NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck volleyball team battled until the final point hit the floor last Thursday against Stratford in the second round of the Class L tournament.
The game marked the fourth straight season the No. 14 Greyhounds reached the second round of the state tournament, but it was No. 3 Stratford that advanced with a 3-2 (16-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-27 and 13-15) win.
Cailee Bergin led the way for Naugatuck with 12 kills, 11 assists and 14 digs. Jayla Piazza had 19 digs and Aryana Powell added six kills and nine digs. Jordyn Hunt scored 11 points with five digs, Brielle Behuniak had 12 assists, eight kills and seven digs, and Hailey Deitelbaum added eight kills for the Greyhounds.
The Greyhounds started off slow but bounced back in the second and third games to take a 2-1 lead.
“That could be attributed to the long drive down there, but we came right back and took the next two games,” Naugatuck head coach Kevin Wesche said. “We had our opportunities, losing 27-25 in game four, and even the fifth game was decided by just two points. It could have gone either way. But I’m encouraged by the experience we have coming back.”
Naugatuck will lose six seniors — Taylor Hunt, Cailee Bergin, Jayla Piazza, Aryana Powell, Julia Pelliccia and Briana Tavares — to graduation, but they have a good nucleus to build on next season led by Behuniak, Deitelbaum, Jordyn Hunt, Shannon Burns and Hailey Russell.
“The senior leadership was phenomenal this year,” Wesche said. “Especially our three captains, Taylor Hunt, Cailee Bergin and Jayla Piazza. This was a good group of seniors who had a lot of accomplishments reaching the second round in the states four years in a row. We are definitely going to miss their presence next season.”
“Our three captains along with Powell were effective players in the lineup,” Wesche added. “Pelliccia and Tavares were able to hit it across the front, but we do have players who gained a lot of experience and confidence as the season went on.”
Wesche said the team will return some weapons to build around and keep opponents on their toes.
“Behuniak is a very good and consistent player. Deitelbaum proved to be an effective player, and I’m looking for them to get even better next season,” he said. “I think we have the talent and experience to be very competitive next year.”
