October 1, 2025 – Story and photos by Joshua Ross
After a winless 0-4 start to the season, the Hingham High School girls volleyball team has flipped the script — and Monday afternoon’s 3-1 win over Whitman-Hanson marks their third consecutive victory and fourth in their last six matches. The Harborwomen are heating up — and doing so under brand-new leadership.
Monday’s match also marked the debut of new head coach Natalia Maccarrone, who was appointed last week following the unexpected midseason departure of former head coach Jordan Lay. While coaching changes during a season are rare, Maccarrone — previously an assistant coach with the program — stepped into the role with familiarity and purpose, helping guide the Harborwomen to a strong performance.
“It was fun, honestly,” Maccarrone said about her head coaching debut. “I had so much fun coaching my first game tonight. I love seeing the girls thrive. I see their potential that they’re stepping into, and they just need someone who’s going to keep bringing that confidence out in them so they can really shine.”
The Harborwomen took three of four sets to secure the win, building on momentum that has been growing over the past couple of weeks. Senior captain Meghan Koenen credited the team’s improved chemistry and resilience after a rocky start.
“We were off to a little bit of a rough start,” Koenen said. “We had a kind of a losing streak, but we’ve definitely picked ourselves up and we’re playing so much better than we have at the beginning of the season. I’m really proud of how we’ve improved, and especially tonight everyone had such a great game all around.”
Finding Their Groove
With a roster full of individual talent, Koenen said the challenge early in the season was learning how to connect as a unit — a problem the team has worked hard to solve.
“We were trying to figure out how we can play better together,” she said. “I think that honestly just comes with things like timing and spending time together. Team bonding outside of practice — we’ve been trying to lock down on that stuff, like pasta parties — to bond more, to form more connections and trust each other while we are playing. And it’s definitely reflecting on the court.”
Maccarrone agreed, pointing to improved communication and a clearer understanding of team roles as key to their turnaround.
“The girls are really starting to find their chemistry,” she said. “They’re starting to play together a lot more than they were in the beginning of the season and really figuring out where their role is. We’re covering a lot of tips that we used to miss, our communication has been spot-on, and really just playing as a team.”
A Seamless Transition
Despite the unusual timing, the coaching change has been smooth, thanks in large part to Maccarrone’s existing rapport with the players.
“I love Tal,” Koenen said, referring to Maccarrone by her nickname. “She’s been my assistant coach since my freshman year. It’s obviously great — if our coach has to leave — that it’s handed off to someone that we know and that we trust. It’s not too much of a transition since we already know her and love her. She’s awesome.”
According to Koenen, the team was motivated to make Maccarrone’s debut a memorable one.
“You guys wanted to win for her?” she was asked.
“Yes, definitely,” she replied.
Looking Ahead
With momentum on their side, Hingham is hoping to keep the streak alive with two more home games on the schedule this week. For Coach Maccarrone, the goal is simple: keep building.
“Looking to keep the streak up, looking to keep winning,” she said. “Looking to see them improve every single day and make progress every single game. That’s all we can ask for — improvement every day.”
From a winless start to surging with confidence, the Harborwomen have rewritten the narrative — and with newfound energy, unity, and leadership, they’re just getting started.