Norwich Free Academy senior Kastine Evans is making one of the biggest decisions of her life today.
She didn't let that affect her on the volleyball court Thursday night.
Evans had 18 kills and 11 assists to help NFA defeat Fitch, 3-1, for its first-ever ECC championship in the sport Thursday night at Griswold High School.
This afternoon at 3 p.m. on the NFA campus, Evans will make her decision known as to what school she will attend to play Division-I college basketball, CiCincinnati or Kentucky.
"I already know," Evans said when asked if the announcement was weighing heavy on her mind Thursday night. "It's just there, everybody else is waiting, I already know."
Evans sounded pretty confident about the decision that she has made.
"Very comfortable," Evans said. "I know that where I go, I'm going to be in the right place. I think it's going to be the right fit for me."
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Power and Ziegler are a handful
Woodstock Academy coach Jason Gerum came over to me at midfield as we watched his Centaurs battle the East Lyme Vikings in a boys soccer game on Wednesday and had one question.
"I wonder what their goal-to-shot ratio is?," Gerum questioned.
I only had a two-word answer for him, "pretty good."
The Vikings, at one point in the second half, had only three shots on goal- two of them found their way into the net.
That's what happens when you have players like Phil Ziegler and Gary Power. Ziegler is noew the school's all-time leading scorer and , not surprisingly , Power is now the all-time playmaker. Put that together and it spells more than trouble for opponents.
What's worse, the Vikings continue to put things together and could be primed for a run like last season. A run that carried them into a state championship game.
"We've had a very tough schedule and the only game we've lost in the past three weeks was to Waterford," East Lyme coach Paul Christensen said.
"We've fought back and started the momentum going again- we've played our best soccer in the last three days," he added. "We've come together as a team - it took a little while longer than I hoped - but this is the time of year that we want to play."
Ziegler finished with two goals on Wednesday to give him 26 on the season. Power helped on one of those to give him 23 assists on the season.
"This was a great way to end the season and go into the tournament on a high," Ziegler said of the Woodstock win. "Hopefully it ends like last year, in the finals."
"I wonder what their goal-to-shot ratio is?," Gerum questioned.
I only had a two-word answer for him, "pretty good."
The Vikings, at one point in the second half, had only three shots on goal- two of them found their way into the net.
That's what happens when you have players like Phil Ziegler and Gary Power. Ziegler is noew the school's all-time leading scorer and , not surprisingly , Power is now the all-time playmaker. Put that together and it spells more than trouble for opponents.
What's worse, the Vikings continue to put things together and could be primed for a run like last season. A run that carried them into a state championship game.
"We've had a very tough schedule and the only game we've lost in the past three weeks was to Waterford," East Lyme coach Paul Christensen said.
"We've fought back and started the momentum going again- we've played our best soccer in the last three days," he added. "We've come together as a team - it took a little while longer than I hoped - but this is the time of year that we want to play."
Ziegler finished with two goals on Wednesday to give him 26 on the season. Power helped on one of those to give him 23 assists on the season.
"This was a great way to end the season and go into the tournament on a high," Ziegler said of the Woodstock win. "Hopefully it ends like last year, in the finals."
Monday, November 2, 2009
Tournament time
If you are looking for something else to do other than just checking election results, there will be some good volleyball being played at Griswold High School.
The Eastern Connecticut Conference volleyball semifinals get underway at 4;30 p.m. with the Plainfield Panthers taking on Fitch in the first semifinal. The second matchup will pit the top seed, NFA, against No. 4 East Lyme.
One thing the Wildcats will not be able to do this season is sneak around. NFA is, of course, the defending Class LL state champ and that means the bullseye will be large, not only in the ECC tournament, but in the states which begin next week.
"It's tough to repeat, but we're hungry," NFA coach Bill Howard said. "People didn't know about us last year and we kind of flew under the radar. They will be expecting us this year."
That includes the Vikings who lost to NFA, 3-0, just a week ago but look like they have recovered with their bout with the flu bug that took place last week.
The Panthers have a tough task today as it will be their first appearance in a match at this level. The three-year old varsity program advanced with a little revenge -match win over Lyman Monday night.
"Fitch is a really good team and a well-established program," Plainfield coach Bob Arremony said.
