Regardless of the outcome in the Thursday, November 6, visit to No 2 and heavily-favored Greenwich in the Class LL State Tournament second round at 4 pm, the No 15 Newtown High School girls’ volleyball team has an enjoyable lasting memory from this final home match. The Nighthawks got past No 18 South Windsor 3-2 (25-17, 23-25, 27-25, 9-25, 15-6) in the first round on November 4.

After winning the first set and seeing the visitors pull out a hard-fought second set, Newtown overcame several service errors to earn the 27-25 victory in the third set. The Nighthawks trailed 13-8 and called timeout, then proceeded to get the next three points capped by Allie Nowacki’s ace. Down two points at 15-13, the Hawks could not inch closer, despite diving saves by Taylor Leighton and Addy Cordova, as the Bobcats went up three points.

Diving efforts by Sophia Galassi and Leah Botta kept the next rally alive, which led to an NHS point, closing the gap back to two at 16-14. An ace by Ava Ashla finally drew Newtown even, making it 18 apiece. After falling behind by a couple of points the Hawks went on a 3-0 mini run to seize their first lead of the set. A kill by Elena Burdo tied the score, and an ace inside the back line from Botta made it 21-20 Newtown.

The teams traded points and, despite a diving effort by Ashla that kept play going, the Bobcats claimed a 23-22 NHS edge. Cassie Pickering’s kill tied the score. South Windsor jumped back in front and bought things to set point, but Burdo’s hit between the front and back rows tied the score at 24-24. A Nighthawk service error again put the Bobcats at set point, but the resilient Nighthawks clawed back again. Pickering’s kill off contact evened the score and Burdo’s diving save set up Nowacki’s back-corner kill for a 26-25 Hawk lead. After a South Windsor timeout, Cordova finished things with an ace.

South Windsor forced the decisive fifth set in convincing fashion, winning 25-9. Just as much as the Hawks were dominated in that set they won in convincing fashion with everything on the line. A weakness-turned-strength, serving, put the Hawks in complete control from the get-go in set five. Newtown Coach Tom Czaplinksi found the hot hand with Leighton getting the nod to serve out of the gate in the win-or-go-home fifth set, and she dominated.

Leighton had a trio of aces, plus another service point, and Newtown racked up ten unanswered points before the Bobcats finally scored. A hit by Jordan Kemp and couple of kills by Nowacki helped the Hawks build their insurmountable lead. A block by Kemp and kills by Ava Lombardo and Pickering, the latter of whom had the final three NHS points, closed out the victory.

The Hawks offset 15 service errors with 13 aces, and had plenty of moments in which they moved the ball well to set up points.

“Serving and passing,” Czaplinski said, are the keys to the team’s success. “Anytime you can win a State Tournament game it’s a good game.”

Leighton had four aces, and Burdo logged a trio of aces. Newtown amassed 45 kills led by a whopping 20 from Nowacki, nine from Pickering, seven from Kemp, and half-dozen from Burdo. Nowacki registered five blocks, Pickering had four, and Lombardo and Kemp had three apiece. Cordova had nine digs, Lombardo had five digs, and Botta and Burdo each had four.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.