By Milton Woolfenden
Special to the Record-Journal
CHESHIRE — On a rainy Friday night, Cheshire girls volleyball faced off against North Haven, downing the Nighthawks in straight sets by scores of 25-14, 25-10, and 25-20.
The Lady Rams came into the game hot off a win against Mercy on Wednesday in straight sets. The night prior, on Tuesday, the Rams swept the previously undefeated Amity Spartans in straight sets.
They’ll head into October at 8-1 on the season and ranked No. 4 in the Class LL playoff points.
On the other bench, North Haven was trying to get out of a two-game skid, having lost to Guilford and Lauralton Hall by matching scores of 3-1. Instead, the Nighthawks saw their slide extend to three and their record drop to 4-6.
Friday’s SCC crossover match started with the Nighthawks getting out to a quick 4-1 lead in the first set. However, Cheshire got into a groove and reeled the Nighthawks in.
Aside from a seven-point run by Cheshire, the middle part of the set was largely a back-and-forth battle in which one team would get a point or two and the other would answer in kind. As the set continued, though, the Rams were able to outmuscle the Nighthawks.
As the Rams claimed the first set 25-14, junior middle hitter Eva Catalanotto already had four kills on the stat sheet. She would finish the night with a match-high 12.
Starting the second set, Cheshire jumped out to a 7-0 lead before North Haven was able to get a point on the board.
While the Nighthawks tried to keep their heads above water, they ultimately dropped the second set 25-10. Catalanotto tallied three more kills as the teams headed into the third set.
Knowing their backs were up against the wall, the Nighthawks threw everything they had at the Rams defense.
Just like the first set, the third quickly turned into a back-and-forth tug of war with each team fighting for momentum.
For Cheshire, the spotlight shifted to freshman outside hitter Maeve Zbikowski, who had seven kills in the set.
Despite best efforts of the Nighthawks, they dropped the third set 25-20 and Cheshire had its fourth straight win and eighth of the season.
Setter Mary Nugent finished with 29 assists and three aces and Emma Danaher put away eight kills. Fellow senior Olivia Scotti secured five digs.
North Haven was paced by Ava Carlson’s five kills and two blocks. Lucia Cavaliere had a hand in six digs, three kills and three aces.
Both teams are back in action on Monday, both on the road — Cheshire at Shelton, North Haven at Mercy.