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E. HAVEN – Adam Bottone didn’t take any time in answering the question about how he summed up the Woodstock Academy volleyball season.
“Awesome,” The Academy coach said.
Despite a 3-0 loss to RHAM in the Class L state championship Nov. 18 at East Haven High School, Bottone was wearing a smile and was in good spirits.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better story than to come all the way to the final. We knew it was going to be tough, but it’s always been one of our goals and to finally come through in the end and get here - even though it was a loss and the loss stinks and everybody took it hard - it was fun,” Bottone said.
His players agreed.
“It was great, extremely special. In my last year to make it all the way to the state finals is absolutely amazing and I will never forget it,” said senior Caroline Eaton.
The outside hitter was wearing the runner up medallion around her neck that she had just received in postgame ceremonies.
“It’s something I will always remember that we got this far, that we played great throughout the season and I was happy to be here,” Eaton said.
The stay was not a long one.
The match took only a little over an hour to complete with the Sachems winning their seventh state championship in 11 years.
It was the second state championship appearance for Woodstock Academy which played for a state title when the sport was in its fledgling stages in 1967.
RHAM (25-1) was dominant up front with seniors Anna Barry (21 kills) and Alana Hruska (15 kills) making it difficult on players like Eaton offensively.
“They put up a great block that I struggled with,” Eaton said.
They were also difficult to deal with defensively.
“They are very tall and a very consistent team, they deserve this. I thought we could have been a little more consistent, but they were getting in our heads a little bit. I, personally, was getting a little frustrated because their kills get you down a little bit, They are really good,” said junior setter Sammie Orlowski.
The Centaurs (23-4) have had trouble starting the engine in state tournament play and the championship game was no different.
Bottone was hoping a good start might set the Sachems back on their heels, but that didn’t happen.
RHAM quickly jumped out to a 14-5 advantage in the first game.
The Centaurs fought their way back within six points, 21-15, but saw the Sachems score the last four points for the 25-15 win.
The Academy hung with RHAM in the second game, even taking a 5-2 lead early. The Sachems recovered to take the lead at 6-5 but it was still neck-and-neck late when the Centaurs pulled even at 19.
But the Centaurs failed to be the first in-state team to wrest a game away from RHAM as the Sachems rallied to score six of the next seven points. Barry accounted for five of those on assists from setter Alexandra Welch (30 assists).
“We had our serve going, but that was something we really couldn’t do, other than when Paula (Hernandez) was back there, was maintain serve and getting on a run,” Bottone said.
Hernandez posted good personal numbers in the loss with 15 kills, three assists, six service points and three aces.
“She’s a gamer,” Bottone said. “She’s all business, she’s serious and she knows how the game is played. She knows what we need to do to win and it’s good for the other girls to see that level of competitiveness and, hopefully, it will rub off even more next year.”
Bottone is hoping Hernandez chooses to stay at Woodstock Academy. She is a native of Puerto Rico who came to the States when Hurricane Maria devastated the island.
“In the end, I want what is best for her. If going back down there and being with her family is what is most important than that is what she should do,” Bottone said.
Orlowski, who will return, is hoping Hernandez will return and not only as a teammate.
“She has become such a good friend. I don’t want her to go back because I just love her. If she does, it’s OK. We will make do and I will keep in touch with her,” Orlowski said.
The close 25-19 call in the second game woke RHAM up a bit.
The Sachems jumped out to a 13-4 lead in the third game and ignored another attempted comeback by the Centaurs, winning 25-17, when Barry finished the match with another put away. The senior was named the Most Outstanding Player of the championship match.
“I thought Anna was incredible,” said RHAM coach Tim Guernsey. “Sometimes, I feel she gets lost in the spotlight a little bit with Alana, but she has had a phenomenal year and definitely had one of her best games on the biggest stage.”
Bottone was happy that his Centaurs never quit, reaching double digits in all three sets, something that few opponents have accomplished against the Sachems.
“A lot of teams don’t even get close especially in that second set when we were pushing them to the brink which was nice. I think it was a little wake up call for them and that is why they came out a little harder in the third set. Maybe they thought they had the win easily, but we showed we weren’t going away,” Bottone said.
The Centaurs earned the honor of playing for a state title Nov. 15 with a 3-0 win over sixth-seeded Joel Barlow of Redding at Newington High School.
The score made it look easy. It wasn’t.
“I wasn’t really sure what to expect,” said senior Caroline Eaton. “I knew it was going to be a good matchup.”
The Centaurs had to work for their reward.
Woodstock Academy started out well in each of the first two games, but it never could quite shed the Falcons.
Four points was the biggest differential in the first set and the Centaurs only led, 22-20, late. But a Paula Hernandez (19 kills, 17 digs, 11 service points) kill and a block by Maeve Stevenson and Sammie Orlowski (30 assists) combined with an errant hit by the Falcons gave the Centaurs the 1-0 lead.
Woodstock Academy took the second game in similar fashion, 25-20.
Coach Adam Bottone was happy to see his team start both games well.
The problem was Joel Barlow’s strength from behind the service line and getting side outs were difficult. It allowed the Falcons (24-3) to ease their way back into both games only to fall short at the end.
With its back to the wall, Joel Barlow rallied from a 22-17 deficit to tie the third game at 23.
“It was a little nerve-wracking,” Eaton said.
Bottone called a time out. “”I just told them to settle down, we’re up 2-0, they have a lot of volleyball left to play and we only have a little bit. If we stay just stay focused and be efficient with what we’re doing, we should be fine,” Bottone said.
A net violation on Barlow’s side gave the Centaurs a game and match-point opportunity. The Centaurs moving on to the title match when Barlow put a ball into the net.
“It’s absolutely amazing,” Eaton said with a big smile after the victory. “We’re really excited.”
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director