Newtown High School’s boys’ volleyball team continued a string of challenging matches to begin the season, falling to host Masuk of Monroe in the second match of a back-to-back with the Panthers, 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-18).

The Nighthawks were led by senior outside hitter Nico Diaz (six kills, an ace, 12 digs, and a 100 percent serve receive percentage), junior middle hitter Charlie Hanson (six solo blocks, three aces, and five kills), and senior setter Braden Hazard (ten assists and one dig). The Panthers, who won 3-1 in a match between the teams two days earlier, were once again paced by senior outside hitter Nathan McCauley (23 kills and three solo blocks) and sophomore setter Nathan Kurkoski (29 assists and an ace).

Newtown was down early in the first set with scores of 14-6 and 20-13 before making it interesting until Masuk shut the door. The second set started exactly how the Nighthawks wanted it to, starting off with a 12-5 lead before the Panthers clawed their way back ending the set with a Kurkoski serving streak to go ahead 2-0. The third set was tightly contested throughout but Masuk pulled out victorious in the end.

Newtown’s junior varsity squad won its first match, defeating Masuk 2-0 (25-16, 25-22).

In a home tilt with Pomperaug of Southbury on April 14, the Hawks fell 3-0 (25-14, 25-16, 25-18). The Hawks were led by Hanson (six kills and four solo blocks), Diaz (three kills, one ace, and a dig), and junior setter Matt Tomaj (four assists and one dig). Pomperaug was led by junior outside hitter Jack Mirabilio and senior setter Zack Farren.

Newtown hosted Joel Barlow of Redding on April 17 and fell 3-0 (25-12, 25-9, 25-20). Hazard had seven assists and two kills, senior outside hitter Ben Davis logged one block assist and a 100 percent serve receive percentage, and Diaz had three kills and four digs. The Falcons were led by junior setter Cameron Lynn and junior outside hitter Alex Llach.

Joel Barlow, which Newtown Coach Dan Nyitrai noted has now won 53 straight matches since 2021, came out firing out of the gate picking up a two-set lead early. The Nighthawks, led by their seniors, kept a back and forth effort in the third set surpassing their previous set point totals.

The Nighthawks fell to 0-6 (0-4 in the South-West Conference) while the Falcons improved to 7-0 (2-0 SWC).

The Hawks are scheduled to host Kolbe Cathedral of Bridgeport on Thursday, April 21, and will host Brookfield on Monday, April 24, both at 6:30 pm (subject to change based on JV match duration).