While the North Haven volleyball team welcomed a new leader this fall to the court, the girls not only welcomed her with open arms, they flexed their own physical prowess and super mental strength by being a club with character that fought through all the bumps in its road to the playoffs.

The Nighthawks secured both SCC and Class L State Tournament berths after an 11-9 regular season that saw many ups and downs, yet North Haven rode into the postseason on a four-game winning streak. In the first round of the SCC draw on Oct. 23, the eighth-seeded Nighthawks edged out No. 9 Hamden 3-2 (25-22, 28-26, 22-25, 24-26, 15-12) prior to a 3-0 quarterfinal round defeat to top-ranked Amity (25-16, 25-19, 25-19).

First-year Head Coach Taylor DePalma said the ebbs and flows may have stemmed from the adjustment process of both parties with a new mentor coming into a new program. She noted that in a game with multiple swings and lead changes, staying the course with positivity is critical and they did that almost blindly as time wore on.

“This season was one of growth, as the team adjusted to a new coach and dynamic. Our main focus was on building mental strength and fostering positivity. From the start, I knew I was working with a talented group of athletes. However, as the season went on, their perseverance became even more evident, and they grew stronger with each game, constantly pushing to stay positive in challenging situations. By the end of the season, we reached milestones we couldn’t have imagined at the start, a result of the girls breaking through the barriers and showing up as the athletes that we as coaches knew they were from the start,” said DePalma. “Our main goal was to remain consistently positive in each set and not give up on ourselves and our teammates. This became second nature to the team by the end of the season, as they continued to do the work, both on and off the court. The team ensured they were fostering a culture that was encouraging and uplifting to all athletes, and I believe that is what makes them such a well-rounded and gifted group of young women.”

Senior Lucia Cavaliere and Junior Ella Couture have helped lead the postseason push for the Nighthawks as co-captains. Cavaliere is always someone who never has to have her commitment to the court and the club questioned. Meanwhile, Couture is an individual never afraid to lift others while raising her own game.

“Lucia is known for her consistent performance on the court and her ability to rally the team during critical moments. She leads by example, always giving 100% in practices and games, and is admired for her work ethic. Off the court, she’s approachable and helps foster a positive, supportive environment for the entire team,” said DePalma. “Ella stands out for her communication and guiding her teammates during matches, being a mentor to younger players, and helping them develop both their skills and confidence. Ella consistently is seeking to improve and take her game to the next level. Together, they balance each other’s strengths and create a cohesive leadership duo that motivates and supports the team both on and off the court.”

Sophomore Bianca Watts is a standout underclassman for North Haven. Bianca is nearing the end of her season making her mark in the SCC by being ranked fourth for total blocks and 45th overall for the entire state of Connecticut in that category.

“Bianca has shown immense improvement throughout her sophomore season as a varsity starter, playing in all 63 sets during the regular season,” said DePalma. “We expect this to continue during the rest of her career at North Haven.”

Other underclassmen competitors DePalma noted have stood out thus far on the campaign are sophomores Olivia Jagiello, Emerson Rooney, and Guilianna Mesner.

North Haven exhibited their growth and maturity in such a short span by turning the tables on a rival in a rematch with a complete 180 in terms of the final match result. They additionally gave one of the stalwarts in the conference all they could handle in a four-set thriller.

“The team demonstrated remarkable perseverance throughout the season, steadily improving their consistency with each game,” said DePalma. “Despite an early loss to Cross, where they competed well but were defeated in three sets, they turned it around during their most recent match on Senior Night, winning decisively in three sets. This victory was one of their best performances of the season, highlighted by 33 kills, 49 digs, and 11 aces. Another standout moment came when the team extended their match against the SCC Tournament No. 3 seed, Sacred Heart Academy, to four sets, showcasing their ability to rise to the challenge when pushed beyond their comfort zone.”

DePalma went on to praise the girls’ uncanny ability to adapt and adjust towards overcoming adversity. She attributes a large part of it to their mental fortitude to simply shake off the errors and misuses in the middle of a match.

“The team has achieved impressive growth, and one of the most significant areas of progress has been resilience,” said DePalma. “The players have embraced the mindset that every new serve or set is a fresh opportunity to start strong and stay strong, no matter what happened in the previous play. This approach has helped them stay mentally tough and recover quickly from mistakes, which is a huge step forward.”

North Haven will now compete in the Class L State Tournament, where it was the 18th seed and traveled to No. 15 New Milford for a first-round matchup at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5 (after press time). If the Nighthawks win there, they would advance to the second round on Thursday, Nov. 7 against 2nd-seeded RHAM.

As the Nighthawks look to continue their proficient progress in the second phase of their postseason journey, they are beyond confident in their chances due to the fact they believe in each other and are willing to go to bat for one another in the blink of an eye.

“The team has also done a great job of fostering a culture where positivity is infectious. Instead of allowing negativity or frustration to spread after a tough point, they’ve learned to lift each other up and keep moving forward,” said DePalma. “No one stays down on themselves for too long and that collective support has become one of their greatest strengths. Going forward, maintaining this focus on resilience and positivity along with their athletic prowess will be key to their continued success. If they keep building on this mentality, they’ll be well-prepared for any challenge ahead.”

Assistant Coach for North Haven in 2024 is Stephanie DeMatteis, also in her first year with North Haven. JV Coach Taylor Emerson is in her third campaign with the Nighthawks.

The 2024 North Haven roster is comprised of senior Alyssa DiGiovanna, Alexandra Anquillare, Alyssa Ferriouolo, Cavaliere; juniors Delilah Wisneski, Couture, Danielle Dixon; sophomores Jagiello, Watts, Mesner, Rooney, Kailyn Gilmore, Audra Everone, Kali Banks; plus freshmen Nora McNamara, Grace Alfano, Camryn Fassnacht, Emme Giannone, Adriana Acevedo, Elena Alexandro, Brianna Palmese, Sofia Genova, and Kyriakoula Diakogeorgiou.

2024 North Haven Volleyball Team Regular Season Results

Sept. 3: North Haven 3, Hamden 0

Sept. 5: Sacred Heart Academy 3, North Haven 1

Sept. 9: North Haven 3, Law 1

Sept. 13: Lauralton Hall 3, North Haven 0

Sept. 16: North Haven 3, East Haven 0

Sept. 18: Amity 3, North Haven 0

Sept. 20: North Haven 3, West Haven 0

Sept. 23: Hamden 3, North Haven 0

Sept. 25: Cross 3, North Haven 0

Sept. 27: Sacred Heart Academy 3, North Haven 0

Sept. 30: North Haven 3, Law 0

Oct. 2: North Haven 3, Hand 1

Oct. 4: Lauralton Hall 3, North Haven 0

Oct. 7: North Haven 3, East Haven 1

Oct. 9: Guilford 3, North Haven 0

Oct. 10: Amity 3, North Haven 0

Oct. 14: North Haven 3, Bacon Academy 2

Oct. 16: North Haven 3, West Haven 0

Oct. 18: North Haven 3, Cross 0

Oct. 21: North Haven 3, Hand 0