‘Hounds prove they can hang with the best

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Naugatuck’s Molly Kennedy (21) and the Greyhounds are proving they can play with the top teams in the NVL. The Greyhounds’ three losses this season have all gone to a fifth set. –FILE PHOTO
Naugatuck’s Molly Kennedy (21) and the Greyhounds are proving they can play with the top teams in the NVL. The Greyhounds’ three losses this season have all gone to a fifth set. –FILE PHOTO

NAUGATUCK — Teams that are going to defeat the Greyhounds on the volleyball court better pack a lunch.

Three times this season Naugatuck has fallen into the loss column. All three games went down to the wire.

The Greyhounds dropped a heartbreaker, 3-2, to Seymour on Tuesday. Naugatuck (5-3) won the first two games of the match (25-21, 25-17) before Seymour (6-1) came storming back (25-16, 25-18, 15-12) to pull out the match.

“Seymour is always a tough place to play,” Naugatuck head coach Kevin Wesche said. “We were up for the challenge. I feel these girls are starting to gain confidence that they can play with the top teams in the league. We showed that against Torrington, Woodland and Seymour.”

Naugatuck began the season sweeping Kennedy (6-1), but then came up short to Torrington (7-0) and Woodland (6-1) in five-game showdowns.

The consensus is Naugatuck may have the fifth-best record in the NVL, but no one is lining up to play this team.

After the two tough losses to the Raiders and Hawks, the Greyhounds rattled off four wins a row, including three games last week.

Molly Kennedy fueled a sweep (25-17, 25-19, 25-15) of Holy Cross Sept. 20 with 16 service points, seven assists and three aces.

“We just need to learn how to finish,” Kennedy said. “We kind of got over the hump realizing we can play with Torrington, Woodland and Seymour. Everyone has each other’s back and we are all in this together. Winning three games last week really helped our confidence level.”

The Greyhounds got over a bit of a hump Sept. 21 when they found themselves tied with Terryville after two games. The Greyhounds won the match 3-1 (25-23, 19-25, 25-16, 25-18).

Taylor Hyde led the way at the net with six kills and nine service points versus Terryville. Kelly Murphy got the offense going with 10 assists and 14 service points. Emma Healy had six digs and five service points.

“I think the front row is really beginning to build a strong foundation,” Hyde said. “We are much more effective because we are getting better passes to the front row.”

The Greyhounds have also been getting solid play off the bench from Jayla Piazza and Alyssa Peterson

Naugatuck closed out last week with a 3-0 (25-8, 25-13, 25-16) win over Watertown. Cailee Bergin led the way with 19 service points and seven aces. Olivia Rotatori had seven service points, four aces and four kills. Michelle Cordova added six digs.

“It’s really important to get past your mistakes and keep playing and giving it your all on every play,” Bergin said. “That’s when you can have a game like that to help your team be successful. We showed what we can do as a team winning two (sets) in a row against Torrington. If we don’t get down and give it our all, anything can happen.”

Naugatuck will be back on the court Friday at St. Paul in Bristol, before hosting Waterbury Career           Oct. 4. The Greyhounds won’t have to wait long for a rematch with the Wildcats. They are set to host Seymour Oct. 6.