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11/07/2018 11:00 PMSometimes, athletes are called upon to show their selflessness by playing a different position for the betterment of their team. That’s exactly what Juliette Sasso did as a member of the Haddam-Killingworth volleyball team this fall—and the move has proved fruitful for both her and the Cougars.
Juliette is a senior captain for the H-K volleyball squad. After helping the Cougars win a Shoreline Conference title as a middle hitter last year, she took on a much different role by stepping into the setter’s position this season. While it took some time to get acclimated, Juliette has compiled an impressive total of 472 assists to go with 182 service points, 41 aces, 60 digs, and 54 kills for Haddam-Killingworth, which finished its regular season with a stellar record of 15-4.
“My coaches and team have been very supportive of me, which has been really helpful for me to want to become a better setter. It was a hard position, so I was nervous going in,” says Juliette. “In our last regular-season game against East Hampton [a 3-2 win] was when I felt really comfortable with the position. I usually get called for a lot of double touches, but in a five-set match, I was called only once or twice. My sets were also coming up clean, so it was exciting. It’s been crazy to see the improvement in a short timespan.”
One of the biggest things for Juliette in adjusting to her new position was familiarizing herself with where each of her teammates would be on the floor during a given play. Juliette adds that some of the skills she used as a middle hitter are serving her well now that she’s at the setter’s spot.
“The two positions are very different. One of the major differences for me was figuring out the rotations,” Juliette says. “When I played as a middle hitter, I grabbed the quickness and agility that helped me as a setter.”
Juliette loves setting up one of her teammates to slam down a kill. The adrenaline rush she gets is one of Juliette’s favorite aspects of orchestrating the Cougars’ offense.
“My favorite thing about being a setter is when you make a set that ends up being an amazing hit, and you hear the roar of the crowd,” says Juliette. “I am like the quarterback of the team, because you have to pump everyone up, and make sure we’re all in the right positions.”
Juliette also plays a pivotal role as one of Haddam-Killingworth’s captains. Juliette enjoys helping H-K’s younger athletes learn more about the sport, while giving them a warm welcome into the Cougars’ den.
“Being a captain is something I’ve wanted since my freshman year. With the younger girls, it’s exciting to have them come in and help them, but it’s also important to act as a family with them,” she says. “We are one of the closest teams at our school, and we look out for the freshmen, both here and at school.”
Head Coach Robin Callender praises Juliette for how hard she’s worked to find her footing as a setter. Callender says the fortitude that Juliette displayed throughout that process has inspired the other athletes on her squad.
“Juliette was a strong middle hitter for us last year and would have been a significant contender to receive lots of recognition for awards if she continued to be a middle hitter for us. I believe her entire team admires her for this unselfish decision,” says Callender. “Juliette never gave up with learning a new and extremely difficult position and, with time, dedication, and perseverance, she has become a consistent setter. When the team is down, she can motivate and give confidence to her teammates to help them believe in themselves and rebound, so they can get the task done.”
Haddam-Killingworth is competing in the Class M State Tournament that begins this week. Juliette says the Cougars are going to continue playing with their trademark passion in states, while igniting school spirit throughout the halls of the high school.
“We get so pumped for these postseason games. We will walk around school with face paint or crazy hair, and then people will ask us why we are dressed like that, and we will tell them it’s for a postseason game and for them to come watch,” says Juliette. “Before games, we will get our heads in the right space and work on plays, so we don’t pull any muscles or have injuries. All of that helps with our mentality and our ability to play our best.”