The Eastern Connecticut Conference volleyball semifinals get underway at 4;30 p.m. with the Plainfield Panthers taking on Fitch in the first semifinal. The second matchup will pit the top seed, NFA, against No. 4 East Lyme.
One thing the Wildcats will not be able to do this season is sneak around. NFA is, of course, the defending Class LL state champ and that means the bullseye will be large, not only in the ECC tournament, but in the states which begin next week.
"It's tough to repeat, but we're hungry," NFA coach Bill Howard said. "People didn't know about us last year and we kind of flew under the radar. They will be expecting us this year."
That includes the Vikings who lost to NFA, 3-0, just a week ago but look like they have recovered with their bout with the flu bug that took place last week.
The Panthers have a tough task today as it will be their first appearance in a match at this level. The three-year old varsity program advanced with a little revenge -match win over Lyman Monday night.
"Fitch is a really good team and a well-established program," Plainfield coach Bob Arremony said.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Young offensive line coming together for Bears
Nick Burton anchors the middle with Henry Williamson and Ben Macko on his left and right andx the duo of Alex Mitchell and Luke Brogno at tackles.
The five comprise the offensive line for the Stonington Bears and without them, the double-wing could not hope to be as successful as it was against Killingly Friday night.
The Bears had the ball eight times at home against the Redmen and on seven of those occasions, they found the end zone in a 48-13 win. The win guarantees the Bears at least a share of the Eastern Connecticut Conference's Small Division title .
"Our offensive line really stepped up," Jim Connelly said. "Everyone blocked well, everyone played extremely well (Friday night)."
Connelly should know as he was one of the big beneficiaries, recording 149 yards on just nine carries. Josh Whitford added 101 yards in only 13 carries and scored twice for the Bears.
The nice thing for coach A.J. Massengale, that offensive line is comprised of almost all juniors and sseniors.
"They did a great job," the Stonington coach said. "They really opened up some good holes, we went right after people and for some young kids, they've come a long way."
The five comprise the offensive line for the Stonington Bears and without them, the double-wing could not hope to be as successful as it was against Killingly Friday night.
The Bears had the ball eight times at home against the Redmen and on seven of those occasions, they found the end zone in a 48-13 win. The win guarantees the Bears at least a share of the Eastern Connecticut Conference's Small Division title .
"Our offensive line really stepped up," Jim Connelly said. "Everyone blocked well, everyone played extremely well (Friday night)."
Connelly should know as he was one of the big beneficiaries, recording 149 yards on just nine carries. Josh Whitford added 101 yards in only 13 carries and scored twice for the Bears.
The nice thing for coach A.J. Massengale, that offensive line is comprised of almost all juniors and sseniors.
"They did a great job," the Stonington coach said. "They really opened up some good holes, we went right after people and for some young kids, they've come a long way."
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Practice makes perfect for Lyman
Seniors on the Lyman Memorial volleyball team are used to success in the Eastern Connecticut Conference Small Division, but it hasn't always been that way.
The Bulldogs captured their second Small Division title in the last three years on Wednesday afternoon with a 3-0 win in Putnam. But this group also remembers when it finished 4-6 in the Division just four short years ago.
The difference between then and now; practice.
"I think that most of our players are doing something in the offseason," senior Kyla Bielert said. "Everyone's doing club ball or something over the summer that helps you get in shape for the season. Our coach (Stephen Lewis) has also adjusted to the times, making sure he's up to date with everything that can help us out."
Fellow senior Kena Perry said it's a world of difference between what is now and what was when Lewis first came on board.
"There's been so many big improvements since four years ago," Perry said. "It's fantastic how the girls are working in the offseason to get better. It's turned things around."
Putnam coach Curt Hull knew his Clippers didn't really have much of a chance against the Bulldogs on Wednesday. That was not only due to their youth, but also their commitmentto the game and most times, it's not their fault.
"A lot of our girls don't have the ability to travel distances to go play in leagues outside of the season ," Hull said.
"The family doesn't have the financial wherewithal to send them to those leagues and every girl on the Lyman squad is playing in those leagues - that makes a huge difference., " Hull added.
The Bulldogs captured their second Small Division title in the last three years on Wednesday afternoon with a 3-0 win in Putnam. But this group also remembers when it finished 4-6 in the Division just four short years ago.
