Newtown High School’s girls’ volleyball team outlasted host Joel Barlow of Redding in a hard-fought five-game match on October 24, handing the six-time South-West Conference champion Falcons their first loss of the campaign in the process.

The Nighthawks, after a 3-0 loss to visiting East Lyme in their regular-season finale two days later, began SWC tournament action with a 3-0 win over visiting New Milford in the quarterfinals, on October 29.

Newtown beat Barlow 25-16, 18-25, 25-15, 28-30, 15-11.

Against Barlow, Mollie Goudy had 16 digs and four aces; Hannah Groonell had 12 digs; Natalie Horn registered nine digs and nine kills; Jackie Moccio logged 11 digs; Kim Buttery had 39 assists, five kills, and a trio of aces; Erin Mitchell compiled eight kills and three aces; Veronica Kroha had nine kills; and Genevieve Murray had four kills.

“It felt great. It was exciting. I think all our hard work paid off. It was a good confidence booster,” Kroha said of the win.

Newtown and Barlow went five games in their first match of the season as well. That Barlow win counted in the conference standings, helping the Falcons earn the top seed.

The Nighthawks are seeded second and hosted No. 7 New Milford to begin tourney play. Newtown won by scores of 25-5, 25-9, and 25-19.

Kroha tallied five aces; Groonell had eight digs; Moccio four digs; Buttery 17 assists; Murray eight kills; and Goudy three digs.

Several of the nonstarters contributed during the match, especially in game three. Catie Gregory gave Buttery a break as the lead setter, Kate Petersen came up with some plays at the net, and Maggie McInerney, moments after coming off the bench, alertly held and allowed a New Milford return to land just barely out of bounds for a Newtown point.

“Today was a lot about serving and defense, and I think we did really well,” Kroha said following the New Milford match.

Sixth-seeded Brookfield upset No. 3 Stratford and will visit NHS on Thursday, November 1, at 6 pm. The winner moves on to play in the Saturday, November 3, championship match, beginning at 6 pm (site to be determined).