Volleyball

WALPOLE — Selectmen say a monthslong battle has been settled between local volleyball enthusiasts in need of a new place to play and a committee charged with overseeing a 365-acre town-owned farm. But neither side is happy with the settlement the board has presented. At the center of the issue is Adams Farm, purchased by the town for $7.6 million about 14 years ago. The selectmen-appointed Adams Farm Committee maintains the property and determines what activities are allowed, keeping in mind the town’s vote that it be used for “passive’’ recreation.

By Justin A. Rice, Globe Correspondent The Latin Academy boys' volleyball team opens postseason play on Thursday afternoon against Greater Lowell Tech at home. If the No. 5-seeded Dragons (15-4) beat No. 12 seed Greater Lowell Tech (10-10), they will advance in the Division 1 North bracket to play the winner of the Cambridge Rindge and Latin-Lowell Catholic match. Latin Academy lost to No.4 seed Rindge and Latin in the final game of the regular season. "We're playing OK, we lost on Monday against Cambridge Rindge and Latin, which is a Top 10 team in the...

The Italian volleyball federation says 1996 Olympic silver medalist Vigor Bovolenta has died after he was stricken with a heart attack while playing a match. He was 37. Attempts to resuscitate failed following his collapse on the court Saturday during a second-tier league game between his Volley Forli team and Lube Macerata. Bovolenta had reportedly complained teammates of feeling faint during the match. Federation President Carlo Magri said Sunday that Bovolenta was an "exceptional guy" and his death is a "very great loss.

By Bob Holmes, Globe Staff Latin Academy earned the No. 5 seed in the North and will host 12th-seeded Greater Lowell Thursday at 6 p.m. when the MIAA volleyball tournament opens play. Tournament pairings were announced Tuesday. The Dragons finished the season 15-4 and were seeded behind No. 1 Haverhill (18-0), No. 2 Lawrence (17-3), No. 3 St. John's Prep (17-3) and No. 4 Cambridge (16-3). Greater Lowell, from the Commonwealth Conference, finished the spring 10-10. Should LA advance to the quarterfinals it would play the winner of the Cambridge vs. Lowell Catholic...

Russia and Poland earned men's volleyball berths in the London Olympics on Saturday by reaching the title match in the round-robin World Cup tournament. The third and last qualifying spot from the tournament will be determined on Sunday between Brazil and Japan. Russia (9-1) beat Iran 31-29, 25-21, 25-18. The Russians can win their sixth World Cup, and first since 1999, in a showdown with Poland on Sunday. Poland lost to Brazil 18-25, 21-25, 25-18, 25-19, 15-12, but qualified for London by winning the first two sets.

The United States secured a berth at next year's London Olympics by defeating Italy 25-23, 25-15, 22-25, 25-21 Thursday at the volleyball World Cup. Destinee Hooker had a team-high 24 points as the Americans improved to 9-1 and moved into first place. "Knowing we've qualified for the Olympics is a wonderful feeling," U.S. coach Hugh McCutcheon said. "We have one more match tomorrow, but we're going to London and that's a great, great thing for us. " Italy already sealed a place at the 2012 Olympics with Wednesday's win over Germany.

By Justin A. Rice, Globe Correspondent The Latin Academy boys' volleyball team opens postseason play on Thursday afternoon against Greater Lowell Tech at home. If the No. 5-seeded Dragons (15-4) beat No. 12 seed Greater Lowell Tech (10-10), they will advance in the Division 1 North bracket to play the winner of the Cambridge Rindge and Latin-Lowell Catholic match. Latin Academy lost to No.4 seed Rindge and Latin in the final game of the regular season. "We're playing OK, we lost on Monday against Cambridge Rindge and Latin, which is a Top 10 team in the...

Pavel Dzemianok/For the Globe By far the best boys' volleyball team in the city, Latin Academy struggles to find opponents that can prepare them for the state tournament. The team also struggles with stereotypes that their sport is only for girls and Asians. By Justin A. Rice, Globe Correspondent Less than an hour after their match against Latin Academy began last month, several members of the West Roxbury boys' volleyball team waited outside their opponents' Dorchester...

Junior outside hitter Rachael Kidder had 15 kills and UCLA swept four-time defending national champion Penn State in the NCAA regional semifinals Friday to end the Nittany Lions' record 26-game postseason winning streak. Aiyana Whitney had 12 kills for the eighth-seeded Nittany Lions in the 25-20, 25-22, 25-21 loss. Kelly Reeves had 11 kills, while senior libero Lainey Gera led the ninth-seeded Bruins (27-6) with 15 digs. Penn State (25-8) held a 13-12 lead in the first set and a 1-0 lead in the third set before UCLA rallied...

