Winnacunnet, Exeter, Dover, and York secured critical victories across volleyball and soccer on Wednesday, advancing through the early rounds of their respective state tournaments. The results, reported by the Portsmouth Herald, highlighted a mix of expected dominance and significant upsets as teams shifted from regular-season seeding into the high-stakes environment of postseason play.
Winnacunnet and Exeter Advance in Volleyball
The seventh-seeded Winnacunnet volleyball team claimed a 3-1 victory over No. 10 Concord, a win that coach Casey Flanagan described as a milestone for a program that hasn’t hosted a home playoff game in some time. The match was defined by the distribution of Emily Pitfick, who tallied 39 assists and six digs to keep the Warriors’ offense fluid. Senior Nora Simmons provided the finishing power with 19 kills, two aces, and three blocks.
The victory moves Winnacunnet to a 13-6 season record, but the real test arrives Friday. They must visit No. 2 Bedford in the quarterfinals. This is a grudge match; Bedford previously defeated Winnacunnet 3-1 on September 14. Flanagan noted that while the team has competed with high-level squads all season, the ability to actually close the match is the point they proved to themselves on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, No. 5 Exeter narrowly avoided an upset in a grueling five-set battle against No. 12 Londonderry. Coach Mike McDonnell acknowledged that Londonderry entered the tournament as one of the most dangerous low seeds in the bracket. Exeter survived the scare behind senior captain Payton Strandberg’s eight kills and a defensive effort led by senior captain Bria Healy, who collected 19 digs. Exeter now moves on to face No. 4 Bishop Guertin on Friday. The Blue Hawks have a psychological edge heading into that contest, having beaten Bishop Guertin 3-2 on October 15.
Dover Upsets Nashua North
In one of the day’s most decisive shifts in momentum, No. 11 Dover swept No. 6 Nashua North 3-0. Dover’s efficiency was clinical, winning the sets 25-19, 25-21, and 25-21. Ayla Raynor led the charge with 12 kills and six aces, while Grace Kelly contributed 11 kills and four aces.
Coach Whitney Carrier framed the win as a “reset,” emphasizing that playoff seeding often fails to capture the immediate readiness of a team. Dover (10-9) now faces a steep climb on Friday as they travel to visit No. 3 Pinkerton.
York and Winnacunnet Find Success on the Pitch
The soccer results provided a stark contrast in fortunes for the region’s teams. In Maine, No. 6 York boys soccer pulled off a dramatic Class B South quarterfinal upset against No. 3 Greely. The match remained a deadlock until the final moments when junior Ronin Avery scored with just 1:14 remaining in regulation.
The victory was nearly snatched away in the final seconds. After a York foul 40 yards from the goal with 12 seconds left, Greely sent their entire roster, including the goalkeeper, forward for a free kick. The Wildcats held on, bolstered by goalkeeper Orrin Culp-Dechant’s 12 saves. York now hosts No. 7 Cape Elizabeth in the semifinals this Saturday.
Winnacunnet’s boys soccer team also advanced, defeating No. 8 Windham 2-0 in the Division I first round. Unlike York’s nail-biter, Winnacunnet dominated early. David Cuceo scored both goals in the first half, capitalizing on set pieces. Coach Nick Rowe rejected the idea that his team simply “survived,” asserting instead that they outplayed Windham. The Warriors’ defense held firm even late in the game when goalkeeper Jed Ziolkowski saved a penalty kick with approximately 7 minutes remaining. Winnacunnet now faces top-seed Nashua South on Saturday in a matchup the two teams did not encounter during the regular season.
The Hard Lessons of the First Round
Not every story from Wednesday was one of advancement. The volatility of tournament play was evident in the losses suffered by several local favorites. York’s volleyball season ended in a Class B semifinal loss to No. 2 Washington Academy, falling 3-1 after an 11-5 season. In boys soccer, No. 11 Dover was shut out 7-0 by No. 2 Bedford, despite nine saves from goalkeeper Ronan Tullis.
Perhaps the most frustrating result occurred in Girls Soccer, where No. 4 Newmarket fell 1-0 to No. 13 Pittsburg/Canaan in a Division IV first-round game. Newmarket coach Andrew Dawson pointed to a statistical anomaly: his team took roughly 25 shots to Pittsburg/Canaan’s one or two, but a very early goal by the underdog stood for 75 minutes.
“The irony is we probably played some of the best soccer we’ve played all season but just couldn’t find that final touch,” Dawson said.
For teams like Winnacunnet and Exeter, the challenge is facing high-seeded opponents like No. 2 Bedford and No. 4 Bishop Guertin in the quarterfinals.
