WOODBURY- For the third time in four years, the Nonnewaug volleyball team is within reach of a Class M state championship. After a win against Bacon Academy on November 6th, the team will compete in the state quarterfinal. 

“I think that our team has been really strong and we’ve been learning a lot of new stuff this year, and just  working really hard,” said Junior Ava Rickenbach.

Though these victories were common in the past three years for the NHS volleyball team, they don’t just happen overnight and the NHS volleyball team has been working overtime for this achievement.

“Our practice this year has been a lot more intense, with cardio, and conditioning to get us ready for the games,” added Rickenbach. “We’ve been doing a lot more individual skill training to work on little mechanics to perfect all of our skills.”

Continuing their victories from past years the team’s chemistry is extra strong this year.

Macey Chmiel, a senior captain on the volleyball team, attributes this year’s success to an unbreakable bond.

“A big part of us getting this far is teamwork,” Chmiel said. “We all work together really well together.”

For coach Marty Malaspina, forging this comraderie is a skill–and one that’s paying off.

“The girls have been working very hard six days a week, and our recent focus has been engagement and communication,” said  Malaspina. “They’ve done a great job with it.”

Between all of the practices and bonding the volleyball team has put towards their championship game the victory isn’t far from their reach.

If the volleyball team secures the win in their next state game they will make it further in states than any other Nonnewaug volleyball team has.

Malaspina is optimistic. 

“We’re hoping this year could be the year that we make it past the quarterfinals,” said Malaspina.