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12/03/2017 11:00 PMQuite often in sports, the way a team looks on paper coming into a campaign doesn’t necessarily dictate how it will perform when it’s time to play. A perfect example of that is the Guilford volleyball squad, which put together a dream season in 2017.
Head Coach Laura Meyer and the Indians welcomed many new faces to the floor this fall, including the first freshmen to earn a spot on the varsity roster during her tenure. While there were some question marks entering the year, Guilford had the answers by clicking on the court to earn its best all-time regular-season record at 18-2, which included the Indians winning the SCC Oronoque Division crown behind a mark of 8-0.
Then as the No. 2 seed in the SCC Tournament, Guilford defeated Branford 3-0 and Amity 3-1 to reach its first conference final since 2011, dropping a 3-1 contest against top-seeded Cheshire.
After that, the Indians were the No. 4 seed in the Class L State Tournament and posted victories versus Pomperaug (3-1) and Farmington (3-0) to reach the semis, where they took a 3-0 loss to top seed and eventual champion RHAM to finish the year with an overall record of 22-4.
Coach Meyer admitted that when the calendar turned to September, she did not anticipate the Indians having 22 victories to their credit when the dust settled in November.
“In the beginning of the year, we talked about how it could be a rebuilding year, but I was pleasantly surprised. We had a lot of talent in tryouts, but it was just about putting the talent together and finding the right rotation,” Coach Meyer said. “I tip my hat to the girls, because they found a way to make playing together easier. Once we got to SCCs, we were firing on all cylinders, and their confidence came through.”
With several newcomers getting acquainted to the hustle and bustle of life in the varsity ranks, the Indians were guided by a tandem of senior captains in setter Julia Hyman, who recorded 109 digs with 37 aces; and right-side hitter Trinity Flynn, who had 184 kills, 36 blocks, and 39 aces. Coach Meyer praised her captains for each bringing their own specific characteristics to their leadership roles.
“I knew early on that Trinity and Julia were both great kids. They were good captains on paper, and they came full circle with it on the court,” Meyer said. “They managed different ages and personalities on the team. Julia learned how to command the court as a setter. Trinity was very aggressive and led by example.”
Flynn was named the Indians’ Most Valuable Player, while Leah Kornguth posted 31 digs to win the Most Improved Player Award, with fellow junior outside hitter Lillian Ulrich earning the squad’s Sportsmanship Award. Senior Amanda King (179 kills, 145 digs, 42 aces) and Flynn were both named All-State Second Team and to the All-SCC First Team, while Hyman was also a SCC Scholar Athlete.
Staying on the subject of team accolades, the Indians notched one of the highest honors in the state by winning the Volleyball Board of Officials Sportsmanship Award—an achievement that stands out above all in Coach Meyer’s mind.
“That award embodied their whole year. On the court, they were positive and energetic,” she said. “I had opposing coaches and parents come up to me and tell me how much fun we were to watch and how they showed good sportsmanship.”
The Indians will have to reshuffle the deck once again in 2018 as many key seniors are graduating this spring. Still, Coach Meyer feels confident that her athletes can once again develop the necessary chemistry to succeed on the heels of the Indians’ historic season.
“We lose our setter and some power hitters, so we lose some playing experience,” Meyer said. “The juniors played against Amanda King and Trinity Flynn in practice, so that made them better. We have a talented underclass coming back. I’m hoping offseason practice will help them, and we will try to fill the holes next year. I can’t say enough about this year. I already miss this year because it was so memorable. I’m glad the girls got what they deserved with respect in the SCC.”
The members of the Guilford volleyball team’s varsity roster were seniors Jess Decensi, Kaylee Barbarossa, Julia Hyman, Trinity Flynn, Amanda King, and Sam Seneco; juniors Leah Kornguth, Hunter Halbower, Sarah Gieger, and Lillian Ulrich; sophomore Olivia Lawlor; and freshmen Emma Appleman and Juliet Young.
Guilford’s regular-season wins came against East Lyme (3-1), North Haven (3-0 twice), Sheehan (3-1 and 3-2), Hand (3-0 twice), West Haven (3-0 twice), Branford (3-0), Career (3-0 twice), Mercy (3-0 twice), Shelton (3-0 twice), Bassick (3-0), and Harding (3-0). The Indians’ losses were to Branford and East Lyme (both 3-2).
This year marked Guilford’s first division crown since sharing the SCC Hammonasset title with Hand in 2015 and its first outright title since 2011.