Home Cooking for GHS Volleyball

Mckenna Reynolds (#3) gives junior Alexis Wolf a double high-five as Reynolds is introduced at GHS last Tuesday night. Reynolds, a sophomore setter, surpassed 1,000 career assists during the Guardians second round win on Nov. 9.   

Prior to the team’s opening state tournament game last Tuesday, the three seniors on the Glastonbury High School volleyball team talked about making sure they defend home court. 

Amanda LeClair, Becca Lavoie, and Sam Edelheit did exactly that, each doing their part in a three set win (25-9, 25-10, 25-5), sweeping Enfield in the first round Class LL tournament victory on Nov. 7 at GHS. 

“We just really wanted to do our best and leave it all on the court,” LeClair said following the victory. 

LeClair led a balanced group up front with seven kills, while juniors Lauren Mosca, Kara Shea, and Peighton Snyder each added five.
After winning the first two sets handily, the Guardians put an exclamation point on the victory with a nearly flawless finishing set. 

Glastonbury used a 16-1 run early in the third set to build an insurmountable lead. The run was highlighted by a one-handed diving save by Lavoie that set up a kill by Shea. 

Edelheit came off the bench in the third set to spark the team, registering all three of her kills in the final frame before LeClair ended the set with a kill to put the finishing touches on the tourney win.

“We did a drill in practice about finishing strong,” noted Edelheit. “Our coach told us how we play here will set the stage for states. We wanted to come out strong and finish strong.”

Lavoie added that the seniors have tried to soak in these final matches as much as possible, adding that the trio has enjoyed mentoring the next generation of Guardians  

“I love the up and coming [players]. They are all super talented,” added Lavoie. “I’m absolutely thrilled to play with all of them; they make me want to be better and do the best I can.”

Coming into the first round match, head coach Melissa Reynolds stressed “keeping it business as usual” after the team wrapped up a 16-4 regular season, which included a sweep of Enfield on Senior Night (Oct. 27). 

“We practiced as if we would win,” added Reynolds. “We didn’t want to make too much of it. It didn’t matter if it’s a state game or not, we were going to show up and do our job, and we did.”

Glastonbury carried the momentum over into the next round, sweeping Norwich Free Academy (25-8, 25-12, 25-17) at GHS in round two of the state tourney on Nov. 9.

Lavoie ignited the team in the first set by serving 13 points in a row, which included six aces.

It was also a memorable night for sophomore setter Mckenna Reynolds, who served up 27 assists and surpassed the 1000-assist career mark. In the second set, Reynolds served 10 points in a row during a 10-0 Guardians’ run.

Once again, it was a balanced all-around performance for an offense that produced 31 kills by seven different hitters. Shea led the team with 12 kills and fellow junior Ally Edgington added seven kills. 

Melissa Reynolds said that the combination of Shea and Edgington give the team a “formidable” duo upfront for this season and beyond.  

Mosca and Lavoie led the defense with 13 and 12 digs, respectively. Edgington was also a force at the net, registering three solo blocks at key points in the match. 

The second round victory marked the final time that that Glastonbury’s three senior players would play together at GHS.

The seniors all agreed that it’s “the people” that have made their time with the program special. 

“I love our team,” stated Edelheit.  “I’m amazed everyday how kind everyone is and how uplifting and how fun it is to play with people like that.”

LeClair added “When I look back I will mainly think back about the connections I’ve made because that is what really drives me.”

​Following the pair of home wins, the team proved to be just as good on the road, defeating Amity in Woodbridge last Saturday to advance to the state semifinals.