Connecticut isn’t a hotbed for volleyball a la California, Florida and Texas, so players generally aren’t picking it up until high school.

The most common reason why players stick with the sport after trying it is because of the fast-paced, kinetic action.

Waterford High School senior Ryleigh Gonyo had a far different reason for sticking with it after trying it out.

“Honestly, it was the atmosphere,” Gonyo said. “Volleyball wasn’t as popular as other sports, but the community of Waterford volleyball was really nice and I wanted to be part of that community.”

Community. Family. Playing for one another. Those are the words Gonyo used the most when talking about her Waterford volleyball career, most especially this season when she paced the program to its first Eastern Connecticut Conference tournament title and its second CIAC state final.

Gonyo was named The Day’s 2019 All-Area Volleyball Player of the Year. She went from being a good player last season to a terrific one this season, earning Class M all-state honors.

“It’s absolutely fair,” Waterford coach Matt Maynard said about that assessment, “and, more so than that, it’s about how she interacted with her teammates. One thing that you noticed early was that she played at a level well beyond what she played last year and that she had a huge change her in her leadership. She improved tenfold. Her work ethic ... she, at every single practice, competed at every single drill and would take time out to say, ‘Hey, guys, this is a challenge. Let’s get through it.’

“All the little things that make a great leader, she exhibited and then some. And the result of that is everyone around her played better and that allowed her to really shine.”

Shine, Gonyo did.

Gonyo figured she’d play softball and basketball once she got to high school as those were the sports she played growing up. She was also a cheerleader through eighth grade. Volleyball was just something she’d play at her father’s work picnics.

Classmates such as setter Sabrina Kobyluck encouraged Gonyo to give volleyball a shot. It soon became the only sport she played, including during the offseason for CT Velocity, a southeastern Connecticut-based travel team.

“I just wanted to commit to this fun sport,” Gonyo said. “Skill-wise, getting a kill is the best feeling in the world and your teammates are right there with you cheering you on. It’s honestly one of the best feelings.

“It was the best decision I ever made (choosing volleyball), but five years ago I never thought I’d play just volleyball.”

Waterford thought it had a shot to go far in the Class M tournament last season, only to lose a gutting five-game, second-round home match to Woodland.

Gonyo and the Lancers (21-6) made sure that didn’t happen again. They were seeded third in the ECC Division I tournament and knocked off top-seeded Lyman Memorial in four games during the semifinals. Lyman went on to win the Class S title. Gonyo had a match-high 24 kills and was named tournament MVP, as the Lancers then swept Fitch to win the league title.

Her save during Game 3 of the Class M semifinals helped the Lancers finish the game and match on a 10-1 run for a 3-0 win over Haddam-Killingworth.

Waterford lost in four-games to top-seeded and defending champion Seymour in the Class M final, but Gonyo still tied the Wildcats’ Faith Rousseau, the tournament MVP, with a match-high 35 kills.

“We were so close this year,” Gonyo said. “I think we played for each other and not just for ourselves. Getting to the state championship, us seniors were in eighth grade when Waterford won the (2015 Class M) state championship. It was honestly amazing that we won the ECC (tournament), which is really difficult, and got to the state championship.

“I go on my iPhone and go back and watch videos from the ECC finals and semifinals and it’s honestly so much to take in,” Gonyo said. “We did not expect to do as well as we did. I wouldn’t change anything. We worked our butts off. We played every game like it was our last.”

n.griffen@theday.com

The Day's 2019 All-Area Volleyball Team

Player of the Year — Ryleigh Gonyo (Waterford)

Mya Delesdernier (East Lyme)

Sophie Dubreuil (East Lyme)

Sarah Ericson (NFA)

Sabrina Kobyluck (Waterford)

Rachel Miller (Waterford)

Karly Morales (Fitch)

Nora Ryan (Fitch)