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11/12/2024 11:44 AMCaley Napoletano is drawn to volleyball by the camaraderie it creates through the absolute necessity of synergy to succeed. She still takes it upon herself, though, to lead by example via never taking a point off and keeping every single ball alive for the Haddam-Killingworth volleyball team.
The senior grew up playing sports for her entire childhood, including softball and track. She was encouraged to follow in her family’s footsteps by her parents to engage in volleyball. After helping the Cougars become a Class S state finalist last fall, the libero earned a captain’s nod this season and helped H-K attain a 17-2 regular-season record and reach the Shoreline Conference Tournament semifinals. She also earned herself a First Team All-Shoreline selection with 37 aces, a 94.9 serve percentage, 32 assists, 446 digs, and 411 serve receive passes.
“Volleyball is such a fun team sport. You have to rely so much on your teammates. It brings about a family that you do not get with other sports. You are able to not put as much pressure on yourself and have fun with it,” says Caley. “Every day at practice, I show up ready to go and ready to give it my all. I also like going for every ball out there, even if it is a ball I cannot get. I just want to work hard every day while giving 100%.”
Being a defensive specialist, Caley does not mind that she may make the plays that do not go in a stat book or are displayed in a game film. But what matters to her is chasing down every last ball and trying to prevent them from hitting the ground.
“I love going after and getting balls that other people would not think of getting. I also like knowing that I play an important part in the team and taking a leadership role,” Caley says. “It can be tough sacrificing your body and playing a defensive position where you may not get as much recognition. Yet that helps me stay motivated to make an impact. I feel I am strong mentally at this point because I have been through so many high pressure situations. I get through the tough times because I know the team needs me, and I have to do my best to help them.”
Caley’s court vision has taken a jump over the years, along with her ability to facilitate the ball in an efficient and accurate manner. She knows that she wants to provide more quality service in pushing the rock to the opposite end of the floor more frequently.
“My ability to read the ball has improved, along with my servicing. I have gotten more confident in knowing where the ball needs to go and placing it there,” says Caley. “I do want to get better at my serves. I am trying to be more consistent with them and get them over the net.”
Stepping into a leadership slot, Caley explains that she and her Cougars colleagues stepped into a bit of an unknown setting early on this campaign. She relishes in the opportunity to serve as a mentor and emotional spark to her younger counterparts and building them up to great heights.
“I have really enjoyed being a captain. We knew we had potential this year, but we did not know how the year would go, since we lost so many seniors from last year,” says Caley. “I love working with the younger girls, and I just tell them how much we need them and help them keep up their mental toughness.”
H-K volleyball Head Coach Robin Callender details that Caley’s heart and hustle to try and save every last ball hit to the Cougars' end of the court is contagious to her teammates. For herself personally, Callender notes Caley is addicted to the student-athlete grind and strives to achieve only the best.
“Caley’s ability to stay focused and disciplined at every practice and match is always contagious to her teammates. The players feed off of her energy and drive to get to every hard hit ball before it lands on the floor, diving and sliding all over the court,” says Callender. “She understands the value of hard work, perseverance, and determination. Being a successful student-athlete, Caley is committed to achieving her goals on and off the court. She appreciates working alongside her teammates, and she learns and develops essential life skills like leadership and working with others to achieve a common goal.”
Callender adds that Caley’s determination is a driving force on the defensive end for H-K. She makes moves to her target that astonish all of her teammates and even her own coaching staff.
“Caley is a true leader, and her strengths are her sense of drive and natural ability to stand out from the competition. She brings out the best in herself and others around her. She realizes that she has a vital role to perform and always gives 100% to her team members,” says Callender. “She is able to take control of our defense and protect the court, giving it her all to attempt to read where the volleyball is going. And with her determination, she will do everything possible to bring the ball up to our setter. On numerous occasions, the coaches believed that the volleyball was landing on our side of the court, and we were astonished that Caley never gave up on her assignment and would be able to accomplish the task at hand.”
Caley volleys praise right back to her coach in stating that her expectations have been a huge focal point of the Cougars’ recent string of success. Yet she also commends her teammates for showing up for the gauntlet of preparation that puts them in tip-top condition for contests.
“Coach Callender always has a high standard for us to set,” says Caley. “We also take part in a lot of conditioning drills and practices with three-hour practices each day. I think that us staying in shape while trying to stay at that standard set by her has been huge for our success.”
H-K and Caley are on a redemption tour in terms of the states bracket after just being one match away from attaining the pinnacle of their athletic profession. They will stop at nothing and leave no stone unturned to bring home the gold.
“We really want to go as far as we can in states,” says Caley. “We also want to get as many people as possible All-State recognition. We want to leave it all on the court this year at states and give it our all towards winning a title.”