Naugy bounces back with win over Crosby  

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Naugatuck’s Molly Kennedy tracks down the ball Oct. 6 versus Seymour in Naugatuck. Seymour won the match, 3-0. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Naugatuck’s Molly Kennedy tracks down the ball Oct. 6 versus Seymour in Naugatuck. Seymour won the match, 3-0. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

NAUGATUCK — After tough back-to-back games against NVL contenders Seymour and Torrington, the Greyhounds got back in the swing of things with a win over Crosby Tuesday night.

The Greyhounds swept Crosby 3-0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-11). Olivia Rotatori led the way with 20 kills. Molly Kennedy had 15 points and 14 assists, and Michelle Cordova added 12 digs.

The win got Naugatuck (8-5) back on track following rematches against two of the top teams in the league in Seymour and Torrington. Naugatuck took both teams to the limit in earlier matches, winning the first two games of the matches before falling by 3-2 margins. The Greyhounds were primed to finish what they started last week, but Seymour and Torrington were having none of it.

In front of a boisterous crowd Oct. 5, the Greyhounds couldn’t get going and fell, 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-8), to Seymour. Kennedy led Naugy with six kills and five service points. Cailee Bergin added seven service points.

Naugatuck traveled to Torrington Oct. 7 and never got on track as the Raiders swept the Greyhounds 3-0 by margins of 25-12, 25-9 and 25-19. Kelly Murphy led Naugatuck with six service points and six assists.

“It seemed we played with a tremendous amount of confidence the first time we faced both opponents,” Naugatuck head coach Kevin Wesche said. “There was enthusiasm and excitement on every volley from the first to the last. As a coach I need to help the players find that passion to play every day. I am confident together we will find that in the near future.”

Rotatori and Bergin battled at the net to try and give Naugy the early edge in the first set versus Seymour, but the Wildcats stayed out in front throughout.

Naugatuck’s Kelly Murphy bumps the ball Oct. 6 versus Seymour in Naugatuck. Seymour won the match, 3-0. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Naugatuck’s Kelly Murphy bumps the ball Oct. 6 versus Seymour in Naugatuck. Seymour won the match, 3-0. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

Taylor Hyde came up strong with back-to-back blocks and recorded a side out kill to tie the game at 19-19. The Greyhounds couldn’t find any consistency and had trouble with cross court returns leading to the Wildcats pulling away with the win.

In the second set, Kennedy and Emma Healy began to make plays over the middle. Cordova and Jayla Piazza made their presence felt as Naugy forged an 11-9 advantage.

Seymour came storming back to take the lead and closed out the win to take a 2-0 advantage heading into game three. There would be no comeback for the Greyhounds as things unraveled quickly with Seymour jumping out to a 10-1 lead in the final set.

“With the equity in the league this year we need to focus on one game at a time and hopefully qualify in the top four to earn a home game in the NVL tournament first round,” Wesche said. “If we can do that then we can take care of business and get back to our winning ways, with the confidence to compete at a high level.”

Naugatuck will play Wilby on Thursday. The Greyhounds will host Oxford at 6 p.m. on Friday before a rematch with Woodland Oct. 18 in the borough.