Girls Volleyball Loses Momemuntum at Away Games

Playing on the road has been somewhat of a rocky ride for the Amity girls volleyball team. In their first eight matches, the Lady Spartans are 3-0 at home and 2-3 on the road. They just concluded a five match road trip ands

finally return home to host Sheehan on Monday at 5:30 p.m.

After defeating Shelton 25-18 in the first game of a recent Southern Connecticut Conference Housatonic Division road contest, the Lady Spartans lost the next three games in a row by scores of 26-24, 25-16, and 25-14.

Looking back at that 3-1 loss that snapped his team’s four match winning streak, Coach Paul Thees said, “We came out of the blocks really strong and played a fantastic first game. We were leading 23-20 in the second game but Shelton came back and won. We had them on the ropes but put them away. It was a golden opportunity to go up 2-0 and probably win the match. Unfortunately, we couldn’t hang onto our lead.”

Amity and the Gaelettes were also tied 12-12 in the third game but then the hosts went on a 13-4 run to go ahead  two matches to one.

“Things just didn’t work out for us when it counted in the second and third games,” Thees added. “Shelton outplayed us down the stretch. Their 5-8 outside hitter, Katie Di Rienzo had a fantastic match, recording 20 kills. We knew from last year that she is an excellent player. She has a great jump serve and really took control of the third and fourth games. I’d say she is the best player in the SCC and has a good shot at Player of the Year.”

Thees also noted that Shelton used only seven players—six starters and a substitute for the libero in certain situations.

According to Thees, “We didn’t start out playing poorly, but we went flat as the match went on. DiRienzo is a powerful outside hitter and she intimidated us, especially in the third and fourth games.”

Allison Denny led Amity with 12 kills and six blocks. Kristin Post nailed six blasts to the floor and was good on all nine of her serves. Rebecca Denny was 22-22 from the service line (with five aces) and also recorded 13 digs. Jessica Hoffer had a dozen digs. As a team, Amity landed 68 of its 73 serves (93 percent). Setter Alyssa Mirmina was credited with 20 assists.

After rolling over Lyman Hall 25-5 in the first game, Thees cleared his bench and ended up dropping the second game 20-25. With its starters back on the floor, Amity wiped out the Trojans 25-17 and 25-13.

In a first game that Thees labeled “ridiculous”, Co-Captain Dana Blydenburg recorded 16 consecutive serves (including four aces). With his team leading 2-1, Thees again went to his bench as the fourth game wore on and he was delighted to see his reserves wrap up that game and clinch the match.

Allison Denny led the Lady Spartan attack with eight kills. Co-Captain Jessica Malinconico added six kills and two blocks. Rebecca Denny was perfect on her 18 serves (with two aces). Hoffer and Co-Captain Caitlyn Strona each pulled up six digs. Mirmina added 14 assists and six digs.

The Black and Gold were 96 percent (77 of 80) from the service line, which pleased Thees.

He said, “We’ve been averaging about 94 percent as a team. We have to serve well against the good teams.”

Setter Alena Buonocore had 14 assists for the 2-4 Trojans. Melanie Shanke was good on all 18 of her serves and defensive specialist Lauren Gaffney recorded 21 digs.  

In the opening match of the season, Amity hosted Mercy and yanked the Tigers tail for a 3-1 win. Last week, the Tigers hosted the Lady Spartans and shut them out 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 29-27).

“We didn’t play well or up to our capability up in Middletown. I really don’t know why we played with an overall lack of concentration. Mercy didn’t surprise us. They played as well as they had played against us down here, but this time, we let them dominate us from the outside. After the match, I told the girls that I wasn’t mad at them. Rather, that I was very disappointed in their play. After playing so well against them in our first match and against Shelton earlier in the week, we never showed up for the rematch with Mercy.” said Thees.

The 2-5 Tigers were led by Astin Donovan (nine digs), Sharon Carabetta (two kills, five service aces, and 26 assists), and Nina Zimmitti (10 digs and four service aces.)