After falling, 25-21, in the first set, Lincoln-Sudbury recharged its attack to beat state finalist Natick, 3-1, in the boys’ Central Sectional volleyball championship last night at Newton South. The Warriors handed over the set after a series of errors and had trouble with Natick’s consistency. “Once we started putting the ball over the net we were able to block and defend against their first attack,’’ said Warriors coach Elizabeth McClung. In the second set, Natick missed its first serve, which allowed the Warriors to build up momentum behind Tommy...

LONDON (AP) — Tanned and toned athletes in eye-popping outfits will compete for Olympic medals outside the British prime minister's famous Downing Street home, but it's government workers, not the U.K. leader, who will get the VIP view. Who doesn't want to see beach volleyball, which is bringing sand, bikinis and gold medals to the heart of London? Competitors known for their skimpy shorts and bikinis will battle it out in Horse Guards Parade, a storied square in Britain's capital better known for hosting a lavish annual military parade featuring hundreds of troops in scarlet...

Players of the week Enzo Bonnici, St. John's of Shrewsbury - The senior captain collected 40 assists to lift the Pioneers in their come-from-behind win over Burncoat, 3-2. Aris Bega, North Quincy - The outside hitter had a career-high 37 kills in the fourth-ranked Red Raiders' 3-2 win over Greater New Bedford. Steven Martinez, Norwood - The senior collected 23 assists, 6 kills, and 3 aces to lead the Mustangs over Braintree, 3-2. Zack Klein, O'Bryant - The junior setter had 12 assists, 10 service points, and s6 kills to lead the...

By Liz Torres, Globe Correspondent St. John's Prep and No. 6 Needham (15-1) handed Xaverian losses this week to drop the Hawks to the eighth spot, opening the door for several teams to fill in the rankings below top-ranked Haverhill (14-0). No. 2 Newton North (11-2), No. 3 Lincoln Sudbury (13-1) and No. 4 North Quincy (15-0) each had a perfect week, sliding them into the top spots. No. 9 Lawrence (13-3) dropped three spots after falling to Methuen, an unexpected hiccup.

Pavel Dzemianok/For the Globe By far the best boys' volleyball team in the city, Latin Academy struggles to find opponents that can prepare them for the state tournament. The team also struggles with stereotypes that their sport is only for girls and Asians. By Justin A. Rice, Globe Correspondent Less than an hour after their match against Latin Academy began last month, several members of the West Roxbury boys' volleyball team waited outside their opponents' Dorchester school...

By Liz Torres, Globe Correspondent Entering with a nine-game unbeaten streak, third-ranked Cambridge hit a roadblock Monday night when Peter Haskin and No. 10 Newton South delivered a 3-0 upset, winning, 27-25, 25-19, 25-13. “They went into someone’s house and played them well. We’re on pace and where we need to be,” said Lions coach Todd Elwell. “We’re going to be dangerous. It’s not a secret.” Haskin led the way for the Lions, finishing with six kills and seven service...

The Italian volleyball federation says 1996 Olympic silver medalist Vigor Bovolenta has died after he was stricken with a heart attack while playing a match. He was 37. Attempts to resuscitate failed following his collapse on the court Saturday during a second-tier league game between his Volley Forli team and Lube Macerata. Bovolenta had reportedly complained teammates of feeling faint during the match. Federation President Carlo Magri said Sunday that Bovolenta was an "exceptional guy" and his death is a "very great loss.

Natalie Dickinson was tired. Sweat was dripping from her forehead, and her voice was hoarse from a weekend spent working at - and enjoying - a pair of concerts in New York and New Jersey. But still, the Medfield teen continued to take the bar in her hands, lifting the 115-pound weight off the rack in front of her and rising from a bent-waist pose to an upright stance before slowly dropping back to the hunched pose and returning the bar to the rack. Dickinson is easy to pick out, and not just because she lifts weights wearing a pair of faded red Vans skateboarding shoes.

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court told a lower court yesterday to reconsider whether Michigan high schools discriminated against female athletes by scheduling their basketball and volleyball seasons during nontraditional times of the year. Justices set aside the lower court's ruling for the female athletes. That decision found a violation of the Constitution's equal protection clause and ordered the Michigan High School Athletic Association to revamp its scheduling so that girls' teams played during their typical sport seasons -- just like the boys' teams.

By Liz Torres, Globe Correspondent All eyes were on Division 1 this year as Barnstable won state championship No. 14 behind Division 1 Player of the Year Kaylee Deluga , capping a perfect season as the Globe's No. 1 team. You can see the Globe's final girls volleyball Top 20 here. Central Catholic, the No. 4 team, shook things up in the tournament, edging powerhouse Lincoln-Sudbury (No. 10) 3-2 in the state semifinal behind the superb setting of All-Scholastic Alexis Michal . No. 5 Brookline went on a tear with duo Maya Midzik , a Yale commit,...