BETHEL — One point away from securing a South-West Conference title, the No 2 seed Newtown High School's girls' volleyball team saw the No. 1 Joel Barlow Falcons fight back and force a fourth game.

And then the Falcons overcame match point three times to force a fifth game before finishing off the program's 11th title in the last 12 years, six of those at the expense of the Nighthawks.

The Falcons won 3-2 (17-25, 13-25, 27-25, 30-28, 15-11) in a thrilling, yet disappointing-for-NHS pinnacle match, at neutral site Bethel High on November 4.

Newtown's players certainly worked hard to make the Falcons earn just about every point. There were diving defensive efforts all over the court and some long back-and-forth rallies throughout the night.

It was a remarkable run for the Nighthawks who were not slowed by late season-ending injuries to starters Amaro Beard-Galati and Gianna Galassi.

"The girls had a lot of adversity throughout the year. They definitely got stronger throughout the season," Nighthawk Coach Tom Czaplinski said.

"I know the girls gave it their all. Barlow is a very strong team," the coach added.

The match featured 14 ties in each the third and fourth sets.

Zosia Teraszkiewicz recorded 24 kills and 22 digs to go along with an ace and a block. Liz Anesi had 14 kills as well as six digs, six blocks, and an ace.'

Gabby Soltis logged a trio of aces, five kills, four blocks, and 11 digs on top of a 50-assist performance. Emily Daoust had a pair of aces and 16 digs.

Addy Cordova compiled an ace, four kills, and a dozen digs. Sarah Hubner came up with five digs. Allie Nowacki and Sara Heinen both had two kills.

If only teams did not have to win by two points. The Hawks had five chances to close out only to see the Falcons rally.

The Hawks were on the verge of closing things out in three sets a couple of times. After Anesi's kill put NHS ahead 25-24 the Falcons scored three straight to push things to a fourth game.

Newtown led 18-14 in game four. The Falcons closed to within a point and Soltis had a perfectly-placed hit into open space followed by a service point for a 20-17 lead.

Barlow went ahead 23-22. Teraszkiewicz tied things before the Falcons went back ahead and were within a point of forcing a decisive game.

Out of a timeout, the Hawks kept things going courtesy of a Teraszkiewicz smash to tie the score at 24-24. Hubner dropped in a serve that hit the net. Barlow answered before another Teraszkiewicz kill put the Hawks up 26-25.

The Falcons tied it then gave up a point with a hit into the net, bringing things to match point yet again; it was 27-26. The Falcons got the next two points before Anesi's kill tied the score at 28 only to see the Falcons finally close out the set with the next two points.

In game five, Barlow jumped out to a 4-0 lead. The Hawks were within 5-4 following a Soltis ace. Newtown saw Barlow build slim but multi-point leads but got to within a point four more times in the set.

A long Falcon hit clipped the Barlow lead to 6-5; a kill by Teraszkiewicz inside the back line made it 7-6 Falcons; Teraszkiewicz's cross-court smash pulled the Hawks to within 8-7.

After Barlow pulled ahead 12-8, Newtown ran off three in a row with Daoust diving to keep a ball in play which led to Newtown's 11th point.

Barlow went up 13-11 despite a diving dig by Hubner and the Falcons closed things out on a 3-0 run.