Teams often have challenges to overcome, sometimes from the start with newcomers stepping into starting roles, for example. Newtown High School's girls' volleyball team faces not only the loss of four starters to graduation but significant voids left by more regular players as injuries have sidelined, among others, starter Cassie Pickering (torn ACL, out for the season). Even so, optimism remains high given the returning talent and potential for players to step up their games as they move into more prominent roles this fall. And winning in the South-West Conference remains the objective.

Never mind the always-tough nonconference schedule the Nighthawks face early on — although those matches stand to really test this group — the adversity is significant even before this team steps onto the court.

"It's a lot for any team to handle," Coach Tom Czaplinski acknowledged. "However, we have plenty of talent returning and some younger new talent so we are still going to push ourselves to bring home an SWC Championship. We again have a tough out of conference schedule to start the year so there will be plenty of growing pains, but those tough matches should more than prepare us for our conference matches."

The Hawks have plenty of players with at least some varsity court time under their belts, and Czaplinski noted that his returnees come back stronger and more experienced following offseason training. Captains are Pickering and Taylor Leighton; the team's other seniors will share captain duties on a rotating basis, match to match.

Czaplinski will look to the continued emergence of outside hitters Rylan Kennedy and Jordan Kemp, setter Leighton, opposite side hitter Emma Kozek, middle/opposite side hitter Sophia Galassi, and liberos Leah Botta and Ava Ashla.

Top teams are still going to be Joel Barlow of Redding, Weston, Masuk of Monroe, and Pomperaug of Southbury, Czaplinski anticipates. That early-on nonconference slate includes the opener at St Joseph of Trumbull, Tuesday, September 8 at 5:30 pm, and matches against Darien (home opener Thursday, September 10 at 6:30 pm), Class L State Champ East Lyme (home Thursday, September 17 at 5:30), and at Woodstock Academy Friday, September 18 at 5:30 pm.

"The beginning of every year brings a lot of excitement for what can be, so we are all happy to get things started and keep improving," Czaplinski said.

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