The Haddam-Killingworth volleyball team returned a younger squad this fall and so there was every chance the Cougars would take their lumps and experience some growing pains. Instead, HK has quickly picked things up on the fly and currently boasts a record of 12-0.

Head Coach Robin Callender and the Cougars went 10-10 for the regular season following a 2-5 start last year. After losing to Morgan in the Shoreline Conference Tournament, HK dispatched Plainville and Bullard Havens Tech in the Class M State Tournament before getting eliminated by Ellington in the quarterfinals.

HK only welcomed back only three seniors from the team, although youth has been anything but a crutch for the Cougars, who’ve steamrolled their way to a unblemished record after sweeping Morgan and Cromwell last week.

“On the court, they are playing together as a team. I consider this a young team with four sophomores getting playing time. I just tell them all to continue to learn and learn from the mistakes,” said Coach Callender. “They never get down on their teammates and that’s all helped our success of [starting at 12-0]. They just keep playing as a team. In those fourth and fifth sets, they are working hard together and it shows.”

Senior Sarah Porter returns as an outside hitter and is also one of the Cougars’ captains this fall. Joining her are senior Riley Mroczka, who was a back row player last year and is working her way back into the starting lineup after shoulder surgery in June; along with junior setter Kate Porter.

“Sarah has shown great maturity from last year to this year. She’s smart with taking control of the offense. She pushes the girls and has them work together. She also does a lot of team building with the girls and has a positive attitude,” Callender said. “Riley is just starting to get back into the swing of things. She keeps getting better each game and is able to contribute more. She is so supportive of the girls with positive feedback and that’s how she’s leading the team. Kate can hit on the right side, as well. She’s a phenomenal player. She gets the job done and knows the other players well and how they like their balls played.”

HK’s deep underclass also features junior outside hitter Sam Mohammed, along with a pair of sophomore starters in Emily Jennings and Kristen Dansereau. Coach Callender said that all three athletes are showing poise well beyond their age.

“Sam is playing so smart and her serves are on point. She is taking control and making good decisions as a hitter,” said Callender. “Emily and Kristen are also incredible with their blocking and hitting.”

In last week’s victory versus Morgan, the Cougars achieved the sweep by set scores of 25-15, 25-10, and 25-17. Sarah Porter earned 15 service points and also had seven aces with five kills for the Cougars. Mroczka added three digs while returning from her injury, Kate Porter chipped in with 11 assists, eight service points, and five kills; and Mohammed also notched five kills.

The Shoreline Conference is always a competitive league that features the likes of Hale-Ray, East Hampton, Coginchaug, and Valley Regional. Coach Callender and the Cougars anticipate tough rematches with these foes and so they’re ready to tighten up both defensively and mentally in the campaign’s home stretch.

“We just played Hale-Ray the first time and they were without their senior setter, so the second time we see them, it’ll be more competitive. Valley is also competitive with a lot of talent, as are East Hampton and Coginchaug. They are all going to want to beat us the second time around, so we have to be ready for the challenge,” Callender said. “Our strengths so far have been our offense and serving. Our weakness is that we start some sophomores, so we are a younger team that can play down if a team starts a rally. We just need to be able to cover more on defense.”

• This is Robin Callender’s second season as HK’s head coach.

• Assisting on the Cougars’ coaching staff this fall is Sandee Moyher.

• Prior to last week’s two sweeps, HK earned 3-0 victories against East Haven, Coginchaug, Old Lyme, North Branford, and Creed.