After her team reached the SCC finals last year, Head Coach Brianna Kleckner felt that the North Haven girls’ volleyball squad had its sights set on having a big season in 2021. North Haven accomplished that goal and then some by netting 20 victories in a campaign that saw the club go on a run to the semifinals of the Class L State Tournament.

“We wanted to pick up right where we left off. We made it to the SCC finals and were super excited about that progress,” Kleckner said. “It was just a matter of refocusing, looking at what we had in front of us, and finding the best possible lineup.”

North Haven posted a record of 16-4 during the regular season. Coach Kleckner’s team started strong by opening the year on a seven-match win streak in which North Haven only dropped one set. Kleckner said that her players were focused from the get-go and ready to prove themselves this year, leading the team to its excellent record.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our team during the regular season. They were super focused from the moment our season began,” said Kleckner. “They wanted to come back stronger and fight harder. We proved that through our record.”

North Haven entered the SCC Tournament as the No. 3 seed and hosted No. 14 Lauralton Hall for a first-round match. North Haven came away with a 3-0 victory over Lauralton Hall before taking a 3-1 home loss against No. 6 seed Mercy in the quarterfinals.

Following SCCs, North Haven won its first three matches in the Class L State Tournament to advance to the semifinals. As the No. 5 seed, North Haven started off states by gaining a 3-0 win versus No. 28 Bethel and a 3-1 victory over No. 12 Fitch in the opening rounds.

North Haven went on to face No. 4 E.O. Smith on the road in the quarterfinals, rallying for a 3-2 victory by the final tally of 25-22, 20-25, 17-25, 25-15, 16-14. North Haven’s run through states came to an end with a 3-0 semifinal loss against RHAM, putting the team’s final record at 20-6.

Whether it was in SCCs or states, Coach Kleckner said that this year’s team was able to block out the bright lights and focus on working as a unit. All season long, North Haven concentrated on teamwork and how to support one another. Kleckner saw that effort come to fruition during the playoffs.

“Our postseason performance was tremendous, especially considering the amount of pressure that’s put on the players. It’s all or nothing. Our team rose to the challenge and did not let that pressure affect their performance,” Kleckner said. “Our goal throughout the season was making sure you’re putting the team before yourself. When we’re struggling, look around the circle, remember why you’re here, and fight for each other. Our team did a tremendous job of that during the postseason.”

North Haven was led by three seniors in captains Hannah Auddino and Caroline Toni, along with Lexy Signor. Auddino was named to the All-SCC First Team, while Toni was an All-SCC Second Team honoree, marking the second-straight time that both athletes earned All-Conference honors. Auddino dished out 576 assists to go with 84 aces, and Toni recorded 190 kills and 170 digs on the year. Signor posted 159 digs for North Haven.

Kleckner was named the SCC Coach of the Year after leading the team to such a strong season. Coach Kleckner said that all three seniors proved crucial to North Haven’s success with both their performance on the court and their leadership off of it.

“From where they started to now, there are no words to express how tremendously proud we are of how much they have grown. The three of them were tremendous leaders,” said Kleckner. “They did an incredible job of making everyone feel comfortable and motivating them to fight for a season we wouldn’t regret. Without their leadership, things could have certainly been different for us.”

Junior Kayla Balisciano finished with 159 digs and 146 kills for North Haven this year. Junior Maren Hill had 174 kills, while fellow junior Sophie Vauiso contributed 93 kills.

Coach Kleckner said that camaraderie was a big key to North Haven’s success. North Haven’s players are close friends, and Kleckner feels those tight-knit bonds help create a strong foundation for the team. From the first day of practice to the final day of the campaign, Kleckner saw every athlete on her roster support each other and do everything they could to help the team succeed.

As North Haven looks to build off of this season, Coach Kleckner believes that the mental side of the game will be important for her team going forward. North Haven has shown that it can succeed on the court and, if everyone keeps gaining mental strength, the sky could be the limit for the team.

“It’s not just about the fundamental side of volleyball. The mental toughness is just as important. Your body language and your reaction to how you perform affects everyone around you,” Kleckner said. “That’s been a consistent message. As we continue to try to teach them the importance of that, everything else will fall into place.”

The North Haven girls’ volleyball team’s roster for the 2021 season featured senior captains Hannah Auddino and Caroline Toni; senior Lexy Signor; juniors Maren Hill, Sophie Vauiso, Kayla Balisciano, Yasmeen Zureiqi, and Sarah Herrera; sophomores Grace Battipaglia, Adriana Lipowski, Ava Carlson, Avery Berney, Chandler Morris, and Ayanna Fernandez; and freshmen Erica Clorite, Brian McKiernan, Alexandra Anquillare, Alyssa DiGiovanna, Anna Howard, Alyssa Ferriouolo, and Lucia Cavaliere.