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    Saturday, November 02, 2024

    East Lyme volleyball repeats as ECC Division I tournament champion

    East Lyme’s Megan Romanowicz, left, and Finnley Wilson hug after winning the first set during Wednesday’s Eastern Connecticut Conference Division I volleyball tournament championship at New London High School. East Lyme topped Woodstock Academy 3-1. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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    East Lyme’s Natalie Knowlton, left, sends a ball back to Woodstock Academy during the ECC Division I volleyball tournament championship Wednesday night at New London High School. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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    Woodstock’s Mia Sorrentino, right, hits a ball over the net to East Lyme’s front line during the ECC DI volleyball championship Wednesday at New London High School. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)
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    New London — East Lyme coach Jack Biggs saw some encouraging signs from his Vikings prior to the Eastern Connecticut Conference championship on Wednesday.

    “It was a different type of atmosphere when we were doing our warmups,” Biggs said. “You could tell by the body language that they were locked in.”

    Top-seeded East Lyme carried a razor-sharp focus throughout the Division I girls’ volleyball match against No. 2 Woodstock Academy at New London High School. The Vikings (16-5) repeated as conference tournament champs and also clinched the regular-season title with a 3-1 victory. Game scores were 25-18, 25-23, 14-25 and 25-21.

    “We were just ready,” senior Abby Parulis said. “Warmups is where it starts and we just kept going.”

    Biggs was unsure what to expect from the Vikings at the start of the regular season. They had undergone some significant changes.

    With talented players like Parulis anchoring the team, East Lyme gradually improved and grew from competing against some stiff competition.

    Wednesday’s championship match opponents split the two regular-season meetings, leaving the regular-season title to be decided in the ECC tournament.

    East Lyme seized control early on and held off several charges from Woodstock (17-4) to earn a satisfying win.

    “It’s been a long season but we’re having fun now,” Biggs said. “I knew it was going to take a little bit of time. … We just had to find our identity. That’s what we were trying to do all season long. We’re starting to find it right now.

    “We made a few changes to our lineup. The girls bought into what we were trying to do. We were just ready to play.”

    A force at the net, Parulis led the way with 26 kills and 20 digs while junior Finnley Wilson chipped in 13 kills and 16 digs and junior Megan Romananowicz added 42 assists. Junior Jordyn Skinner had 18 digs.

    Parulis earned Most Valuable Player honors.

    “We put everything out on the court and we played our game,” Parulis said.

    One pivotal moment in the match came in game two.

    With East Lyme holding a four-point lead, Woodstock fought back to take a 23-22 lead.

    The Vikings responded, regaining the advantage at 24-23.

    Parulis finished off the Centaurs, rising up at the net for a game-clinching kill for a 25-23 victory and a 2-0 lead.

    After stumbling and losing game three, East Lyme regained its competitive edge, broke a 19-19 tie and surged in front for good, clinching the title with a 25-21 win.

    “I was super proud after the third set where we kinda fell apart a little bit,” Biggs said. “We were able to regroup and really come together as a team. I really like the way we’re playing right now.”

    Senior Sophie Gronski, named the ECC Player of the Year, led the Centaurs with 31 assists while senior Liliana Battone had 12 kills and senior Mia Sorrentino added nine kills.

    g.keefe@theday.com

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