New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL HIGHLIGHTS
TOP PERFORMERS
Grace Downing, Cheshire: The Rams’ senior cocaptain had a combined 31 assists and 17 aces in backto-back shutouts of Shelton and Hamden last week. The performance included 20 assists and nine aces against Shelton on Wednesday.
Eva Dudley, Platt: The sophomore middle collected 30 kills and 27 digs in two matches as Platt defeated Berlin 3-1 last Wednesday, and SMSA 3-0 last Thursday.
Lauren Feige, RHAM:
The Raptors’ junior setter dished out 28 assists in a
3-0 win over Bristol Eastern last Wednesday, and added 29 assists in a shutout of NFA on Friday.
Emily Hart, Platt: The junior had 23 assists, 13 digs, 10 kills, and a block during a 3-1 win over Berlin last Wednesday.
Lily Mattison, St. Joseph: Mattison had 11 kills and 10 aces during a 3-0 shutout of Danbury on Thursday.
Shaelin McMunn, East Lyme: The junior setter dished out 31 assists, as the Vikings defeated Fitch 3-0 in a battle of top ECC teams on Saturday.
Aubrey Moore, Darien:
The Wave sophomore collected 33 assists, six digs, four aces and four kills as Darien blanked Staples 3-0 on Monday.
Gabby Price, Ludlowe:
Ludlowe’s senior setter had 74 assists, 29 digs and six aces over three matches, as the Falcons shutout Trumbull and St. Joseph last week, and then topped Brien McMahon 3-1 on Monday.
Jane Ransome, Ludlowe:
A senior hitter, Ransome had eight kills, seven digs and five aces as the Falcons knocked off St. Joseph 3-0 on Saturday. That followed an eight-kill, eight-dig performance in a shutout of Trumbull last Thursday.
Samantha Sklenka, Bristol Central: Sklenka, a junior libero, racked up 52 digs in consecutive 3-1 victories over South Windsor last Wednesday and Newington last Friday.
Caroline Toni, North Haven: The senior collected 16 kills, nine digs, and three aces during a 3-1 win over Sheehan last Friday.
Audrey Snyder, HaddamKillingworth: Snyder, a senior outside hitter, racked up 20 kills and 12 digs during a five-set victory over Hale Ray on Friday.
Jessica Timothy, Haddam-Killingworth: The senior hitter had 20 kills, eight digs and two aces in a 3-2 win over Hale Ray last Friday, and had 14 kills and two aces in a 3-0 shutout of North Branford last Thursday.
Brooke Valentino, Bristol Central:
The junior outside hitter had 11 kills and three digs in 3-1 win over South Windsor last Wednesday, and then added 19 kills, five digs and one block in 3-1 win over Newington on Friday.
Melanie Warren, Old Lyme: Warren, a senior hitter. Had 54 digs and 24 aces in four matches during the 10 days. That included 22 digs in a 3-1 loss to Hale Ray on Monday, and 18 digs and 10 aces in a 3-2 win over Valley Regional on
Oct. 4.
Sarah West, RHAM:
West, a junior, had 25 kills, 11 blocks, 13 digs and five aces in consecutive shutouts of Bristol Eastern and NFA last Wednesday and Friday.
GAMES TO WATCH
Stratford at Joel Barlow, Thurs., 5:30 p.m.: Stratford had been on a tear to start the season, but has lost three straight during the past week. It will look to right the ship in a tough match-up against Joel Barlow, winners of eight straight SWC titles. Kennedy at Woodland, Thurs., 6:30 p.m.: A clash between two of the top teams in the NVL. Kennedy is 9-2 and looking to rebound after a loss to Naugatuck on Tuesday. Woodland, which is 10-2, lost to Seymour last week, but has since posted two straight shutouts.
Daniel Hand at North Haven, Fri., 5:30 p.m.:
A 10-3 Daniel Hand team visits 12-1 North Haven in a key SCC match. It’s the second meeting of the season between the two teams, with North Haven winning the first via shutout. Seymour at Kennedy, Fri., 6 p.m.: A third straight tough match for Kennedy, which caps a week against NVL contenders on the road against unbeaten Seymour.
Woodland at Pomperaug, Mon., 5 p.m.: An NVLSWC crossover game between a pair of 10-2 teams.
Fitch at East Lyme, Mon., 5:30 p.m.: Fitch and East Lyme each sport 9-2 records and are battling for the top spot in the ECC Div. I standings. East Lyme defeated Fitch 3-0 in a road match on Saturday, and Fitch will be looking for payback here.
Bristol Eastern at Conard, Wed., 5 p.m.: Conard is unbeaten in 2021 and has earned the No. 4 spot in the latest Connecticut volleyball poll. Bristol Eastern had an eight-game win streak snapped with two losses in three games recently.
Wilton at Ridgefield, Wed., 5:30 p.m.: A rivalry game between two teams jockeying for position in the FCIAC postseason. Wilton has rebounded from backto-back losses to win three straight, while Ridgefield rode a five-match win streak into Wednesday’s action.