goal, in Greater Lowell's 3-2 win over Blue Hills . . . Jenn Carroll scored with two minutes left to give Shawsheen a 3-2 triumph over Northeast. Janel Madore and Heather Masse also scored for Shawsheen.

Nonleague: Emily Milone scored and North Quincy earned its 11th straight tournament berth with a 1-0 win over Dennis-Yarmouth . . . Amanda Webster scored her 23d goal of the season, and Briana Barker and Brittney Nauman also tallied as St. Mary's beat Pentucket, 3-1 . . . Alex Garufi notched two goals and Ryann Carr earned the shutout in Hingham's 2-0 win over Notre Dame of Hingham.

Globe correspondent Matt Foster contributed to this report.