Women’s volleyball has gotten off to a terrific (5-0) start to the 2023 season, the best start in 10 seasons. This success garnered attention from the NJCAA (National Junior college athletics association). The Knights were among several to receive votes in week 4 of voting on Sept 18th.
Two Knights Abigal Heredia and Vielka Sanchez both of Lawerence currently lead nationally. Heredia leads the league in hitting percentage (.789). Meanwhile Sanchez ranks fifth in service ace per set (2.81).
The Knights will be back in action Saturday for a two-home game set. First against Bristol community college at 11:00 A.M and Holyoke community college at 3:00 P.M.
On Nov 1 the men’s basketball and region 21 champions will begin their 2023-2024 season with midnight madness. The Knights will take on Bunker hill at the fitness center in Haverhill. The doors will be open at 11:00 p.m.
This will be the first time in program history dating back to 1971 that The knights will participate in a midnight madness event. The remaining schedule will be released later this month
For more information contact basketball head coach Darren Stratton at dstratton@necc.mass.edu. Or Athletic director Dan Blair at dblair@necc.mass.edu or Basketball head coach Darren Stratton at dstratton@necc.mass.edu
Melanie Trabox named the next Knights track and field head coach. (photo courtesy of the NECC Knights website) | NECC Observer
A new face will be leading the Track and field team in 2023, Melanie Tarbox. Special educator and a nine-year Haverhill high coach will join NECC as their next head coach. The hiring was announced on Sept 6th by athletic director Dan Blair.
In addition, to her nine-year stint as Haverhill high’s track and field and cross-country coach she served as a gymnastics coach for six years for the Hillies.
Tarbox graduated from Bently University earning a degree in marketing. During her four-year career at Bently she participated in both indoor and outdoor track and field. She also earned her bachelor’s degree in education at Merrimack College and doctorate in leadership education at Endicott College.
Tarbox’s prior coaching experience and relationship to the Merrimack valley made her an ideal fit for the job.
“Melanie brings everything to the table that we’ve been looking for in our next track and field coach. She competed in high school and college, she’s a Haverhill native and deep connection in the Haverhill school system” Blair said. “[Bartox] has a strong coaching background of nine years with Haverhill track and cross-country program as an assistant. She knows Merrimack Valley, and the Merrimack Valley is where we do most of our requiting.”
The Haverhill Native lives in Hampton, NH. She will start her responsibilities later this month
A team photo of the next Women’s basketball team and coach Malaquias (center). | NECC Observer
After a 13-year hiatus, women’s basketball is back in Northern Essex. Head coach Malaquias Caneryand NECC athletictrainer, Nicole Curry hosted a meeting last Tuesday at the fitness center. Several team members were in attendance.
First, physicals within the last 13 months and insurance cards must be submitted by email to Curry before participating. These are due by next week.
“I’m going to love this team forever; you guys are cemented as the first team” said Malaquias expressing his excitement for 2023-2024 season.
The first practice will be held on October 1st at the fitness center. The first scheduled game will be on Saturday November 4th in Conney Island, NY.
“I’m excited we finally got all the right pieces together to make this happen. We have been trying to get a team together for the last couple of years and we finally put all the pieces to the puzzle together” Athletics director Dan Blair said.
One player commented that she was “happy to be part of a team again.”
Two Knights Abigal Heredia and Vielka Sanchez both of Lawerence currently lead nationally. Heredia leads the league in hitting percentage (.789). Meanwhile Sanchez ranks fifth in service ace per set (2.81). 
