Volleyball Team Looks To Make Statement—

Defending SWC Champs Eye Conference Repeat And State Title

By Andy Hutchison

Coming off the 2010 South-West Conference championship run in which none of the players were seniors, Newtown High School’s girls’ volleyball team — loaded with talent and experience — appears to be set up for a repeat title performance this fall. But there is still plenty to prove for the now senior-dominant squad. After all, the Nighthawks lost in the second round of the state tournament a year ago, and coach Tom Czaplinski says the goals in 2011 are to repeat as conference champs and capture that elusive state crown.

Czaplinski, always pushing his players to do better, believes last year’s loss to Cheshire in the Class LL state tourney left the team short of fulfilling its potential.

The Nighthawks are sure to be in a targeted situation this year given their run to the top in the SWC, and the fact no players were lost to graduation — something Czaplinski believes will benefit his squad.

“We have our work cut out for us. We’re going to have a bull’s-eye on our back, which is a good thing. I think the girls need to learn to deal with pressure at the beginning of the year as opposed to the end of the year because it didn’t really work out well for us at the end of the year,” Czaplinski said.

Newtown went 15-3 in 2010 and, after earning the top seed in the SWC tourney, beat No. 3 Bunnell of Stratford 3-0 in the pinnacle game. The Hawks were the No. 8 seed in the state tourney, but fell in a close match, 3-2 to No. 9 Cheshire after both teams earned first-round byes.

“Without graduating anybody the goal has to be to win SWCs and to win states because we didn’t really live up to our potential last year at the end of the season,” the coach said.

Senior captains are libero Abbey Doski and setter Jess Lynch. Other returning seniors are middle hitter Emma Herring, outside hitters Carly Iwanicki and Riley Wurtz, and opposite/left side hitter Alyssa Finkenstadt. Juniors whom the Nighthawks also expect contributions from include middle hitter Sam Stemile, libero Courtney Escoda, and outside hitter Lauren Frazzetta. Junior middle hitter Amanda Rowan, who begins the season on the injured list, may also be looked to once she gets back from the mend. Sophomores setter Meghan Logan and outside hitter Cassie Ekstrom round out the roster.

The one obvious strength Newtown possesses is that experience factor. In terms of game play, Czaplinski says the key will be ball movement.

“I think our passing is going to be one of our strong suits — at least I hope it’s going to be one of our strong suits this year. If we pass well I think we’ll do very well, so we’re going to spend a majority of the beginning of the year working on passing,” the coach said.

The Nighthawks expect strong competition from the likes of Bunnell and other familiar foes in 2011.

“It should be a strong conference this year,” said Czaplinski, adding that Bunnell lost very few players, Joel Barlow of Redding is always solid, and Pomperaug of Southbury and New Fairfield are also tough squads.

Newtown was slated to open the season at home on Wednesday, against Bethel (after The Bee sports section went to press). Newtown visits Barlow on Monday, September 19. Among the matches to circle on the schedule is the rematch with Bunnell, in Stratford, on October 19.