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11/10/2022 12:04 PMAfter growing up playing both softball and volleyball, Nicole SanGiovanni wanted to carve out her own athletic identity and traded in balls and strikes for kills and spikes upon arriving at East Haven High School, a change that worked out for the betterment of both her and the Yellowjackets’ volleyball program.
Nicole, a setter and sole senior captain for the Easties volleyball team this past fall, played softball ever since she could remember, competing as early as T-Ball. In 6th grade, Nicole decided to expand her horizons and add volleyball to her athletic itinerary. The summer before her freshman year of high school, she took another step towards her indoor sports endeavor by playing travel volleyball. It was then that Nicole realized the volleyball court was where she belonged.
The senior recently capped off her four-year varsity career by leading the team in 2022 with 135 assists, completing a career tally of 323 dishes, to go along with 34 digs, 16 kills, and 25 aces this campaign.
“Once I got to high school, I realized softball was not for me, and I discovered that volleyball was more me. I wanted to have my own sport and be my own person,” says Nicole, whose sister, Julia, played softball for the Yellowjackets, graduating in 2018. “I get so many touches on the ball by being a setter. Being a setter is similar to being a leader on the court; everything goes off of me. It was a fun experience knowing people looked up to me out there and needed me there to help.”
With the fast and frenetic pace that is conducive to the court, Nicole had to make several snap decisions during in-game action. She details that her moves were always premeditated and based off of the flow and feel of a given match on both sides of the net.
“Everything happens so quickly out there, so I just kind of go,” Nicole says. “I like to plan out where I need to go even before the serve comes over. I will see how our hitters are hitting in a match and adjust. If I see the other team is not blocking a side well, I will go to that side.”
After a successful tenure, Nicole’s crowning career achievement came prior to her senior send-off season when she was awarded with a captain’s honor, the lone captain to top it off. She wore the designation proudly in the gym, while being an equally dependent companion to her teammates.
“I was so happy to be named captain, and the sole captain,” says Nicole. “To have [East Haven volleyball Head Coach Craig Brown] trust in me that much to make me the only captain was special. I think one of our best moments this year was actually Senior Night [on Oct. 27 versus North Branford]. We lost the match, but we were always upbeat and never gave up. Being captain this season was a lot of fun; the girls looked up to me and I helped them with anything they needed. I was the person they came to before coming to Coach Brown. I enjoyed helping the girls with anything.”
As Nicole earned her varsity letter all four years, she conveys that her abilities strengthened in being able to distribute the ball across any and all lanes. Nicole notes that the real rewards of her floor assignment came when she got the verbal credit for kills.
“Playing varsity since freshman year was amazing, because it showed that Coach Brown believed in me since the beginning,” Nicole says. “I feel like I did get stronger over the last four years with getting the ball more outside. To me, it was so great when our hitters complimented me on a good set after they made an amazing kill.”
Having the privilege to mentor Nicole the last four campaigns, Brown expresses that she was an even-keeled captain while cultivating an impact on the Yellowjackets that will be felt after she departs.
“Nicole’s leadership is what we most appreciated this year. With over 20 girls on the team, her ability to keep a cool head, communicate, and create relationships across the board from our freshmen through seniors served the team well,” says Brown. “Her leadership was also felt on the court. She has been a great asset to the program, and her values that have been instilled in her peers will be felt in our future program success.”
As she will embark on the next leg of her scholastic journey by attending Southern Connecticut State University to study education in 2023, Nicole looks on in reflection with gratitude for the last four falls on the volleyball court and the lifelong friendships she gained in the process.
“East Haven volleyball has made a huge impact on me,” says Nicole, who thanks her entire family for her success. “I have made some of my closest friends through being on this team. Seeing them every day of my life for three months each season was special, because I knew I always had a friend to go to.”