The Woodland girls volleyball team is the two-time defending Naugatuck Valley League tournament champion, and it’s also undefeated to start this season.
The Hawks have won their first five matches, dropping just a single set along the way. Seymour (5-0), the runner-up to Woodland each of the past two seasons, and Naugatuck (4-0) are also undefeated.
Woodland’s toughest tilt to date was last Thursday at Wolcott, a match it won, 3-1. The Hawks won the first set, 25-18, only to watch the Eagles take the second set, 22-25, and even the match at 1-1. Woodland’s response was emphatic, a 25-8 third set and a 2-1 lead. The Hawks won the fourth set, 25-18, and the match. Senior Ava Bianchini had 24 kills, four aces, 18 digs and 17 serve receives. Senior Lindsay Koliani totaled 12 kills, two aces, 12 digs, and 13 serve receives. Sophomore Nora Nemec notched eight kills and five total blocks while senior Emily Ambrocio contributed 11 digs and 14 serve receives.
Bianchini leads the way with 67 kills and Koliani is second with 43. Bianchini (18), senior Sophia Ligi (17), Koliani (17) and senior Julia Dommel (13) are tops in aces. The Hawks have leaned on the combination of Nemec (9 total blocks) and senior Adelina Jahja (6) for challenges at the net. The top three in digs are Bianchini (37), Koliani (31) and Ambrocio (27). Junior Hannah Mishler has 136 assists to date. Bianchini (59) and Koliani (56) are one-two in serve receives.
Woodland is at St. Paul on Tuesday at 6:15 p.m.
