Hawks, ‘Hounds go toe to toe  

0
118
Woodland’s Sam White leaps to return the ball Sept. 11 versus Naugatuck at Naugatuck High. Woodland won the game, 3-2. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Woodland’s Sam White leaps to return the ball Sept. 11 versus Naugatuck at Naugatuck High. Woodland won the game, 3-2. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

NAUGATUCK — The Woodland and Naugatuck volleyball teams spent two weeks preparing for the rigors of the NVL season. But nothing could have prepared them for the knock-them-down, drag-them-out type of affair that unfolded on opening night.

Woodland escaped Naugatuck with a 3-2 (26-24, 23-25, 25-22, 22-25, 15-10) win Sept. 11.

How close was the match? The largest lead in three of the first four games was three points. The biggest lead of the night was six points in game three, and that lasted exactly one serve as Naugatuck stormed back to cut the lead to three points.

“We have strong senior leadership and it helps us to keep our focus out there,” Woodland head coach Jim Amato said. “A game like this really showed what we are made of physically and mentally.”

The two-and-a-half-hour marathon raged on as Woodland struggled to get serves in and Naugatuck faced its own issues with returns. The Hawks served into the net or out of bounds 19 times while Naugatuck had only eight miscues in serve.

The deciding factor came when the Hawks finally got their service game going. Woodland registered only four miscues over the final three games and Naugatuck put three in the net in the final game of the match.

“Woodland is a well-coached program and they have built a solid tradition over the past few years,” Naugatuck head coach Kevin Wesche said. “They fight for every point and dive for every ball coming over the net, and they went out and earned the win tonight.”

The Hawks held a three-point advantage in game one until Alexa Blazas (21 service points, 10 assists) served up a tie at 13-13 on the strength of an ace and a strong block at the net from Olivia Rotatori (nine kills, four blocks) and Nicole Healy.

Woodland showed its presence at the net when Emily Brouillette (10 kills, 10 service points) hammered down back-to-back kills to put the Hawks back on top. Jenna Boncal (11 kills, six for side out) recorded game point on a side out kill. On the next return the ‘Hounds deflected one out of bounds to account for the Hawks 26-24 win.

Naugatuck fought back in game two. Blazas served up a three-point run to open up a 16-13 advantage. Emma Healy gave the front row a little more depth as Kelly Murphy helped out in the middle row.

Jenna Massicotte served up a pair of points breaking the fourth tie of the game to put Naugy ahead 22-20. Kathryn Healy served up game point. After Woodland wrestled away the serve, the Hawks put one into the net for the 25-23 Naugatuck win.

The Hawks grabbed the biggest lead of the match in game three breaking an 8-8 tie. Sam White (16 kills, 11 digs) rattled off a six point service including two aces to open up a 17-11 advantage. Ally Mayne made her presence felt with solid middle row play to keep Woodland out in front.

Jennifer Triana and Ruthie Costanzo added to the Hawks front row strength with freshman Stephanie Krebbs lending a hand in the middle row. Boncal served up a pair of aces to reach game point, but it took a Naugatuck serve in the net to put an end to the game as the Hawks took a 25-22 win to go up two games to one.

“We managed to stay in this match because we kept the ball off the floor,” Amato said. “The Naugatuck girls were hitting but we made it difficult by bringing everything up. [Cameron] Caswell did a few pancakes diving on the floor to keep returns alive. Mayne did a great job on those cross court hits.”

Naugatuck’s Alexa Blazas (17) leaps at the net to play the ball Sept. 11 versus Woodland at Naugatuck High. Woodland won the game, 3-2. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Naugatuck’s Alexa Blazas (17) leaps at the net to play the ball Sept. 11 versus Woodland at Naugatuck High. Woodland won the game, 3-2. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

The Hawks broke out on top in game four with Gina Farina serving up a three point advantage. But, Naugatuck responded.

Alexandra Mezzo and Taylor Hyde combined for eight side out kills in the front row. Blazas put together the longest service run of the night for the ‘Hounds rattling off a six point serve to open up a 7-4 advantage. Aryana Powell came on to help out in the back row as Woodland battled back.

Kathryn Healy turned back a Hawks comeback effort serving up a 23-21 lead. Naugatuck clung to game point as the Hawks got the serve back only to have Rotatori slam a game-winning kill for a 25-22 Naugatuck win tying the match at two games each.

By the time game five rolled around at the two hour mark both teams were showing signs of fatigue. Every point that hit the floor came on unforced errors with Woodland clinging to a 5-4 advantage.

The battle then took its toll as three straight Naugatuck serves found the net. Woodland managed one last gasp with White, Carla Piccolo and Caswell driving kills to the floor reaching game point at 14-9. The Hawks clinched the match by winning the final game 15-10.

Piccolo led the way with 22 assists and nine kills, Caswell saved numerous points with 32 digs and Maddy Hupprich added 12 assists and five aces to lead the Hawks to victory.

Naugatuck bounced back with a 3-0 (25-8, 25-9, 25-19) win over Watertown on Tuesday. The Greyhounds (1-1) are scheduled to host Torrington Thursday before a Friday match up at Wilby.

Woodland kept things rolling with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-21) over Nonnewaug Tuesday. The Hawks (2-0) will be at St. Paul on Friday.