By Kim J. Harmon

REDDING - It doesn’t seem possible, but sometimes even a Herculean effort can go to waste.

Senior co-captain Amanda Marsilio had one of those volleyball games on Monday that  simply defies description - but probably only for the lack of superlatives available - and it’s too bad because the Nighthawks dropped a thrilling 2-15, 15-4, 8-15, 15-13, 11-15 decision to Joel Barlow.

Marsilio - who last season usually rotated out when it was her turn to move to the back - had 20 kills, one block, five assists, five aces and three digs in a very, very full evening of work.

But the ‘Hawks still dropped a five-setter to fall to 1-1 on the season.

There seemed to be great efforts all over the floor, though Ashleigh Smarrella had three kills and 19 assists; Erin Carolan had three kills and three points; and Chrissy Deweese had seven points, sevens aces, and three digs.

Of course, the Lady Falcons also had some great performances - enough to hold the ‘Hawks.

When the ‘Hawks made their trip down to Redding on Monday, they were three days removed from a quick, 3-0 sweep of Stratford which opened the 2000 season.

It also avenged a 3-0 sweep the ‘Hawks suffered at the hands of the Red Devils a year ago.

Even though the ‘Hawks had a couple of moments - usually about midway through a game - when they seemed to fold up and zone out, they were in complete control from the opening serve.

In Game 1, Smarrella led Newtown to a huge lead on her service. She recorded three aces and was there to assist Carolan and Marsilio in their respective kills. The score was 11-0 before Stratford could force a break.

But moments later, after the Red Devils came up with one point, Marsilio served up an ace and Jaime Lindquist slammed down a kill to put Newtown ahead 13-1. Stratford grabbed a couple of points back, but Erin Masterson served up a pair of points to give Newtown the 15-3 win.

In Game 2, there was a lot less fluidity to the game. The Nighthawks didn’t really make a move in this game until, after several side-outs, Stratford held a 5-3 lead.

Smarrella’s service started the rally off. She began wioth a dink and then also served up two kills for Marsilio as the Nighthawks climbed into a 9-5 advantage.

But the ‘Hawks fell into one of those zones, one of those funks, and the Red Devils went up as much as 12-9 before the ‘Hawks could rally again and take the game.

Ally Gellert started the rally with a kill and Marsilio followed with another kill of her own to get the ‘Hawks as close as 12-11. Stratford took one more point and a 13-11 lead before Deweese served up three, crisp aces to rally the ‘Hawks to a 15-13 win.

In Game 3, there were a lot of side-outs again, but the ‘Hawks still managed to chip away at the Red Devils and build up a 9-2 advantage (aces from Deweese and Marsilio and kills from Carolan and Marsilio helped) before one of those funks took over again.

Stratford rallied with six consecutive points - largely on mistakes by Newtown - to trim the Nighthawks lead to 9-8.

But that was the end of the funk. On service by Gellert, the ‘Hawks scored the final six points of the game (two aces by Gellert and a kill Carolan) to grab the 15-8 win.

And the match.

At 1-1, the ‘Hawks will next battle Weston, down in Weston, on Friday night at 6:30 pm. The girls will return home on Monday for a 6:30 pm contest against Brookfield and then travel to New Fairfield on Wednesday and Notre Dame on Thursday for 5:15 pm matches.