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11/21/2014 11:00 PMThe North Branford volleyball squad had a repeat season from 2013 this fall, going 4-16 after also winning four matches a year ago. Head Coach Marion Kish realizes that the style of play she enforced this season may have cost the T-Birds a few wins, but feels it will make them better in the years to come.
“Our season goals this year were a little bit different than last year. This year, we focused on being aggressive and not caring what was on the scoreboard, but making sure that if we were going to go out, we were going to go out with a bang,” Kish said. “I truly believe we could have won more games, but we preached aggression and taking a swing at whatever you could. The girls did that and did the best that they could and, unfortunately, our record suffered because of it, but in the future, I think it will help us be better and be more competitive in the Shoreline.”
The T-Birds played aggressive at the net, but the team’s biggest strength may have come on the defensive side. Junior libero Nicole Messore was the leader on defense as she posted team-highs with 460 serve receives and 294 digs.
“Nicole Messore is an unbelievable defender. She is who kept us in games and the people that were next to her really crushed it,” Kish said. “My defense was definitely one of the better in the conference, I truly believe. We just didn’t have the hitting to back it up.”
The team’s best hitter was senior captain Deanna Gallo, who has been a starting outside hitter for the T-Birds since her freshman year and finished with 140 kills.
“She was more than just our best and smartest player; she was the glue to our team. All the girls loved her, all the girls respected her, and looked up to her,” Kish said. “She was a true leader to our squad and definitely going to be one that it’s tough to fill her shoes.”
Other seniors were Nicole Romanella, Briana Lucatino, Tori Albino, and Allie Sanzari. Albino and Sanzari were fellow captains with Gallo. Albino contributed to the defense with Messore while Sanzari had 322 assists.
The biggest moment for North Branford this season actually came in a loss during its final match. Against Haddam-Killingworth, which finished as both the Shoreline and Class S champions, North Branford won a set.
“We took a set from HK and it was a well-deserved set and the girls fought hard for it. They got an ice cream party for it,” Kish said. “That was an obstacle to overcome and they overcame that so I was proud of them. It showed the girls their ability and what I believed all season that they had. It proved to them, unfortunately too little, too late, that they were the team that I said they were all season.”
With continuity being crucial for any athletic program, Coach Kish feels excited about what could happen in her third season coaching the squad.
“For the past two seasons, we’ve been a very young team. Next season, those girls are going to be two years with me so we’re looking forward to that,” Kish said. “They know the system now, they know what’s expected, and it’s time to show it off in the years to come.”