Practice makes perfect, or at least bolsters a team's chances of having success. It is the hope of Newtown High School boys' volleyball Coach Sandy Doski that her squad's offseason training in the Mizuno East Volleyball Club leads to postseason play.

"I think it is going to make the team that much stronger," Doski said of several of her players keeping sharp on the court since only the second campaign of NHS boys' volleyball ended last spring.

The Nighthawks have struggled out of the gate since jumping into the proverbial fire of varsity status only three years ago. After all, opposing teams have more seasoned players, but Doski believes the catching up her players did since last June can pay dividends to the tune of a spot in the state playoffs.

Being that the South-West Conference has only five teams - including Oxford, Masuk of Monroe, Joel Barlow of Redding, and Kolbe Cathedral of Bridgeport - only two qualify for the conference playoffs and, thus, go directly to the SWC championship match. Sure, Newtown stands to have its hands full against tougher competition such as Darien, Cheshire, and Shelton, but the Hawks, Doski hopes, will be able to compete with the other teams on the slate. Doski's objective is for the Nighthawks to at least break even in the win-loss column.

"That's our goal for this year is to have a .500 or better record and make states," the coach said.

"I'm very excited about the talent. I really think that they have a better understanding now of how volleyball actually gets played. They're covering better, they're serving better, they're hitting better," said Doski, adding that from what she has seen in preseason, the Hawks are sharper defensively, and their passing has improved as well.

Newtown's varsity squad lost two players to graduation, and not only brings back a bulk of its players, but welcomes some key additions from the junior varsity ranks.

The Hawks won just two matches a year ago, but four of their defeats were five-set nail-biters.

"I think we're going to be a much more competitive team this year," captain and outside hitter Jackson Fletcher anticipates.

"I'm really excited. We have a lot of new talent this year," captain and setter Nick Lansing added. "I'm looking forward to getting to know the team, developing chemistry, and getting our skills and plays down."

Key returnees for the Hawks include right side hitter Liam Jones, libero Matt Principi, outside hitter Ardi Kodzodziku, and middle hitters Gavin Stubbs and Silas Decker.

Players up from JV are Tom Phaneuf, Tony Moreno, Alex Bell, Danny Schreiber, Hudson Fletcher, Jacob Duffy, Aidan Ford, and Robbie Morrill.

The Hawks are scheduled to begin the regular season on Wednesday, April 5, with a visit to Kolbe, beginning at 5:30 pm. The home opener is set for Friday, April 7, when Fairfield Ludlowe comes to town for a 4 pm match.