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11/06/2016 12:00 AMIn a Shoreline Conference Tournament final clash between the two previous champions, the top-seeded Haddam-Killingworth volleyball squad took a 3-0 defeat to defending champ Hale-Ray at Morgan on Nov. 4. Even though it was a sweep for the 2nd-seeded Noises, the set scores showed the story of a closer contest. Hale-Ray took the first set 25-16 before winning 25-21 decisions in the second and third sets to seal the Shoreline repeat.
“To make it to the final is a big accomplishment. I would’ve thought back in September we’d be competitive in the conference, but to get to the final after a 19-1 regular season is just amazing,” said Head Coach Robin Callender, whose team is now 20-2. “I just told the girls to focus on that accomplishment as they go into states. For us to be competitive in states, they have to bring their A-game for every team we face.”
The Cougars were led by senior Sarah Porter with her 12 service points and 10 digs, along with juniors Kate Porter and Sam Mohammed, who recorded 19 assists and five kills, respectively.
“I’m very proud of all of the girls and how they handled themselves on and off the court, which will hopefully help us in states,” said Coach Callender. “We are a young team and the mental game is lacking for us, but it’ll come with time.”
The first set was even at 8 in the early stages, but the momentum shifted after the Cougars missed four serves, and the Noises capitalized in a 25-16 victory.
The Cougars led by a few points at times during the two subsequent sets, but Hale-Ray took advantage of few more missed serves to prevail 25-21 in each one.
“We are a young team and it totally showed here. It sometimes puts us in a difficult spot in competitive games, but it’s a learning lesson for us,” said Callender. “Nerves played a part in that first set. They ran with it in terms of our missed serves and it boosted their confidence. We tried to regroup and talked about playing our game. We had chances in the last two sets, but they have five [or] six seniors and took us out of the game because of those veterans.”
In the semifinal round on Nov. 2, HK swept No. 5 Coginchaug 3-0 (25-15, 28-26, 25-16). Kate Porter posted 20 assists with 11 service points and two kills, plus Sarah Porter added nine kills and five service points. Sophomore Emily Jennings hammered home six kills, while sophomore Kristen Dansereau and Mohammed each had five kills for HK.
The Cougars now enter the Class M State Tournament as the No. 2 seed and have earned a first round bye. HK will host the winner of a first round contest between No. 15 East Catholic (13-7) and No. 18 Rocky Hill (11-8) on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. Coach Callender said that the Cougars need to apply their perfection from practice into matches in order for them to advance deep in the draw.
“We are unfamiliar with either potential opponent, but we always have great practices. We have to just play our game and our offense is amazing when we have it,” said Callender. “We serve amazing in practice and we have to hit the ball as hard as we can and get serves over. If we work together as a team and continue to focus, it gives us a better chance of winning.”
From the Sidelines
Sarah Porter and Kate Porter were All-Shoreline First Team selections for Haddam-Killingworth. Sam Mohammed and Kristen Dansereau made the Second Team and Emily Jennings was a Honorable Mention.
In their previous meeting with Hale-Ray on Oct. 24, the Cougars lost by a 3-1 score.
Entering the conference final, HK had recorded sweeps in 13 of its 21 matches this year.