Newtown High School’s boys’ volleyball team, in its inaugural campaign, earned its first win with a victory over visiting Daniel Hand of Madison, on Friday, April 17. The Nighthawks overcame a two games to one deficit and pulled out a 3-2 (25-19, 18-25, 19-25, 27-25, 15-7) triumph over the Tigers.

Jeremy Doski had six kills to go along with a dozen assists, and seven blocks; Jeff DePinto compiled 12 kills; Bryce Decker had four blocks; and Andy Braun contributed four service aces for the Nighthawks.

“They put it together. I’m really proud of them,” Newtown Coach Sandy Doski said of her players.

After being competitive but dropping every game in the first five matches of the season, the Hawks posted their first victory in game one against the Tigers. Newtown dropped the next two games, and the Tigers took game four to match point, nearly closing out the win. Newtown battled back from a 24-22 hole, tying the score after Jake Lapp’s diving save kept the ball in play and led to a Hand net violation. The Tigers went up 25-24 only to see the Hawks again answer, and score the final three points. Braun closed it out with a hit at the net that the Tigers couldn’t handle.

In the decisive fifth game, the Tigers seized a 5-1 lead before Newtown reeled off six unanswered points, capped by DePinto’s hit that the Tigers couldn’t return, for a 7-5 advantage. The Tigers got to within a point but Newtown put together a string of seven straight scores, aided by some errant Hand hits and violations, to open up a 14-6 lead; DePinto, Decker, and Nathyn Horvath – who came up with a block/kill at the net – also contributed to Newtown’s run of points. After the Tigers got a point, they sent a return too long, closing out the match.

“It was a battle – absolutely,” said Doski, adding that communication and camaraderie among the Hawks led to the win. “They all wanted it. They all helped each other.”

Read more about the match in the April 24 print edition of The Bee.