Haverhill, MA (October 23, 2023) – The Northern Essex Community College women's volleyball and men's soccer teams have both earned the number one seed in their respective NJCAA Region 21 Tournaments set to kick off this week. For soccer with a 10-2-1 overall record and 7-0-1 record in region play, it is their first ever number one seed. Volleyball, undeafeated on the season at 21-0 was most recently the top seed in 2021.
The volleyball team will be looking for their first region title since 2018, while soccer is in search of its first ever Region 21 title. Both teams are also seeking their first ever national championship tournament berths. Region 21 titles would send volleyball to the 16-team tournament in Cedar Rapids, IA, while soccer is looking to punch their ticket to Gastonia, NC for the eight-team championship tournament.
Volleyball:
The Knights, ranked 13th is this week's final poll of the season will square off with 4th seeded Massasoit on Sunday at 11:00am at Holyoke Community College in the first semi-final contest, a win and the Knights move onto the 3:00pm championship match.
On the attack for the Knights all season has been the Lawrence trio of Abigail Heredia, Telaviv Nunez and Vielka Sanchez along with Liz Exume (Chelmsford), the quartet is combining for more than nine kills per set. While Sanchez also has served up 105 aces for a 1.84 aces pers et average.
Chantel Melgen (Lawrence) has led the Knights on the defensive side of the net with 168 digs. Running a 4-2 throughout the season under first year head coach Franchesca Nival, Sanchez and Nunez have combined for over 500 assists.
Soccer:
Ranked 9th in the final poll released this week, NECC has received a quarterfinal bye and will host the winner of the midweek contest between Springfield Tech and Community College of Rhode Island on Saturday at 1:00pm at Whittier Tech High School. With a win, the Knights would host the championship game on Sunday 2:00pm at Whittier Tech.
The Knights trio of freshman Jadiel Bonfim (Nashua, NH), freshman Kaleb Gianini (Lowell) and Jonathan Diaz (Methuen) have carried the Knights offense who is scoring at a clip of 4.31 goals per game as the Knights have found the back of the net 56 times in 13 matches to date.
Bonfim currently ranks third in the nation with 22 goals, to go along 6 assists for a total of 50 points which rank fourth nationally. Gianini has added 15 goals. Diaz has a region high 13 assists which is good to rank fourth nationally while also recording 10 goals of his own.
Ronan Harrington (Newburyport) and Nikos Kakavitsas (Athens, GR) have anchored a strong defensive unit in front of goalkeeper Will Paganini (Derry, NH) who has allowed just 1.13 goals against in Region 21 contests.