Solid Start For Nighthawk Spikers Who Top Rivals Bethel And Barlow

By Andy Hutchison

So far so good for the Newtown High School girls’ volleyball team. The Nighthawks, defending South-West Conference champions, are off to a winning start, having defeated Bethel and Joel Barlow of Redding in their first two matches.

Sure, winning is good and all, but the fact the Hawks defeated two of their presumably tougher conference foes given the recent history of the SWC, and did so behind solid play, NHS Coach Tom Czaplinski has plenty to be happy about.

“It’s been a great start for us. It’s one of the best starts we’ve had in the last few years,” Czaplinski said.

The Nighthawks blanked Bethel 3-0 (25-19, 25-14, 25-19) at home on September 14, and prevailed in an even closer game sweep of Barlow, on the road, on Monday, September 19. Newtown won 3-0 (27-25, 25-20, 25-21), overcoming a late deficit in game one. Newtown was behind 24-21 before Alyssa Finkenstadt held serve for three straight points to deadlock the score en route to an NHS comeback win in the first game.

“She played outstanding in the back row and she played outstanding in the front row. She was very consistent for us,” Czaplinski said of Finkenstadt, one of the players who has come on strong early on this year, and last year’s top stat leaders again are doing their thing to lead the Nighthawks.

Finkenstadt and Carly Iwanicki both had seven digs, and three Nighthawks got into double digits in the digs department in the win over Barlow as Abbey Doski compiled 25, and Jess Lynch and Riley Wurtz had 11 and 10, respectively.

Iwanicki had eight kills, Wurtz had six kills, and Emma Herring and Sam Steimle both spiked the ball five times for NHS points in the win at Barlow. Doski added eight service aces, and Lynch, the team’s setter, racked up 22 assists.

Newtown will get another look at Barlow later in the season, and Czaplinski is already looking forward to what he anticipates will be an even better battle with the Falcons, when Barlow visits NHS on October 17.

Against Bethel, Herring, Doski, and Iwanicki had seven, six, and five kills, respectively. Doski led the way with 15 digs, and also had five aces, and Lynch accumulated an even two dozen assists.

The Nighthawks didn’t graduate any players from last year’s championship squad, and almost everyone returned to the court, giving the team plenty of familiarity and firepower.

“Their experience is showing. So far they’re doing really well,” Czaplinski said.

The Nighthawks know opponents are likely stepping up their games with the goal of knocking off the best in the conference, but the key to maintaining success, Czaplinski believes — passing — has been sharp from the get-go.

“We’re still focusing on passing. Our passing’s been — knock on wood — it’s been fantastic so far,” the coach said.

Newtown was scheduled to visit Bethel in an early-season rematch, on Wednesday (after The Bee sports section went to press), and the Hawks are back home to face Stratford on Friday, September 23, at 5 pm.