Volleyball Team Improving, Winning

By Andy Hutchison

Newtown High School’s girls’ volleyball team won its fifth straight match, following a season-opening loss to Joel Barlow, this week. The Nighthawks passed fairly tough tests with Lauralton Hall of Milford (twice), Weston, and Pomperaug of Southbury, before beating Notre Dame-Fairfield on September 24.

The Nighthawks earned a 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-12) win over visiting Pomperaug on September 21. Kyle DeAndrea had eight kills, Sam Steimle had six kills, and Amanda Rowan and Caroline Kelly both added five kills in the triumph. Courtney Escoda had 12 digs, and DeAndrea and Meghan Logan had 14 and 13 assists, respectively. After the match Escoda, a senior captain and the libero — one of few returning players who saw regular action in last year’s conference and state title runs — noted that the team is making good progress after a tough start.

“I think we’ve been coming together as a team. We definitely are talking more — communicating more,” Escoda said.

The Hawks cruised past Notre Dame 3-0 (25-11, 25-7, 25-19) to improve to 5-1 overall and 4-0 in conference play. The first meeting with  SWC rival Barlow was a non-conference match that only counts toward the state standings.

Against Notre Dame, Mylis Post had nine aces, Lauren Frazzetta had four kills and two digs, and Escoda had 6 digs.

Post, who is among the players who are first-year varsity regulars, is excited to be a part of the winning ways. “I feel like we’re working more as a team and we’re going to improve a lot together,” she said.

“I think every game we’re improving on something,” Newtown Coach Tom Czaplinski acknowledged. “I think we’re a top four team in the conference.”

If the Nighthawks keep improving, their South-West Conference rivals had better watch out. Czaplinski, however, notes that he still considers Barlow to be perhaps the top team this fall and he would like to see his team keep up its strong play on consistent basis to be in position to challenge to retain a hold on the SWC trophy when the time comes. The Nighthawks will get another look at Barlow, in a match that should serve as a good barometer as to just how far they’re coming along, in an October 10 rematch — in Redding.

First things first, the Hawks host Brookfield on Friday, September 28, at 5 pm, then head to Oxford for an October 1 battle, before home matches with Kolbe Cathedral of Bridgeport and Woodstock Academy October 3 and 5.