GameTime CT

Connecticut's premier high school sports website

  • GIRLS SPORTS
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Field Hockey
    • Golf
    • Gymnastics
    • Hockey
    • Indoor Track
    • Lacrosse
    • Soccer
    • Softball
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
  • BOYS SPORTS
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Hockey
    • Indoor Track
    • Lacrosse
    • Soccer
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Track & Field
    • Volleyball
    • Wrestling
  • Schools
  • Newspapers
    • CT Post
    • The Danbury News-Times
    • Greenwich Time
    • The Middletown Press
    • New Haven Register
    • The Norwalk Hour
    • The Register Citizen
    • The Stamford Advocate
  • Polls
    • Baseball Top 10
    • Boys Basketball Top 10
    • Girls Basketball Top 10
    • Football Top 10
    • Hockey Top 10
    • Boys Lacrosse Top 10
    • Softball Top 10
    • Other Polls
  • Scores & Stats
Girls Volleyball

Waterford rallies to upset Nonnewaug, advances to Class M semifinals

By Peter Wallace | November 15, 2019

WOODBURY — After a close, opening-game loss to No. 2 Nonnewaug at Woodbury Middle School Friday evening, No. 11 Waterford’s volleyball team jumped on big opening leads in the next three games on their way to a 3-1 (25-27; 25-19; 25-15; 25-18) Class M girls volleyball quarterfinal win.

“Both teams were feeling each other out in the opening game,” Waterford coach Matt Maynard. “It was long runs and big stops.”

What they learned was that each side had a had a go-to player good for huge kills when needed.

By the middle of a Game One’s back-and-forth trip to a 14-14 tie, Waterford’s Ryleigh Gonya (16 kills) was a familiar figure busting the Lancers into the lead. Nonnewaug’s Abby Scheurich (12 kills, 11 aces, 19 digs) was just as familiar, locking the score again at 16-16.

CIAC GIRLS VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT SCOREBOARD / SCHEDULE

When a Nonnewaug unforced error pulled the Lancers to a final 25-25 tie, Scheurich fired a steaming back-row kill for the Chiefs’ advantage point. Emily Wisniewski finished it off with an ace.

But the Lancers stayed busy at the break.

“We reminded ourselves that Waterford hasn’t gone to the semis since winning the championship in 2015,” Gonya said. “This year, we knew how far we could go.”

Waterford’s trip back to the semis began with a 6-0 opening string in Game Two, ended by a Scheurich kill.

“When we didn’t put pressure on their defense, they executed very well,” said Coach Marty Malaspina, guiding his Chiefs to a Berkshire League championship and their second straight quarterfinal.

Nonnewaug fought back. Scheurich served the next eight points, including four aces and a great save and kill by Samantha Thompson (12 kills, 9 digs).

But unforced errors and more Waterford weapons began to tell on the Chiefs. Rachel Miller (9 kills) and Angea Colonis (9 aces) had kills on the way to a 17-13 Lancer lead.

When a back-row kill by Nonnewaug’s Wisniewski pulled the Chiefs back to 20-19, Gonya had the answer again — a kill and four final service points featuring an ace, a block by Liliana Kramer, a drop-in by Sabrina Kobyluck (28 assists) and a final kill by Miller.

The Lancer weapons on display weren’t about to go away.

Waterford opened up Game Three with a 9-1 lead and cake-walked to a 2-1 game advantage featuring five kills by Miller, including the final point.

Waterford led Game Four 13-2 before Nonnewaug’s Thompson ended the string. Gonya slammed five kills in the final stretch, then served an ace for the final point.

The Lancers meet No. 15 Haddam-Killingworth in the semifinals next Tuesday at a time and place to be decided.

WATERFORD 3, NONNEWAUG 1

Game scores: 25-27; 25-19; 25-15; 25-18
At Woodbury Middle School
Highlights: W — Ryleigh Gonyo 16 kills; Angela Colonis 9 aces; Sabrina Kobyluck 28 assists; Briana Muckle 15 digs; Rachel Miller 9 kills. N — Abby Scheurich 12 kills, 11 aces, 19 digs; Samantha Thompson 12 kills, 9 digs; Samantha Ponte 26 assists, 3 digs; Victoria O’Bar 10 digs, 3 aces.
Records: Waterford 17-5; Nonnewaug 13-3.

About By Peter Wallace

Newsletter Signup

Don't strike out on CT high school sports news. Sign up for The Whistle newsletter from GametimeCT

You agree to our Terms of Use. Your information will be used as described in our Privacy Policy.

Spring Sports Quick Links

Spring Sports Quick Links

BASEBALL 2021: LATEST TOP 10 | PLAYERS TO WATCH | GAMES TO SEE
SOFTBALL 2021: LATEST TOP 10 | PLAYERS TO WATCH | GAMES TO SEE
BOYS LACROSSE 2021: PRESEASON TOP 10 | PLAYERS TO WATCH | GAMES TO WATCH
GIRLS LACROSSE: PLAYERS TO WATCH | GAMES TO SEE
Spring Sports Schedules

Winter 2021 Preview Links

Winter Sports 2021 Links

2021 ALL-STATE TEAMS

GTCT: BOYS BASKETBALL | GIRLS BASKETBALL | BOYS HOCKEY | GIRLS HOCKEY
CHSCA: GIRLS BASKETBALL | GYMNASTICS | BOYS HOCKEY | CHSGHA: GIRLS HOCKEY

TeamPlayer Scores and Stats search

Scores and Stats

Video

Podcasts

Fall Sports Quick Links

Fall Sports Quick Links

2021 FOOTBALL COLLEGE RECRUITING LIST
2020 GAMETIMECT ALL-STATE TEAMS
BOYS SOCCER
GIRLS SOCCER
FIELD HOCKEY
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
2020 LEAGUE PLAYOFFS:
Central Connecticut
Fairfield County
Shoreline Conference
Southern Connecticut
South-West Conference

Twitter

Tweets

Polls

Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.
Follow Us
© Copyright 2017 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC