Printer Friendly Version - Young and Hungry North Haven Volleyball Ready for States

The Nighthawks’ volleyball squad is all smiles, with a close and cohesive group that notched berths to both the SCC and Class L State Tournaments. Photo courtesy of Brianna Kleckner

Led by seniors in Ava Carlson, captain Avery Berney, Chandler Morris, and Grace Battipaglia, the North Haven volleyball team notched nine wins on the regular season and now readies itself for the Class L State Tournament. Photo courtesy of Brianna Kleckner

Driven by a young and motivated group, the North Haven volleyball program finds itself back in the postseason. Yet they are not getting trapped in the wins and losses of the standings, but rather drinking in the fun that has been had in building up the collective swagger and strength along the way.

With Head Coach Brianna Kleckner, the Nighthawks have hustled their way to a 9-10 regular season mark–earning themselves a berth to the Class L State Tournament, which kicks off on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Kleckner mentioned how so many teams and programs can get caught up in chasing the rush of a win or trying to wash away defeat. Yet she and the Nighthawks have experienced both ends of that emotional spectrum, but they are reveling in the work and the journey while gaining talent and experience.

“Our main goal is always to play our best at our potential and simply have fun. I think coaches can get caught up in the winning and losing of things,” said Kleckner. “There is a lot to learn from failure. Our team has played many matches to our potential, and several where we have not. The good thing about that experience is that we are better because of it.”

Avery Berney is the lone captain leading North Haven into battle this year. The outside hitter is someone who not only can jumpstart an offense, but she can also help light a spark on the squad.

“Avery is our go-to player on offense,” said Kleckner. “She has such a presence on the floor; we all look to her because she is a tremendous leader and captain.”

Backing her up on the court within the senior class is Chandler Morris at middle blocker, Ava Carlson doubling as both a right side hitter, and middle blocker and setter Grace Battipaglia.

“Chandler’s offense and defense contributed greatly to our success this year. She is someone we have relied on quite a bit this year to dig us out when we fall behind, because she is so powerful and effective in her position,” said Kleckner. “As a coach, I could not be more proud of the growth we have seen over the course of Ava’s career. She has stepped up and been such an essential part of our success this year that we could not be more proud of. Grace is certainly not afraid of a challenge. She has worked tirelessly to learn her position this year. We are so proud of her and all of the work she has put in this season.”

When speaking further to the steps her squad has taken this regular season, Kleckner touted that an added accomplishment is that North Haven has done all this within the confines of a youthful club, and has picked up the sport at an incredibly swift speed.

“Honestly, our team is very young. We do not have a lot of returners with consistent varsity experience,” said Kleckner. “So as a program, we are incredibly proud of how our team has risen to the challenge this year. There has been a lot to learn at an incredibly fast pace. Our team has come back from double point deficits to win not just the set, but the match, and that is not something everyone can do.”

North Haven entered the SCC Tournament as the No. 14 seed and took a 3-0 loss to 3rd-ranked Shelton in the first round on Oct. 27.

But a new experience this club has yet to take in is playing alongside each other in a highly pressurized postseason matchup of a state tournament draw. Still, the girls know that their pride and passion for the team, the school, and each other can power them over any hurdle or adversary.

“We have such a great group of young athletes and, at the end of the day, we just want North Haven volleyball to be a positive experience for them, so when they walk off the court their senior year, they have grown to love the sport as much as the coaching staff, if not more,” said Kleckner. “The postseason poses its own challenges in the high stakes realm, but our athletes want that pressure, and we are excited to see where our road will lead us these next couple of weeks.”

Kleckner is back for her eighth campaign at the helm as head coach. Assistant coaches are Kristen Bataille as Assistant Varsity Coach (also in her eighth season) and JV Coach Taylor Emerson (second year).

The 2023 North Haven volleyball roster is comprised of seniors Battipaglia, Berney, Carlson, Morris; juniors with Alexandra Anquillare, Alyssa DiGiovanna, Alyssa Ferriouolo, Lucia Cavaliere; sophomores with Delilah Wisneski, Angela Lin, Ella Couture, Danielle Dixon; plus freshmen of Lyla Prefontaine, Giulianna Mesner, Benita Boafo, Kailyn Gilmore, Bianca Keaney, Audra Everone, Bianca Watts, Olivia Jagiello, Sophia Cafe, Kali Banks, and Emerson Rooney.