Shelton High School’s boys’ volleyball team defeated host Newtown 3-2 (25-17, 15-25, 23-25, 25-20, 15-10) in the season opener on April 12.

Thad Teraszkiewicz compiled 21 kills, 3 aces, and 14 digs; Matt Mattera had 15 kills, 2 aces, and 9 digs; and setter Aidan Stout logged 12 digs and 40 assists.

For Shelton, Brandon Acervada had 19 digs and 2 aces; Jack Gangi tallied 8 kills and 4 blocks; and Nico Marini registered 10 assists, 2 aces, and 16 digs.

Four of the six Nighthawks who competed in the match came into the opener with little or no volleyball experience, but kept the match close before the Gaels prevailed.

The Nighthawks, after road matches with Kolbe Cathedral of Bridgeport and Pomperaug of Southbury, April 14 and 16, will host Joel Barlow of Redding on Monday, April 19, at 4 pm in a rematch of the last two South-West Conference championship matches.

The Hawks picked up their first win with a 3-0 triumph at Kolbe Cathedral of Bridgeport on April 14. Read more about that match as well as upcoming contests in the April 23 print edition of The Bee.