Deep run nothing new

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Woodland’s Jenna Boncal (21) goes for the spike versus Wolcott Nov. 5 during the second round of the Class M tournament in Beacon Falls. Woodland made it to the semifinals before falling to eventual champion Granby Memorial. It’s the third straight year the Hawks have gone at least to the semifinals. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Woodland’s Jenna Boncal (21) goes for the spike versus Wolcott Nov. 5 during the second round of the Class M tournament in Beacon Falls. Woodland made it to the semifinals before falling to eventual champion Granby Memorial. It’s the third straight year the Hawks have gone at least to the semifinals. –FILE PHOTO

BEACON FALLS — The Woodland volleyball team is getting used to reaching the point where there are no games left on the schedule.

In 2012 they lost in the Class M final to Ledyard. In 2013 they won their first ever, state championship defeating Foran in the Class M final.

This year the Hawks came within one game of reaching the end of the road for the third straight season. Woodland fell to Granby, 3-1, Nov. 12 in the Class M semifinals at the Sports and Medical Sciences Academy in Hartford.

“To play in the Class M state semifinals three years in a row is a testament to the coaches and the incredible athletes at Woodland who have bought into the program,” Woodland head coach Jim Amato said. “You don’t become this successful on your own. Coaches Chris Tomlin, Jenna Broadbent and Jessica DeGennaro are the reason we have built such a strong foundation for this volleyball program.”

This season was supposed to be a rebuilding year. But, they Hawks won the Naugatuck Valley League’s Iron Division, played for the NVL championship and made it back to the Class M semifinals.

“Not too shabby of an accomplishment for a team that was in a rebuilding stage,” Amato said.

The No. 4-seeded Hawks (20-6) had their hands full going up against the No. 1-seeded Granby Memorial (23-0). Woodland came in with momentum after knocking off No. 13 Wolcott 3-0 in the second round and then disposing of No. 5 Foran in the quarterfinals by a 3-0 margin.

But Granby toughed out a pair of 25-19 wins to grab a 2-0 advantage. Woodland didn’t take the long bus ride not to taste victory and the Hawks rebounded with a solid effort in game three.

Senior captains Anna Khalid, Abbey Rosato and Sarah Reilly banded together to get Woodland fired up. Carla Piccolo (15 assists) and Sam White (six kills, four aces and 10 kills) helped to turn the tables as the Hawks pulled out a 25-15 win.

“They have a great program over there at Woodland,” Granby head coach David Sprowson said. “They kept coming at us and whenever we made a mistake, they capitalized on it, and that’s a trademark of a great team.”

Granby wanted no part of a game five with Woodland where the Hawks were 6-0 on the season in game five matches. Granby closed out the 3-1 victory taking game four, 25-19, to move on to the Class M state championship. Granby went on to defeat No. 3-seeded St. Joseph of Trumbull to win the title.

The Hawks were the only team to win a game against Granby in the tournament.

Khalid, Rosato and Reilly all credited the coaching staff for the program’s success.

“We have great coaches,” Rosato said. “They are dedicated to helping us get better day in and day out.”

“They’ll never get mad at us and make us feel poor if we make a mistake,” Reilly added. “They will just help us try and fix all of our problems.”

“They are very motivating,” Khalid said. “They’re like our best friends. The way they coach makes us better players and we are so thankful to them for that.”

Amato in turn pointed to his inspirational seniors.

“The seniors have been an incredible inspiration,” Amato said. “Besides our senior captains, even the other seniors Rayel Smith, who can come off the bench and will play wherever I put her and Karissa Wilkinson. I’m disappointed for them, not disappointed in them.”

Woodland will be back next season and by no means will they come in empty-handed. Four juniors will form the core of a team that will come into the season with some lofty expectations.

Cameron Caswell proved to be a tenacious back row defender. Sam White and Jenna Boncal were very effective hitters and playmakers and the Hawks will have an experienced setter in Carla Piccolo.

“We do have some weapons coming back,” Amato said. “We may look to use our personnel in different spots and we have some JV players who will fill some roles. Chris Tomlin probably had his worst season in the last three years losing three games, that’s how successful our JV team was.

“We have a coaching philosophy at Woodland that is positive. No one tries to make mistakes out on the court but we know it happens. But we don’t focus on mistakes we focus on turning our weaknesses into our strengths. We will be back next season with the same expectation of playing deep into November.”

The Republican American contributed to this article.