By Kim J. Harmon

T

aller, more athletic, and much better team chemistry – it sure sounds like the right ingredients for a recipe of solid improvement and coach Tom Czaplinski hopes it all mixes well for the Newtown High School volleyball team.

Last year, the ‘Hawks finished 7-9 and just missed out on a trip to the South-West Conference playoffs and the CIAC Class L state tournament. Now, that team had ability – with Amanda Marsilio, one of the most devastating hitters in the SWC, on the front row; servers Erin Masterson and Chrissy Deweese on the back row, and setters Ashleigh Smarrella and Katie Woessner roaming the floor.

But things – call it bad luck – just didn’t click.

Maybe they will this year.

And there is good reason to believe that. Not only is the team loaded with some pretty good athletes, there are five players listed on coach Czaplinski’s varsity roster at 5-11 and two others listed at 5-9.

Now, that’s formidable.

The ‘Hawks will be led by senior co-captains Ally Gellert and Anne Schneider.

Gellert established herself as an excellent front-line hitter last year and will now patrol the outer corners of the net along with senior Erin Carolan, who also established herself as a solid force up front. The middle will be anchored by senior Kate Anderheggen, junior Jessica Phillips and sophomore Stephanie Logan.

And they can all hit the ball.

But Schneider will have to get it to them. Schneider and junior Caitlyn Elf – who will share the setting duties – will be at the heart of the Nighthawks’ 6-2 offense this year. Elf is one of those pure athletes who has the experience of track and basketball behind her.

In the back row, coach Czaplinski will look towards seniors Shannon Kohn and Jamie Lindquist and juniors Kristin Correa, Brittany Hutchison and Jenn Murphy. Also seeing time on the varsity floor with will freshman Jacky Curran, a transfer from Texas who has impressed the coaching staff plenty in her ability to play at the net.

“Our main goal is to make the states,” said coach Czaplinski, “and, on top of that, make the conference tournament. Those are definitely obtainable goals. With so much experience coming back, and everyone is getting along much better, there is no telling what they can do.”

Schedule

 

Sept. 12        at N. Fairfield 5:15 pm

Sept. 14        at Pomperaug 5:15 pm

Sept. 15        at Darien       5 pm

Sept. 20        at Stratford    6:30 pm

Sept. 21        at Bunnell      5:15 pm

Sept. 24        Joel Barlow    5:15 pm

Sept. 28        Weston         7 pm

Oct. 1 at Brookfield  5:15 pm

Oct. 3 New Fairfield 7 pm

Oct. 5 Notre Dame   7 pm

Oct. 9 at N. Milford  5:15 pm

Oct. 12         at Kolbe        5:15 pm

Oct. 15         Masuk 7 pm

Oct. 17         at Jonathan Law       7 pm

Oct. 19         Bethel 7 pm

Oct. 22         at Foran        7 pm

Oct. 24         Hall    5:15 pm.

The SWC quarter-finals will begin Friday or Saturday, October 26 or 27, with the SWC semi-finals at Pomperaug on Tuesday, October 30, and the SWC finals at Pomperaug on Thursday, November 1.