Falcon spikers finally beat Coventry but fall to Granby in NCCC Tournament final

Avon’s Sammy Maniatty helped the Falcons advance to the NCCC Tournament final for the first time since 2010.

COVENTRY, Nov. 1 – The Coventry High girls volleyball team has dominated the NCCC since they joined the league in 2006. 

The Patriots captured eight straight league championships from 2006 through 2013. They won seven of the NCCC tournaments that were held. The 2011 event was cancelled due to snow. The Patriots won seven consecutive Class S state titles from 2006 through 2012. 

Avon, which had dominated the NCCC in volleyball before the arrival of the Patriots, finally beat Coventry Saturday in the NCCC Tournament semifinals in an outstanding five-set victory, 14-25, 25-12, 23-25, 25-21 and 15-10. It’s Avon’s first win over the Patriots since they joined the conference and the first games that Avon has won over Coventry this year. 

Perhaps, fatigue caught up with Falcons as Granby continued its undefeated season with a 3-1 win over Avon in the NCCC Tournament championship game, 25-23, 21-25, 25-13, 25-12. Granby (22-0, 18-0 NCCC) won it first-ever NCCC Tournament to along with its first league championship. 

“After splitting the first two sets by close scores, Avon began feeling the effects of playing nine ultra-competitive sets in one day,” Avon coach Curt Burns said. “But we accomplished a major goal by finally defeating Coventry before leaving the conference. Defeating unbeaten Granby for the tournament championship would have been nice but it wasn’t meant to be on this night.” 

This is Avon’s final season in the NCCC. They will begin play in the Central Connecticut Conference next fall. 

Avon (17-6, 14-4 NCCC) easily dispatched Sport Medicine Science Academy, 25-6, 25-7, 25-14 in the league quarterfinals on Thursday night as junior setter Brooke Fisher had 22 assists and six aces. 

In Saturday’s semifinals, the host Patriots beat Avon by nine in the opening game but the Falcons rallied with a 25-12 win in game two. Coventry prevailed in game three, 25-23 before Avon rose to the occasion to take game four, 25-21. 

“We’re playing our best volleyball of the year right now,” Burns said. “Against Coventry, several players had strong matches for us. Senior middle blocker Oliva Hart had a season-high in kills (9), blocks (10) and points (20). Junior opposite hitter Abby Laszewski had 23 points via 20 kills and six block assists. Junior setter Brooke Fisher efficiently ran our offensive attack, racking up 37 assists. Defensively, senior outside hitter Sammy Maniatty led Avon with 20 digs while libero Della Hellwig added 18 digs. Outside hitter Caitlin Cunningham had 15 digs.” 

Granby continues to have a magical season. They beat Ellington in the other tournament semifinal, 3-0. In the championship match, the Bears prevailed despite 16 kills and three block assists from Laszewski and 11 kills from Maniatty. 

Avon now advances to play in the CIAC Class L tournament beginning Monday night. The Falcons, ranked No. 12, will host No. 21 New Canaan (9-9) beginning at 6 p.m. at the high school. If Avon can win its opening game, they will advance to the second round at No. 5 Joel Barlow on Thursday night. 

NOTES: Senior outside hitter Sammy Maniatty and junior hitter Abby Laszewski were named to the All-NCCC team for the second straight year. Junior setter Brooke Fisher was named All-NCCC for the first time. Laszewski led the Falcons with 258 kills and 33 blocks. Maniatty was second on the team in kills (163) and serving aces (57). Fisher led Avon with 330 assists, 67 serving aces and a 97.2 serving percentage. … Avon came into the tournament with four match winning streak. … The five-set win over Coventry was the first time this season that the Falcons have played five games in a single match. … Avon earned a spot in the NCCC Tournament for the first time since 2010. Avon is now 0-6 in the final with five losses to Coventry from 2006-10.

2014 NCCC Tournament
Thursday’s quarterfinals
Avon 3, SMSA 0 (25-6, 25-7, 25-14)
Ellington 3, Suffield 0 (25-16, 25-12, 26-24)
Saturday’s semifinals
Avon 3, Coventry 2 (14-25, 25-12, 23-25, 25-21, 15-10)
Granby 3, Ellington 0
Saturday’s championship
Granby 3, Avon 1 (25-23, 21-25, 25-13, 25-12)