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11/09/2019 11:00 PMAll season long, the Guilford volleyball team has been able to thwart off pressure. When faced with a big test, the Indians have consistently come through. So, when Guilford looked destiny square in the face with a matchup against Shelton in the SCC Tournament championship, the Indians were ready to accept the challenge. Guilford rose to the challenge by rallying for a 3-2 (25-11, 15-25, 22-25, 25-21, 15-10) win over the Gaels at East Haven High School on Nov. 9, giving the Indians their first SCC title since 1994.
Guilford’s victory capped off a historic week that saw the Indians claim conference titles in boys’ soccer, girls’ soccer, field hockey, and volleyball. Head Coach Laura Anastasio’s squad improved to 20-3 overall as Guilford gets ready to compete in the Class L State Tournament this week.
“Coming in here, we knew that there was this pressure placed on this team. In fact, LeAnne [Shelton Head Coach LeAnne Bianchine] and I were kidding each about it,” said Anastasio, who was named the SCC Coach of the Year prior to the final. “Because we had played each other twice and split during the regular season, I knew how difficult this was going to be. Our kids never faltered. It was mental toughness more than anything that got us through.”
Top-seeded Guilford took the first set by a 25-11 score over No. 2 seed Shelton. Junior captain outside hitter Emma Appleman, who was selected as the Most Outstanding Player of the SCC Tournament, posted seven kills for the Indians during the set.
Shelton won the second set 25-15 and earned a 25-22 victory in the third set, putting Guilford’s back against the wall. However, the Indians came back to win the fourth set 25-21—led by some power hitting and strong blocking from junior Emily Brouder—to force a winner-take-all fifth set.
Guilford and Shelton were locked in a 10-10 tie when Appleman took control for the Indians. Appleman scored a point to give Guilford the lead and, following a Shelton error, she hit a driving kill deep into the Gaels’ backcourt for a 13-10 Indians’ advantage.
“There’s a huge difference between being ahead 12-11 and 13-10 at that point,” said Appleman, who had 15 kills with 10 digs on the night. “Volleyball is all about runs and rolls and momentum swings. Getting those three extra points helped us to finish. I thought to myself after that kill, ‘OK, I believe we’ve got it now.’”
Appleman was right as senior middle hitter Sabrina Zuniga recorded the last two points of the match to give Guilford a 15-10 fifth-set victory that solidified the SCC title for the Indians.
After Guilford won the first set convincingly, Shelton took the second set to even the match at 1-1. Guilford was up 20-16 in the third set, but the Gaels finished on a 9-2 run to win it by a 25-22 score.
Although the Indians were down at this point, Coach Anastasio knew that they certainly weren’t out.
“When we huddled up after that set, I told my players that it was all about mental toughness now,” Anastasio said. “It didn’t matter if someone missed a shot or didn’t play a ball well. You just have to shake it off and get back in the game.”
Guilford responded by putting the pressure on Shelton throughout the fourth set, which the Indians won 25-21. Brouder netted three of her nine kills during the frame, scoring the last two points to finish it off. Appleman added three kills for the Indians, who went on to win the fifth set to capture their first conference crown in 25 years.
Throughout the match, the pinpoint serving of junior captain libero Juliet Young proved a key factor for Guilford. Young reeled off five-point service runs in both the first and third sets, had a three-point run in the fourth set, and then served up the last four points in the decisive fifth set.
Young finished the match with 17 service points and three aces for the Indians. Senior captain setter Eva Ott Hill had 25 assists in the victory.
“My adrenaline was so high in that fifth set that I had to get it in check. You can get pumped up, but not too much. Serving is about being calm, getting the ball to spots where it’s harder to return,” Young said. “It’s so great to win this. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. They’re such a great opponent.”
Guilford had advanced to the SCC final by winning its first two matchups of the tournament. Following a first-round bye, the Indians earned a 3-0 (25-14, 25-6, 25-17) home victory over No. 8 seed East Haven in the quarterfinals on Nov. 5. In the semis, Guilford defeated No. 4 seed Law by a 3-1 (25-8, 25-14, 12-25, 25-14) final at home on Nov. 7. Appleman had 22 kills, Brouder chipped in with 12 kills, and Ott Hill had 23 assists against Law.
Appleman and Young both earned All-SCC First Team honors for the Indians this year. Brouder made the All-SCC Second Team.
As the No. 5 seed in the Class L State Tournament, the Indians have a first-round bye and will host the winner of No. 12 Hand and No. 21 Pomperaug in the second round on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. The quarterfinals are on Saturday, Nov. 16; the semis take place on Wednesday, Nov, 20; and the final is at East Haven High School at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23.
“We’re going to let this set in for only a day,” said Young. “Put that trophy in the case and then concentrate on states.”
The Guilford volleyball team’s roster includes senior captain Eva Ott Hill, seniors Olivia Lawlor and Sabrina Zuniga, junior captains Emma Appleman and Juliet Young, juniors Zoe McClure, Carson Halbower, Olivia Ciocca, Megan McNamara, Julia Kinney, Emily Brouder; and freshman Corrine Puchalski.