The East Haven girls’ volleyball team entered the 2021 season with an inexperienced roster that featured just two seniors. As his team looks to build off of this year, Head Coach Craig Brown is hoping the returning Yellowjackets gained a lot from getting substantial playing time and learned a great deal from the two seniors on the squad.

“With COVID, it’s been hard to get the girls working together and developing over the last two years. We came into this year hoping to get the girls back on the court for a full season for the first time in what feels like 18 months,” Coach Brown said. “We had freshmen who had never touched the ball before. We wanted to get them into a system that would benefit them and help turn them into players who going forward will be winners.”

East Haven finished with a record of 4-16 for the 2021 season, earing two wins over West Haven to go with victories against Foran and Lauralton Hall. In losses to Branford and North Branford, the Yellowjackets were able to take the contest to the fifth set. While the record wasn’t what the Easties were hoping for, Coach Brown believes that close losses can turn into wins as his players continue to pick up more experience.

“Obviously, the wins and losses didn’t line up how we would have liked. We didn’t use the same lineup more than two or three times overall. It was just a battle to compete every single day,” said Brown. “A lot of our games, we were able to push four or five sets. They might be beating us now, but we just have to take the next step and get some extra development in.”

East Haven was led by two senior captains in outside hitter Magdalena Barthel and setter Kayla Stefania. Coach Brown said that the Easties leaned on their captains both on and off the court. As East Haven builds towards the future, Brown feels that the Yellowjackets will benefit from the excellent example that Barthel and Stefania set for the team’s younger athletes.

“They were crucial in being able to run our game,” Brown said of his captains. “For us to be able to lean on them was crucial. The younger girls saw that while these two seniors might not be winning a lot of games, they’re out there giving it their all every single day.”

As he looks ahead to next season, Coach Brown knows that East Haven will be relying on this year’s junior class, which includes outside hitter Adriana Franceschi, middle blockers Jessica Urban and Alice Stettinger, and setter Nicole SanGiovanni. Brown was also impressed by the play of sophomore outside hitter Ava Avena and freshman libero Alexa Heaphy this year. Heaphy didn’t play her 8th-grade season, but still earned the starting libero job in her high school debut. Avena switched from setter to outside hitter and had a solid year at the position.

While he feels that all of those players are all poised to have big seasons next year, Coach Brown added that every spot on East Haven’s roster is open. Brown plans on playing the best player at each position, regardless of how much or how little varsity experience they have. Brown is looking for the experience that the younger players gained this year to pay dividends as they advance through the program.

“Every spot is open for the best player. If you come back and put in the work over the offseason, even if you didn’t play varsity, you could see playing time,” Brown said. “A lot of these girls got a lot of extra experience, because they got to play varsity as sophomores and freshmen. We’re hoping that experience creates a winning atmosphere for us next year.”

Coach Brown wants to see his team mesh as a collective unit as East Haven strives for more wins in 2022. Brown is looking for teamwork and dedication across the board to lead the Yellowjackets to success moving forward.

“It’s going to take some commitment to excellence. We have some individual talent, but in the end, volleyball is the ultimate team sport,” said Brown. “We can’t ride on individual accomplishments, individual statistics. You’re only able to touch one out of every three touches. You have to be able to help your team—help them rise up and help you.”

The East Haven girls’ volleyball team’s roster for the 2021 season featured senior captains Magdalena Barthel and Kayla Stefania; juniors Adriana Franceschi, Jessica Urban, Alice Stettinger and Nicole SanGiovanni; sophomores Ava Avena, Brooke Ciscone, Nevaeh Caffalette, Mia Ponte, Nicole Brown, Cristina Fernandez, and Hayli Nuzzelillo; and freshmen Jayleen Crespo, Gianna Consiglio, Lily Saenz, Angelina, Bellacicco, Mia Abely, Alexa Heaphy, and Gianna Buonocore.