There is a new coach leading the way for the Newtown High School boys’ volleyball team. Abbi Debes succeeds Ardi Kodzodziku, a former Nighthawk player who coached one season before heading to Rome to continue his playing career in the Italian League.

Debes is familiar with the Nighthawks herself, having served as an assistant and junior varsity coach at NHS last spring, and has a tremendous playing and coaching background. She has been coaching girls’ club volleyball with the Connecticut STARS since 2020 and has been the varsity girls’ team coach at Brookfield High since the fall of 2023.

Debes played at New Milford High and was a captain her junior and senior years. She was recruited to play at Western Connecticut State University as a middle blocker and competed at West Conn from 2018 through 2023, staying on board for her NCAA COVID year. Debes earned First Team All Conference accolades her junior and senior years and earned Third Team All New England Women’s Volleyball Association recognition.

“After holding the JV coach position last year and coaching with Ardi, I can say that I have been counting down the days to the season. I am very excited to see how the program is going to do this year. We have a lot of talent in our gym and I cannot wait to give everything I can to the boys to help them grow and succeed. I have a great coaching staff including Alex Cooke (JV coach), Ryan Bradley Jr, Sandy Doski, and Tom Czaplinski to help build the team,” Debes said.

“I believe in a team above all mentality, meaning prioritizing the success and well-being of the team over individual achievements or personal recognition. It emphasizes selflessness, where players and coaches put the collective goals of the team first, focusing on cooperation, communication, and supporting each other. In this mindset, individual players work together to build a unified effort, where the team’s success is more important than any single player’s stats or accolades,” the coach added. “It encourages collaboration, trust, and sacrifice, creating a stronger, more cohesive team dynamic. I am hoping to get the entire program on board with this as it has helped me as a college player, where I learned about this mentality from Coach Don Ferguson at Western Connecticut State University.”

Captains are outside attacker/middle blocker Nate Twitchell, right side attacker AJ Zatulskis, and libero Eli Sullivan. Key team members, in addition to the captains, include Dima Frunza (setter), Warner Bacon (middle blocker), Noel McLeod (outside attacker), Kade Deraney (setter/defensive specialist), and Cole Sgagliardich (middle blocker), all of whom have been instrumental in preparing for a competitive year. The coach said Newtown suffered a notable loss to its lineup when Cameron Barr (middle blocker) went down with an injury during preseason.

“The team’s goals for the season include improving communication on the court, building stronger team cohesion, and aiming for an SWC Championship. With an emphasis on hard work and determination, the team is focused on both individual and collective improvement. Success will depend on consistency, maintaining a strong work ethic, and executing their game plan effectively in high-pressure situations. Staying mentally strong when you are physically tired. The team believes that if they stay disciplined and focused, they can go far,” Debes said.

Look for the Nighthawks to make things challenging on opposing defenses.

“Our strength is definitely our offense. We have multiple power hitters that are returners this year that will do very well for us,” Debes noted. “The team is placing a strong emphasis on improving their serve receive by focusing on consistent passing technique and communication. We are dedicating extra time to individual drills that enhance their ability to read the ball and make accurate passes. Additionally, the boys are working on creating better alignment and positioning, ensuring that each player is prepared to handle serves from a variety of angles. The team aims to reduce errors and improve their overall offensive flow.”

SWC foes Joel Barlow of Redding and Pomperaug of Southbury, along with nonconference team Cheshire, which defeated NHS in last year’s State Tournament quarterfinals, are among the toughest teams on the schedule.

The season gets underway on Monday, April 7, when Danbury visits at 6:30 pm.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.