Newtown High School’s girls’ volleyball team cruised to a 3-0 (25-18, 25-14, 25-15) win over visiting Stratford on September 16. This was Newtown’s first victory following four setbacks to tough FCIAC foes, most recently a 3-0 win by visiting Fairfield Ludlowe on September 13.

The Nighthawks logged six aces, led by six from Gianna Galassi and five from Lauren Murphy. Galassi added seven kills and two digs and Murphy recorded five kills, a block, and three digs. Addy Cordova had two aces, one kill, and two digs; Emily Daoust had five digs; Sara Heinen four kills; Ava Lombardo 23 assists to go along with a trio of digs, a kill, and a block; Noelle Meadows had an ace, three kills, two blocks, and a pair of digs; Cassie Pickering added one kill and two blocks; Allie Nowacki had a kill and Rylan Kennedy one dig.

Newtown Coach Tom Czaplinski said serving and passing — which he said are the most important parts of the game — were on for Newtown in this one and that getting into the win column should give his players confidence to make more plays as the season unfolds.

The Nighthawks, following Wednesday’s visit to Masuk of Monroe, return home to take on Weston Friday, September 20, at 5:30 pm.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.