caption:

Junior Liliana Bottone, left, and senior Reegan Reynolds would like to see the Centaurs make that next step, back to a Class L volleyball state championship match this season. Photo by Marc Allard.


Centaurs look to make another run at Class L state title
It was a bit of a surprise last season, maybe even a little ahead of schedule, when the Woodstock Academy volleyball team made it as far as the final four in the CIAC Class L state tournament, the state semifinals, before falling to Joel Barlow.
“I would love to make that next step,” said junior outside hitter Liliana Bottone. “Everyone here wants to. Everybody grew a lot in the offseason. We came into tryouts and everyone was just stunned by everyone else. We’re really excited to get back here, work even harder and possibly get to the state championship.”
Most of those who brought the Centaurs as far they went last fall have returned.
There are some missing as All-State player Morgan Bonin (205 kills, 27 blocks, 178 digs and 51 aces) has graduated.
Leila MacKinnon (49 kills, 77 digs), Jade Desmond and Ellie Nunes (163 digs) have also moved on to the college ranks.
But the small graduation numbers mean a nice, experienced group returns.
“We’re definitely in good shape,” said coach Adam Bottone said. “The girls who played and contributed a lot are here and have more experience from playing in the previous years and a number of them have played club (volleyball) at a pretty high level. A couple of the girls went to Orlando (Fla.) and played against one of the top clubs in the nation. We have a lot of experience.”
And what’s even nicer, the returning players are also relatively young.
Only Reegan Reynolds and Emma Kerr are seniors.
“I’m so happy to be back. We went really far last year and it was really exciting to see what our team accomplished and I think we can go even farther this year,” Reynolds said.
The downside: It is her final season.
“It’s crazy to think I’m already a senior but we’re going to make it worth the while,” she added.
Reynolds will be one of those in the mix of the most exciting position in the sport, outside hitter.
Reynolds flipped back and forth with Bonin at outside and middle last year with Reynolds getting 91 kills. She was also pretty good in the back with 113 digs.
Liliana Bottone, who will also play opposite hitter, led the Centaurs with 250 kills.
They will be helped on the outside by juniors Mia Sorrentino (79 kills) and Izzy Mojica and sophomore Kaylee Bundy.
“Our strength is definitely hitting, but honestly, we have a lot of players who can play every position on the floor. It’s great for rotations and coach Bottone can really stick anyone anywhere,” Reynolds said.
Adam Bottone agreed.
 “I think this is one of the first times where I have had solid hitters at every position and they can all hit in multiple positions which gives me a lot of flexibility,” he said.
Add to that a proven setter in junior Sophie Gronski who finished with 612 assists and 239 digs last season.
 “It’s so important to have her because she has chemistry with just about every girl on the team. She knows exactly the way we like it set. We have it all fine-tuned and she is just an amazing setter,” Reynolds said.
Sophomore Gianna Musumeci will back Gronski at setter and will also play defensive specialist alongside Kerr and juniors Zoe Grant and Madeline Jezierski.
Junior Jacqueline Dearborn will play in the middle with sophomore Vivian Bibeau on the opposite.
Junior Cassidy Ladd will replace Nunes at Libero.
“She played a little Libero and (defensive specialist) last year but she has grown exponentially over the club season. I’m seeing a lot of nice things there so I’m super-excited about that,” Adam Bottone said.
The Centaurs got out like a house afire last season, winning eight of their first nine to qualify for the state tournament on Sept. 28.
“I think that streak could have continued had we not suffered the injuries that we did. I think it’s going to be difficult for sure to do that again. We open with Newtown (Sept. 7) this year which is a really strong program with a tremendous outside hitter. We go to Glastonbury in our second game, another (Class) LL school with a pretty good record of doing well. We’re going to be challenged early on,” Adam Bottone said.
The Centaurs finished 15-10 due to multiple concussions in the midst of the season.
They were ousted by Fitch in the quarterfinals of the ECC Div. I tournament.
Adam Bottone wants to see his team take a step further there as well as the Centaurs will host the Division I semifinals this season.
“It would be nice,” Liliana Bottone said of the possibility. “We can have our whole student section here, a great atmosphere for us. It would just be a really good experience.”
And a lot less traveling.
“I’m really excited. It’s nice to bring something back up this way instead of always travelling. I’ve always been a proponent that the (ECC) semifinals and finals should be at a neutral location which in most cases, everyone agrees is Norwich Free Academy or Griswold but that hasn’t been the case the past couple of years.  We’re happy to host it,” Adam Bottone said.
Volleyball Schedule:
Thurs., Sept. 7: at Newtown, 6 p.m.; Tues., Sept. 12: at Glastonbury, 5:30; Wed., Sept. 13: at Griswold, 5:30; Fri., Sept. 15: vs. Waterford, 5:30; Mon, Sept. 18:vs. Plainfield, 5:30; Fri., Sept. 22: vs. E. Lyme, 5:30; Mon., Sept. 25:at Fitch, 5:30; Wed., Sept. 27: vs. NFA, 5:30; Fri., Sept. 29: at Bacon Academy, 5:30; Mon., Oct. 2:  vs. Ledyard, 5:30; Wed., Oct. 4: at Lyman, 5:30; Fri., Oct. 6: at S. Windsor, 5; Mon., Oct. 9: vs. Coventry, 5:30; Tues., Oct. 10:  vs. Fitch, 5:30; Wed., Oct. 11: at E. Lyme, 5:30; Mon., Oct. 16: at NFA, 5:30; Wed., Oct. 18: at Waterford, 5:30; Fri., Oct. 20: vs. SMSA, 5:30; Mon., Oct. 23: vs. Griswold, 5:30; Wed., Oct. 25: vs. Conard, 5:30.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy

..