Coming off a 13-6 regular season and 15-8 mark overall, the Newtown High School boys' volleyball team returns some experienced players but will also have to fill voids left by a handful of regulars who graduated as it looks to make the most of the upcoming campaign.

"Our goals for this season are centered around growth, consistency, and building a strong foundation for the future of our program. Coming off a successful 15-8 season, we know what it takes to compete at a high level, and that experience continues to shape our expectations and approach this year. At the same time, we graduated five key players, so this season will be about rebuilding and redefining who we are as a team," Coach Abbi Debes said.

"With a mix of returning players stepping into bigger roles and new athletes gaining valuable experience, our focus is on developing chemistry, trust, and a competitive culture every single day in the gym. To accomplish our goals, it’s going to take commitment to improvement, strong leadership from our upperclassmen, and a willingness from everyone to embrace their role," the coach added.

In addition to building skill and sharpening on-court play, there is a lot that goes into the team being the best it can be day in and day out.

"We’re emphasizing discipline, communication, and accountability — on and off the court — as the foundation for our success. While we may be in a rebuilding phase, our expectations don’t change. We still want to be competitive in every match and continue to build toward competing for a championship. Last season showed us how close we can be, and this year is about laying the groundwork, developing our identity, and putting ourselves in a position to take that next step again in the future," Debes said.

The Nighthawks were the No 4 seed in the South-West Conference and advanced to the tourney semifinals before falling to Joel Barlow of Redding. NHS then won its Class M state playoff opener as the No 8 seed before falling to familiar foe, top seed, and eventual champion Joel Barlow in the quarterfinals.

"Our team’s strengths this season start with our leadership and overall competitiveness. Our setter play will be a major strength, allowing us to run a balanced offense, while our pin hitters give us the ability to be dynamic and aggressive offensively. Another strength is our work ethic and willingness to compete. Even with a newer group, the team has shown great energy in the gym and a commitment to getting better every day. That mindset has helped us begin to build chemistry early on, which will be important as the season progresses. We plan to build off these strengths by continuing to emphasize tempo on offense, communication on defense, and trust among teammates," Debes added.

"At the same time, there are definitely areas we’re focused on developing. With a younger and rebuilding roster, consistency and defensive discipline will be key points of growth. We’ll also be working on serve receive and limiting unforced errors to put ourselves in better positions during matches. Overall, we’re confident in the pieces we have and are focused on developing into a well-rounded team that can compete at a high level as the season goes on," she added.

Captains are Kade Deraney (setter) and Noel McLeod (outside hitter). Other key players in the lineup include Sam Irving (defensive specialist/libero), Ian Akbas (outside hitter), and Trenton Story (middle blocker).

"Noel McLeod and Kade Deraney will be key leaders for us this season, and we’re really excited about what they bring as seniors. Noel McLeod, a returning outside hitter, has developed into one of the most reliable and dynamic players on the court. He is someone we’ll look to heavily to lead our offense — both as a primary scorer and as a steady presence in high-pressure moments. Beyond his offensive ability, Noel has grown into a strong all-around player, contributing in serve receive and defense while setting the tone with his work ethic and leadership," the coach said. "Kade Deraney, our returning setter, will drive everything we do offensively. As a senior, he brings a high level of consistency, decision-making, and court awareness that elevates the entire team. Kade does a great job distributing the ball and putting our hitters in positions to succeed, and his leadership on the court is something our team will rely on throughout the season. With the graduation of some key contributors, both Noel and Kade will play an even bigger role — not just statistically, but in guiding younger players and helping define our team identity. We expect them to be go-to leaders on and off the court and to set the standard for our program this year."

Key matchups will be Joel Barlow, SWC champ Masuk of Monroe, and Pomperaug of Southbury. The season gets going with a Monday, April 6 visit to Danbury at 4 pm. NHS hosts Greenwich the next night at 6 pm. "We’re really excited for the start of the season and to see how this group comes together over time. There’s a lot of energy in the gym right now, especially with a younger roster that’s eager to learn and compete. We know this is a rebuilding year for us, so a big part of our focus has been on establishing accountability and discipline from day one. With a less-experienced group, those habits are going to be crucial in helping us grow and stay consistent throughout the season. Our mindset is that we have to be willing to work harder than most teams every single day. If we commit to that — focusing on improvement, embracing our roles, and trusting the process — we believe we can develop into a team that’s playing at a high level by the end of the season. We’re looking forward to seeing the progress this group makes and putting ourselves in a position to compete in postseason matchups when it matters most," Debes said.

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