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11/05/2017 11:00 PMEver since it lost in last year’s Shoreline Conference Tournament final, the Haddam-Killingworth volleyball team has been determined to get back on that stage and claim the crown. The Cougars were challenged by facing a slew of injuries this season, but they clawed through them with tons of intensity and grit, and wound up reclaiming their seat on the Shoreline Conference throne.
H-K faced familiar foe Valley Regional in the Shoreline Conference Tournament final at Cromwell High School on Nov. 4, marking the third meeting between the teams this year after they split a pair of matchups during the regular season. The Warriors handed the Cougars their first loss of the year by a 3-2 final on Sept. 25 before H-K returned the favor with a 3-1 victory on Oct. 17. With the conference crown at stake in the rubber match, the Cougars came out on top 3-1 behind scores of 27-29, 25-18, 34-32, and 25-17 to notch their first Shoreline title since 2014, the same year they won the Class S state championship.
“It all has been just so unreal. This season has been just crazy. We went through times this season where we had four of our starters injured and, to most, winning here seemed like such a stretch, but we kept staying positive, and made it through,” said senior co-captain Kate Porter, whose squad improved to 19-3. “Valley is such a great team and, every time we play them, it’s no doubt it will be an exciting game...Once we got [the final point for the title], we were exhilarated. It was an unbelievable feeling and, at that moment, I was so proud of all of my teammates for giving their all and making my last year at H-K so memorable.”
Senior Liz Doxee recorded 16 digs with 13 service points and three aces for the Cougars in their win over the Warriors (18-4). Senior co-captain Sam Mohammed added a dozen kills, 10 service points, and two aces; junior Emily Jennings had 16 kills; and Porter earned nine digs, five kills, 10 service points, and a whopping 42 assists in the victory. Porter was named the co-Shoreline Conference Player of the Year with Valley senior Jessica Paholski, while she and Jennings both made the All-Shoreline Conference First Team. Doxee and Mohammed were named to the Second Team, plus junior Julliette Sasso was an Honorable Mention selections for H-K.
“Last year, we came up short by not winning [Shorelines], but it was a learning experience, and it means a lot to win it this year. We worked really hard during the offseason, and we had some juniors take on a big role with all the injuries. It’s nice to have a talented team where you can put someone anywhere and still be able to get the job done,” Mohammed said. “We took care of business by having our block up at all times, so our defense knew where to go. Everyone worked together. If one of our setters took the first ball, another person would set the ball. As the saying goes, ‘It’s not about how you start, but how you finish,’ and we had a rough start to the year with the injuries, but everyone worked hard to get to where we are now.”
The Cougars grabbed double-digit leads in each of the first two sets, but Valley rallied both times, and gutted out a 29-27 win in the opener.
The Cougars responded with a 25-18 victory in the ensuing stanza, evening the match at one game apiece, and setting the stage for a marathon third set. The Cougars stood at the doorstep of a 2-1 lead as they had several chances at game point, although they missed a few serves, opening the door for another Warriors’ comeback. Ultimately, H-K showed the heart and resiliency that it’s displayed all year by taking the epic third set behind a 34-32 score. The Cougars then sealed their Shoreline title with a 25-17 victory in the fourth set.
“We would get ahead by four or five points, but then give it away. In the third, we had missed serves two times at game point,” said H-K Head Coach Robin Callender. “It was frustrating, because we didn’t play to our full potential, but I know nerves play a part in it. We could’ve finished it sooner, but it makes us stronger, because it shows we can get it done, even if it takes to 34-32...Our seniors took control and got us to a lead where we put the pressure on them.”
Callender said that her athletes have come a long way in a year’s time following last fall’s appearance in the Shoreline final. The coach said a big part of the Cougars’ mental growth spurt stemmed from how they handled those early season injuries as several girls came off the bench to make an impact, while making H-K a more well-rounded club.
“I talked to the girls about it, and I felt that their growth since last year’s Shoreline final was tremendous. The determination of the seniors was great. They wanted this bad, and it showed in their stats,” said Callender. “I know it was frustrating for those that were injured to sit out, but I told them that we had to take the good with the bad, because now we can utilize anyone off the bench and can get the job done...It worked out well, though, because the other girls got plenty of playing time during the year.”
H-K had reached the Shoreline final by sweeping Cromwell 3-0 at home in the semifinal round on Nov. 2. The Cougars will now play in the Class M State Tournament, where they hold the No. 4 seed and have a first-round bye. H-K will host either No. 13 Granby or No. 20 Brookfield in the second round on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. Valley Regional is on the same side of the bracket as H-K.
“We actually have a good chance of seeing Valley Regional in the quarterfinals of states,” Coach Callender said. “They will certainly want revenge, so we just have to play our game in states.”