Expectations remain high

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Hawks not resting on their laurels after state title

Woodland volleyball captains and seniors, from left, Sarah Reilly, Abbey Rosato and Anna Khalid will lead the reigning Class M champion Hawks on the court this season. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Woodland volleyball captains and seniors, from left, Sarah Reilly, Abbey Rosato and Anna Khalid will lead the reigning Class M champion Hawks on the court this season. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

BEACON FALLS — After winning the school’s first state title in eight years, the Woodland girls volleyball program continues to look ahead. The expectations haven’t changed.

“Our goal is to always get to the end,” Woodland head coach Jim Amato said. “That hasn’t changed, we want to play late into November.”

That’s exactly what the Hawks have done in each of the last two seasons — reaching the state final in 2012 and winning it all last year. This year’s team returns two players that saw varsity time last season — Abbey Rosato and Anna Khalid. Both are senior middle hitters and captains.

Rosato has improved in all facets of her game — serving, hitting and defense.
“She’s been electric on the court,” Amato said of Rosato.

Amato describes Khalid as “fun to watch” with a lot of movement to her game, something that will benefit the Hawks on offense and defense.

Cameron Caswell will be the team’s libero and will look to provide a spark on defense.

“Cam is gritty,” Amato said. “She’s scrappy, and is on the floor more than the ball.”

Carla Piccolo, a junior, will be the team’s primary setter after a solid JV season last year. Piccolo, who possesses good height for a setter, has been working on distributing the ball.

Piccolo will share time with fellow junior Jenna Boncal, who will bring some versatility to the offense. Both will be setting to several outside hitters. Sarah Riley, also a senior team captain, will share time at the position with juniors Sammy White and Rayel Smith.

Amato said he was encouraged by what he saw Aug. 30 at the East Haven Jamboree.

“I saw some promise,” Amato said of the team. “A lot of these girls have been in the program for a while, but now they’re learning to play at the speed of the game.”

Woodland opens the season at home against Naugatuck on Sept. 9, then travels to Torrington on Sept. 11 and Masuk the next night.