WOODBURY — Perseverance: That is what the Nonnewaug girls volleyball team has shown this season.
With an undefeated regular season and a Berkshire League tournament championship on Oct. 30, the Chiefs have shown that they are a team to beat in the Class M state tournament beginning Nov. 4.
The perfect regular season was nice, but players say the BL championship was even sweeter because it’s Nonnewaug’s first since 2019.
“It feels really good because it’s been my goal since freshman year to be a part of a team that could win the title,” says senior captain Emma Jackson. “We also broke a record this year as the first [Nonnewaug] team ever in volleyball to go undefeated in the regular season.”
The volleyball team is ranked sixth in the Class M state tournament, meaning their first two games were hosted at home, including the first round Nov. 4 vs. Kaynor Tech.
But the hard work and success didn’t just happen overnight.
“We have a great group this year, and so everything just balances itself more this year than it did last year,” says head coach Marty Malaspina. “We have about five different girls that can score, which is really helpful to us.”
Jackson thinks that the bond and chemistry that the team has built is going to contribute to their success in the tournament.
“I feel like we have been bonding together better recently as a whole,” says Jackson, “so it’s really nice to not only be on a team that is undefeated but also that has such a close bond.”
It’s also important to highlight the key steps into creating a working team.
“Emma Jackson has been big for us and running our offense,” says Malaspina. “Our biggest hitters have been Macey Chmiel, Lana Zupnick, and Riley Rich.”
Rich, a sophomore, is a great example of being a key player on a successful team. This year she has 65 kills, 119 digs, 51 aces and 14 assists.
Rich also believes that the chemistry the team built as a whole plays a big part in their success.
“Being good friends and how we’ve all built a bond together has made this season that much better,” Rich said.
The Chiefs have advanced to the Class M state quarterfinals thanks to 3-0 wins over Kaynor Tech and Hartford Public in the first two rounds. Nonnewaug will face No. 3 Granby in the state quarterfinals Nov. 8.
