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10/28/2019 12:00 AMThe Morgan girls’ volleyball are in the process of wrapping up the regular season and getting ready for the Shoreline Conference Tournament. Last week, the Huskies played three Shoreline Conference opponents in Cromwell, Old Lyme, and North Branford. After dropping a 3-0 game against Cromwell to start the week, Morgan grabbed a 3-1 win against Old Lyme and then lost a close 3-2 contest versus North Branford. The Huskies record moved to 5-13 with the results as the final few games of the regular season approach.
On Oct. 21, the Huskies lost a 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-23) to Cromwell. Head Coach Jessica Lynch thought that Morgan put together a solid effort, but the match went to the Panthers after the Huskies lost close second and third sets.
“I feel like all the games we’re right there with every team. We can compete, and we have good moments and some not so good moments,” Lynch said. “It was a game that just didn’t go our way, but the girls played hard definitely.”
Senior Maggie Mahoney led the team with six kills to go with 11 receptions and two digs. Senior captain Charlotte Davenport provided a squad-leading six aces alongside four kills and 10 receptions, while fellow senior captain Sarah Kuever tallied 21 digs, 12 assists, four aces, a kill, and a block. Senior captain Iovene had 12 digs, nine receptions, and a kill.
On Oct. 23, the Huskies grabbed a 3-1 (25-16, 20-25, 25-22, 25-13) home match against Old Lyme. Coach Lynch felt encouraged that her squad was able to correct course with a solid victory.
“I think for that one, we really cleaned up some of those little things. Our passing was where we wanted it to be. We were aggressive,” said Lynch. “Sometimes we focus too much on just getting the ball over. This game we were trying to be more aggressive, and it made Old Lyme have to be more defensive.”
Alexandra Kelly had a big night for the Huskies against Old Lyme according to Coach Lynch. Kelly grabbed eight blocks, seven kills, four digs, and two aces.
“Alex is a very strong hitter that’s able to see the floor. Against Old Lyme, she really started to look at the floor and understand what kind of hits would be effective,” said Lynch. “She really was mixing it up and taking advantage of the different sets. She’s also one of our best blockers. She gets up there and that’s been a huge for us this season.”
The Huskies also received steady contributions from senior Lauren Kuever (7 kills, 1 ace), Davenport (6 kills, 4 aces, 18 digs), senior Maggie Mahoney (5 kills, 2 aces, 8 digs), and Sarah Kuever (16 assists, 35 digs, 4 aces, 1 kill).
On Oct. 25, Morgan lost a 3-2 (25-14, 18-25, 20-25, 25-15, 15-9) home contest against North Branford. Unfortunately, the Huskies were unable to maintain the momentum from their earlier win, but they still put up a good fight against the Thunderbirds.
“Too many games like that unfortunately. I think for North Branford specifically. I think we did a lot of great things, but it’s jutst keeping that consistently throughout the game. We let them go on runs and it just kind of went their way. The girls fought hard and were aggressive, but it didn’t go how we wanted it to.”
Morgan received solid performances from Mahoney (11 kills, 1 ace, 3 blocks, 14 digs), Lauren Kuever (7 kills, 1 ace), Sarah Kuever (32 assists, 20 digs), Davenport (5 kills, 2 blocks), junior Rachael Pellegrini (5 kills, 11 digs), and junior Maddy Dunham (21 digs).
Throughout the season, Coach Lynch has had tremendous support from her senior captains Sarah Kuever, Davenport, and Iovene. Each of them bring a different skill set to the floor and approach as a leader. Coach Lynch feels lucky to have all of them on her side.
Iovene plays a key role for the Huskies as their libero, and she also acts as the emotional leader for the squad.
“Emma’s an amazing team player. She really brings a lot of energy to the floor and she’s so supportive of everyone on the team,” said Lynch. “She really takes that leadership role personally, and she want s to make every one feel part of the team.”
Davenport has been a mainstay in Morgan’s varsity lineup for three seasons now. She’s a skilled player that can rack up kills with a howitzer of a hit.
“Charlotte can play all the way around, but is mainly an outside hitter. She probably has the hardest swing on our team,” said Lynch. “She’s all over the floor all the time. She makes big plays at big times. She plays all the way around, but she mainly plays outside hitter.”
Sarah Kuever spends most of her time setting her fellow teammates up, but she’s able to make an impact in several capacities. Coach Lynch values Kuever’s work ethic and deciation to improving as a player.
“Sarah is our setter, and she’s probably one of the hardest workers that I’ve ever met. She’s constantly asking how to be better and stays after practice. She zones in on what we’re trying to teach,” Lynch said. “She can do pretty much anything and everything. She’s very effective as a setter. She can play defense, serve, and hit.”
Another quality starter for the Huskies is Lauren Kuever, who is Sarah’s twin sister. Lauren Kuever is a discerning hitter for the Huskies.
“Lauren is a really smart hitter. She reads the floor well and makes good decisions on which balls to hit,” Lynch said. “She’s effective, and she mixes up what she does and doesn’t just hit the ball to hit it.”
Coach Lynch believes that senior Mahoney has played a big part in Morgan’s wins this season. Though Mahoney has had some time as a varsity starter already, this year the senior really seems to be putting it all together.
“She’s been playing the past couple of years, but this season has really been her breakout season. I’m impressed with what she’s put on the floor game after game,” said Lynch. “She’s such a leader back there, and there’s a calmness to her. I think she’s had a phenomenal season.”
One of the newer players getting significant time on the floor has been junior Rachael Pellegrini.
“This is Rachel’s first year on varsity. She’s really come out of her shell,” Lynch said. “We play her on the right side., and that’s a tough position to play because it’s hard to get sets over there. She’s become a solid hitter and effective from that side.”
Other regulars for the Huskies include senior Tatiana Serrano and junior Maddy Dunham. The pair are defensive replacements for Lynch depending on the flow of a given match.
“They are both very solid in their spots and they’re really scrappy,” Lynch said. “They get a lot of balls up, and that’s hard to do on defense but they both do it very effectively.”
After finishing out the final games of the season, the Huskies already have a position lined up for the Shoreline Conference Tournament. The Huskies most likely opponent will be Coginchaug, and Coach Lynch believes that will be a good battle. This year has been a volatile one for the conference, and she hopes that the Huskies can get hot and make a run this postseason.
“I believe we’re matching up with Coginchaug, and they are a solid team,” said Lynch. “I feel like all the Shoreline coaches would agree that it could be anyone’s tournament. I think it would be possible for us to go on a nice run and take the tournament.”
From the Sidelines
The Morgan girls’ volleyball team’s varsity roster includes senior captains Charlotte Davenport, Emma Iovene, and Sarah Kuever; seniors Lauren Kuever, Maggie Mahoney, and Tatiana Serrano; juniors Maddy Dunham, Coleen Edwards, Alex Kelly, Rachael Pellegrini, Tatum Petrellis, and Francesca Tino; and sophomore Alex Duval.
Head Coach Jessica Lynch is in the midst of her second season at the helm of the Huskies. Her assistant coach is Eleni Vossoughi.
Morgan’s wins this season have come against New London (3-1), Old Lyme (3-2, 3-1), North Branford (3-1), and East Hampton (3-0).