'Pseudo-Senior Day' win advances Wave volleyball to FCIAC semis

Written by Lynsey Santimays
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 08:34

On what served as a pseudo-senior day, the Darien High School girls volleyball team faced Danbury in its first round FCIAC playoffs match on Tuesday.

And while the No. 1-seeded Blue Wave, seeking its ninth straight FCIAC title, won at home in three sets 25-16, 25-12, 25-16, the No. 8 Hatters certainly gave DHS a run for its money.

“They definitely gave us a big challenge,” said senior captain Colby Billhardt, who finished with eight kills and two blocks. “They came out wanting to win, and left their heart on the floor.”

Danbury’s determination to keep undefeated Darien in check was evident early on in the first set. The Blue Wave girls always had control, though, holding a lead of 16-9.

After a Danbury time-out, though, the Hatters came back with a vengeance, scoring five unanswered points, closing the gap to just 16-14.

Darien was temporarily silenced, and forced to call another time-out.

But that was the closest the Hatters would come, as junior Emma Getsinger — who had a standout day with 22 points, two kills, and eight aces — took the match into her own hands, scoring five points and helping to bring the set to a 25-16 finish.

The Hatters did not relent in the second set, grabbing an early 4-3 lead. Darien, not one to be out-done, responded quickly, but the set remained close until the Wave secured an 18-9 lead. Danbury would only score three more points in the second set, as Darien ran away with five unanswered points, finishing 25-12.

While the Wave only needed one more set to seal its FCIAC fate, the Hatters did not back down. Early in the third set, the Hatters and the Wave were neck-and-neck, with Darien never more than three points ahead.

In true Wave fashion, though, while one minute the Hatters were within three, the next moments found Darien doubling its lead to 15-9.

The game ended with a kill by senior Sarah Gorski and a serve by Getsinger, and a score of 25-16.

The senior triple-threat of Billhardt, Gorski, and Corinne Sommi all had successful showings during their unofficial senior day, which they held because Billhardt had to leave early from the regularly scheduled Senior Day last Friday.

Gorski had 10 kills and one block, Sommi four kills and three aces, and Billhardt had eight kills and two blocks.

“This was my first FCIAC game,” said Sommi. “It is a big step to have game one under our belts, but we still have a lot of work ahead.”

The junior class shone against Danbury, as well. Mackenzie Begley stepped up with 27 assists, eight service points, and two digs.

Begley: ‘Player of the Week’

Begley also earned MaxPreps/American Volleyball Coaches Association Player of the Week Award for the last week of Oct.

Begley, a 5-fooot-7-inch tall setter finished her week of distinction with 86 assists, 21 digs and eight aces in nine games this season.

Getsinger’s performance vs. the Hatters helped reel in another Wave win.

“We played really well together, we are all really united,” Gorski said.

Never one to rest on its laurels, Darien is already preparing for their next foe — Staples, 7 p.m Thursday.

“There are still a lot of great competitors out there, and we need to be ready,” Sommi said.

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