Newtown High School’s girls’ volleyball team earned its biggest win of the campaign, a 3-1 (18-25, 25-14, 25-19, 25-17) triumph over Weston, at home on October 6.

Kyle Dandrea had ten kills, nine digs, and three service aces; Jamie Calandro had 12 kills, eight digs, and two aces; Tonya Tucker and Clara Whaley both had 11 kills; and Molly McCoy compiled 35 assists. Alexa Reilly added five kills and two aces; Tessa Leon-Gambetta contributed three digs and a trio of aces; and Julia Wiberg had four kills. Dandrea and Wiberg combined for five blocks.

The Nighthawks, who took the court with revamped lineup following the graduation of a bulk of their players from last year’s South-West Conference runner-up squad, had an up and down start to the campaign. Newtown improved to 7-4 overall with what Coach Tom Czaplinski says was his team’s best performance of the season.

“By far the best match we’ve had all year long,” the coach said.

Weston, which came into the match with an 8-3 record, and the second most wins in the South-West Conference behind unbeaten Masuk of Monroe, appeared to be on its way to another victory after winning the first game. The Nighthawks put together some solid play to regroup and maintain a lead almost from start to finish in games two through four.

“I’m hoping they realize that they can hang with or beat any team in the conference,” Czaplinski said. “I think Weston’s one of the teams to beat in the conference. This is definitely a huge momentum booster for us."

Weston had previously defeated Joel Barlow of Redding and Brookfield, squads which defeated Newtown.

“Beating a team that has beaten teams we lost to is really good for our ego,” Dandrea said.

Dandrea, who landed hard during the Brookfield match, a 3-2 setback on October 1, suffering a nose injury, sat out Newtown’s 3-0 triumph over one-win Stratford the next day. Her return to the lineup was welcomed by Czaplinski as well as teammates, and Dandrea was a significant factor in the outcome against Weston.

“She was phenomenal. She was playing like somebody that was ready to get back out on the court,” Czaplinski said.

Dandrea had back-to-back kills to turn an 8-6 lead into a 10-6 advantage in game two. Weston kept it close. Newtown led just 16-13 in game two before putting it away on a 9-1 run, capped by a Reilly service ace. Reilly held serve for the final six points as the Nighthawks sealed it to even the match at one win apiece.

In game three, Newtown turned a 6-5 deficit into a 12-6 lead as Calandro smashed a kill just inside the back line to cap a 7-0 rally. After Weston ended the run, a block/kill at the net by Wiberg got Newtown rolling again. Weston hung close and trailed 18-17 before a 7-2 NHS run ended it. Calandro and Reilly combined for five kills in that stretch to close out the game.

In game four, two straight Calandro aces staked Newtown to a 14-7 lead. After the teams traded points, Dandrea had consecutive kills followed by a service point to extend the lead to 19-12. Then, Reilly’s tap-over kill made it 20-12. Weston never got any closer than to within six points in the fourth game. Whaley’s kill ended the match.

“I think our confidence was good and we worked really hard to get every point,” Dandrea said.

Newtown, after visiting Pomperaug of Southbury on October 8, will host Bunnell of Stratford on Friday, October 10, at 6:30 pm.