What has already been a sensational season for the HK volleyball team became even more memorable after shutting down one of the most dominant dynasties in Connecticut high school sports history.

Following a 19-1 regular season in Head Coach Rich Langer’s 40

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and final year, the Cougars earned the top seed in the Shoreline Conference Tournament and faced off with No. 2 Morgan, whom HK defeated back on Sept. 21 to give the Huskies their first regular season loss since 2007, in the final on Nov. 1 at Cross. HK then pulled off a 3-1 victory to secure its fourth conference crown according to Langer and end the Huskies’ string of 22 consecutive Shoreline championships.

“This is one of the best feelings in the world. It wasn’t just that we won, but it was also the look on Coach Langer’s face after the game,” said senior Olivia Parmelee. “He was so proud, and it was an honor to give him a Shoreline championship. We really played as a team and that’s what truly mattered. After all the time we had played together, I think that match we became one and finally played up to our full potential.”

The Cougars dropped the opening set by a 25-21 final, yet they rattled off three straight wins with scores of 25-16, 25-19, and 25-19 to clinch the championship. Senior Mackenzie Hinds had 19 kills, 15 digs, and six aces while fellow seniors of Lauren Brough (15 digs) and Parmelee (20 digs) added 18 and 13 kills, respectively. Senior Michelle Church also handed out 59 assists and tallied 24 digs for the new Shoreline title holders.

“Winning Shorelines is an awesome feeling, and we have been fighting so hard,” said Hinds. “It was a big accomplishment to beat Morgan and great to come out on top. The seniors haven’t really played in a big championship game in our four years, so naturally nerves happen. After that first set, we just went all out.”

After dropping the opening game, HK (21-1) rebounded in the second set. Both the Cougars and Huskies (20-2) played to a 15-15 tie, and then HK broke through with a 10-1 run to even up the evening at one game apiece.

“We played tremendous, everyone contributed an awful lot, and it was a good win,” said Langer. “I don’t think we were overwhelmed by Morgan’s 22 titles. The kids played great and were motivated. We missed about six or seven serves in that first game, but weren’t flustered after that first game. We came out and didn’t miss any serves in the second game.”

For the third set, the Cougars appeared to be in cruise control and on their way to a 2-1 lead by going ahead 23-13, but the resilient Huskies used a quick five-point rush to cut their deficit in half prior to HK taking two of the next three points to conclude the third.

In the eventual final stanza, Morgan again made a later push to only trail 17-15, although the Cougars took the crown following an 8-4 spurt.

“In the third game, we were under control. The girls were just comfortable and confident all night,” said Langer. “The kids knew Morgan was beatable. We made some unforced errors, so it wasn’t a case of Morgan being overpowering. We just played more confident without those mistakes.”

HK now looks toward the Class S State Tournament, which began earlier this week. The Cougars entered the draw as the top seed and could potentially see the defending state champion and 3

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-seeded Huskies a fourth time in the final on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 10 a.m. in Glastonbury.

“We are very fortunate in the draw. We have Morgan [No. 2 seed] and [No. 3 seed] Seymour on the other side of the bracket, so one of those will survive,” said Langer. “It’s a tough bracket for us on our side, too with Terryville [8

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-ranked] and Wolcott Tech [seeded 4

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]. We will just play each game as it comes.”