The difference between then and now; practice.
"I think that most of our players are doing something in the offseason," senior Kyla Bielert said. "Everyone's doing club ball or something over the summer that helps you get in shape for the season. Our coach (Stephen Lewis) has also adjusted to the times, making sure he's up to date with everything that can help us out."
Fellow senior Kena Perry said it's a world of difference between what is now and what was when Lewis first came on board.
"There's been so many big improvements since four years ago," Perry said. "It's fantastic how the girls are working in the offseason to get better. It's turned things around."
Putnam coach Curt Hull knew his Clippers didn't really have much of a chance against the Bulldogs on Wednesday. That was not only due to their youth, but also their commitmentto the game and most times, it's not their fault.
"A lot of our girls don't have the ability to travel distances to go play in leagues outside of the season ," Hull said.
"The family doesn't have the financial wherewithal to send them to those leagues and every girl on the Lyman squad is playing in those leagues - that makes a huge difference., " Hull added.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Just the beginning for the Wildcats
You had to like the camaraderie shown on Monday night in Norwich.
The Coventry girls volleyball team hung around and shared the Senior Night celebration with their Norwich Free Academy counterparts after the Patriots had just beaten the Wildcats, 3-0.
It's not like the result was unexpected as Coventry had posted 86 consecutive wins coming into the matchup between the defending Class S champion Patriots and Class LL champion, Wildcats.
Both teams have bulked up for the final week of the regular season with NFA set to play East Lyme on Wednesday and RHAM on Friday. Coventry was also bulking up its schedule as the Patriots still have to play Southington, Avon and Ellington.
"This is the best stretch of volleyball, in terms of opponents, that we have played- ever," Coventry coach Matt Hurlock said.
What's even tougher for Coventry is that they will be playing those teams on the road and most of them, like NFA, will be celebrating their Senior Nights.
"NFA is much improved," Hurlock added as his team beat the Wildcats, 3-0, earlier in the season. "We saw them at the beginning of the year and we played the way we play and it wasn't even a ballgame. They went on a run and dominated the ECC and they're going to be a tough out in the (Class) LL tournament."
The Coventry girls volleyball team hung around and shared the Senior Night celebration with their Norwich Free Academy counterparts after the Patriots had just beaten the Wildcats, 3-0.
It's not like the result was unexpected as Coventry had posted 86 consecutive wins coming into the matchup between the defending Class S champion Patriots and Class LL champion, Wildcats.
Both teams have bulked up for the final week of the regular season with NFA set to play East Lyme on Wednesday and RHAM on Friday. Coventry was also bulking up its schedule as the Patriots still have to play Southington, Avon and Ellington.
"This is the best stretch of volleyball, in terms of opponents, that we have played- ever," Coventry coach Matt Hurlock said.
What's even tougher for Coventry is that they will be playing those teams on the road and most of them, like NFA, will be celebrating their Senior Nights.
"NFA is much improved," Hurlock added as his team beat the Wildcats, 3-0, earlier in the season. "We saw them at the beginning of the year and we played the way we play and it wasn't even a ballgame. They went on a run and dominated the ECC and they're going to be a tough out in the (Class) LL tournament."
Monday, July 27, 2009
A look ahead to Tuesday
Montville and New London will battle one another to decide who remains in Bristol and who comes home.
That's the result of Montville's 4-3, 10-inning loss to Branford in the winner's bracket of the American Legion State Tournament earlier this morning.
The Norwich Bulletin will cover that game in Bristol this afternoon with John Shishmanian coming along to provide the photos.
Joe Perez will continue our coverage of Jewett City's quest for a Little League softball state championship. Jewett City faces a must win tonight at 6 p.m. when they play Milford at Waterford South Little League. Milford won the first game between the two, 4-3, in nine innings on Sunday.
That's the result of Montville's 4-3, 10-inning loss to Branford in the winner's bracket of the American Legion State Tournament earlier this morning.
The Norwich Bulletin will cover that game in Bristol this afternoon with John Shishmanian coming along to provide the photos.
Joe Perez will continue our coverage of Jewett City's quest for a Little League softball state championship. Jewett City faces a must win tonight at 6 p.m. when they play Milford at Waterford South Little League. Milford won the first game between the two, 4-3, in nine innings on Sunday.
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