Last season, Newtown High School’s girls’ volleyball team posted a regular-season record of 14-4, and reached the South-West Conference tournament semifinals. The Nighthawks earned the No. 9 seed in the Class LL state tournament and, after winning their first-round contest, were eliminated by eighth-seeded Southington in the second round.

Newtown graduated four players, so will have some rebuilding to do, but the Hawks bring back players who saw varsity court time in last year’s rotation.

Newtown’s lone captain is outside hitter Jamie Calandro. Other key returnees include setter/hitter Molly McCoy, setter Sarah Bender, middle hitter Julia Wiberg, and libero Tessa Leon-Gambetta.

This fall, the Hawks begin the season with three straight apparently tough matches, beginning with a Tuesday, September 15, visit to Class M state tournament runner-up St Joseph of Trumbull for a 6:30 pm clash, followed by another battle with a high-level FCIAC school when Class LL state champ Darien visits for Newtown’s home opener, the next night at 6 pm. Always-tough Barlow comes to NHS on September 18 for a 6 pm match.

Read more about the volleyball team in the September 11 print edition of The Bee.