Braintree Junior Rachel Norton Stars on the Court in Fall and Winter

volleyball history was made last Monday night in Needham when Wamps’ setter Rachel Norton passed the school record of 355 assists in a season, set by current assistant coach Samantha Sherlock three years ago, during a 3-0 win over the Rockets.

“I remember her as a freshman,” Braintree volleyball coach Kristen Orzechowski, who was an assistant at the time, said. “I immediately pulled her aside. I knew she was going to be my setter. There were 50 freshmen in the gym and she stood out.”

One would think that it would have been difficult for a freshman to contribute to the JV team as a freshman the way Norton did, especially considering she had never played volleyball before arriving at Braintree High, but she used her natural athletic instincts and worked hard so that she could contribute to the varsity as a sophomore.

“It was easier than I thought it would be, but it was difficult at first,” Norton said. “It helped having an athletic background.”

Last year, the volleyball team had a great regular season, but was upset in their first state tournament match against Notre Dame Academy. Despite losing several seniors to graduation, this year’s Wamps have continued to play well, and Orzechowski believes a lot of the credit goes to the hard work that Norton has put in to improve her skills.

“Now she can read what the other team is going to do, rather than waiting and reacting,” Orzechowski said. “She’s making great adjustments. She sets goals for herself. My favorite thing about her is her personality. She’s funny. She knows when to relax and tell a joke. She’s a great kid, good-natured and really competitive. She’s exactly what you want as a teacher or coach.”

As good as Norton is on the volleyball court, that’s not the only place she shines in the athletic arena. She’s a standout center on the lacrosse field in the spring, where she was an honorable mention Bay State Conference All-Star last year. Her best sport, though, is basketball, where she averaged just under 10 points (third on the team), 5 rebounds, 5 steals and 3 assists as the starting shooting guard as a sophomore.

Norton began her freshman year on the JV team, but was quickly brought up to varsity. Again, Norton said it was a big adjustment, but she said the older players were very helpful, especially Amanda McKenney. She’s also played basketball the longest of any of the sports she plays, honing her skills for the Bay State Magic AAU Program.

“She’s just an athlete,” Braintree coach Kristen McDonnell said. “She attacks the basket really well and gets out in transition. She defends the best player. She’s a really smart player who makes good decisions. She always manages to do something that impacts the game.”

Norton also excels academically, where she is ranked among the top students in her class. She’s a leader, who, after serving as her class Vice President as a freshman and sophomore, is now the Vice President of the Student Body as a junior.

She helped plan Spirit Week for the school, and will be involved in working with Adopt-A-Family and a turkey drive, as well as other volunteer activities.

“She’ll talk to anyone and she’s very happy to do it,” Lauren Forger, who has gotten to know Norton as both the Student Body advisor and a math teacher.

“It’s not an act. She’s such a role model. She juggles a lot, but you wouldn’t know it because she always operates the same way. She’s really a one-in-a-million.”