BEACON FALLS — Monday’s practice was all about passing for the Woodland volleyball team. It showed in Tuesday’s season-opening win over Naugy.
The Hawks got a little payback over the Greyhounds, the only team to defeat Woodland last season, in a 25-21, 25-17 and 25-17 victory. Abbey Rosato had a team-high nine kills, while Khalid had six for Woodland.
“We focused on passing in practice and it played out in the game,” Woodland head coach Jim Amato said. “We also have our non-starters pushing our starters to help us get ready for matches.”
Naugy kept it close early. Teree Perkins blasted a kill to tie the match at 15-15 in the opening set.
Sam White, a dominant force in the front row for the Hawks, had an answer. White responded with a kill, then followed with two straight aces to give Woodland an 18-15 lead.
Kills from Jenna Boncal and Anna Khalid increased the lead to 20-15.
“It all starts with the passing,” said Sam White, who had eight kills and three service aces for the Hawks. “Carla Piccolo is an excellent setter, she puts it up fast and we put it down.”
The ball flowed in mid-season form for the Hawks, from the back row to the front, and many led to points. The Hawks also took advantage of Naugy’s inexperience at the net.
“We looked like we were playing our first match of the season, and they looked like they were playing their 20th,” Naugy head coach Kevin Wesche said.
The second set was tied at 4 before Woodland exploded for a 10-4 run, forcing Naugy into difficult spots and limiting its attack. Khalid, White and Rosato all had kills and Cameron Caswell had an ace. Caswell also had 22 digs.
The Greyhounds wouldn’t go away though.
Ally Mezzo had four kills among the team’s first 14 points, while Alexa Blazas had an ace to tie the set at 14-14. However, Woodland scored 11 of the final 14 points of the set and swept the match.
Wesche said the experience will serve Naugy well.
“You want to come out and play that caliber of team every night,” Wesche said.
Naugy bounced back with a 3-0 win over Watertown on Thursday. The Greyhounds travel to Holy Cross on Friday and Torrington on Monday.
The Hawks improved to 2-0 with a 3-2 win over Torrington on Thursday. The Hawks head to Masuk on Friday.
Woodland and Naugy will play again on Oct. 20 in Beacon Falls.
