RHAM Volleyball

Alie Carlson and Kelsey Welling block

Class M Volleyball: RHAM Wins Third Straight Title

With a 2-0 lead against Joel Barlow and his team down 24-20 in the third game and on the verge of losing only its second game all season — its first in the Class M tournament — RHAM coach Tim Guernsey called a timeout. But there was no need to panic. "That's something we've done all year. We don't ever give in," Guernsey said. "We don't ever break or get nervous. We know we can come back no matter what the score is. It's something we work on all the time in practice." The top-seeded Sachems (25-0) came out of the timeout ...

“RHAM Dominated the Scrimmage”

The one contest that everyone wanted to see, between RHAM, which won the Class M title prior to Darien's match and jumped the Blue Wave to move into the No. 1 spot in the latest state poll, actually took place in the preseason. RHAM reportedly dominated the scrimmage, which was not disputed by Sommi as she smiled when it was brought up. "I think that motivated us," Sommi said. "At the beginning of the season RHAM exposed so many weaknesses and showed us what we needed to work on." Asked what that was, Sommi grinned again. "Weak serve-receive, serving, blocking, hitting, every single thing ...

Lady Sachems are the only undefeated team in Class M!

The RHAM girls continue to sweep through the 2009 season, defeating both Tolland and E.O. Smith in 3-0 matches this week.  Now 15-0, the Sachems are seeing stronger teams than they saw earlier in the season and are happy to step up to the challenge.   Outside Hitters Smolinski and Fenton  joined by MH's Welling and Taylor continue to dominate the competition, with outstanding setting from Ellie Linden, superb defense from libero Mallory Grosso and defensive specialist Kelsey Brault, and attacks from powerhouse Alie Carlson on the right. Sophomores Laura Smolinski, Kara Trippel, Kelsey Kirkpatrick and Alicia Tripoli will be stepping ...

Kelsey Welling and Tessa Smolinski 1st Team All State

Volleyball: RHAM fights for perfect (25-0) finish

RHAM High girls volleyball player Kelsey Breault said her team is known for its comebacks. It’s also known for something else — winning championships. Those two qualities came together here Saturday as the undefeated Sachems wrapped up a 25-0 season by winning their third straight Class M title with a 3-0 win over Joel Barlow. Game scores were 25-11, 25-22, and 26-24. RHAM trailed Barlow, 24-20 in the third game when it calmly spurted off the final six points to settle the issue in dramatic style. If ever there was a time to examine the championship DNA of the Sachems, the closing ...

RHAM Tops Bloomfield

RHAM 3, Bloomfield 0 (25-9, 25-8, 25-7) Mallory Grosso (6 aces), Ellie Linden (20 assists), Kelsey Welling (12 kills), Kelsey Brault (6 digs), Tessa Smolinski (7 kills, 5 digs) and Chelsea Fenton (6 kills, 11 digs).  The Sachems are  7- 0 overall, 6- 0 CCC East), and have now won 36 consecutive matches. In JV game 1, Laura Smolinski served 24 straight points to top Bloomfield 25-1.

Jocelyn Taylor

JV-Dig Pink

RHAM nets another Class M crown by Rich Zalusky

Tessa Smolinski had dreams about it on Friday night. Dreams about how her final high school girls volleyball match at RHAM High would play out with the opportunity to close out her career with three consecutive CIAC Class M state championships. “I just felt my heart pounding,” Smolinski said. “It was like we have to win and what a great way to end things. And I didn’t want to be crying afterwards when it was over.” Those dreams came true. Smolinski (13 kills, 12 digs) earned most valuable player honors for the second straight year as No. 1 state-ranked RHAM (25-0) completed its second ...

RHAM sweeps Barlow in volleyball final

RHAM wins 53rd straight match with sweep Little did Barlow realize. The Falcons were leading No. 1 seed RHAM 24-20 in the third game of the Class M girls volleyball final Saturday at Berlin High. Normally that'd be a good situation for Barlow to be in, but it's also the exact scenario that the Sachems practice routinely. So RHAM executed as it practices, reeling off the next six points, to win the final game 26-24 to complete a 3-0 sweep and secure its third straight state title. "We simulate that sequence all the time in practice," said Tessa Smolinski, RHAM's All-State outside hitter and ...

RHAM advances to 12-0 with wins over Fermi and Hartford Public

Kelsey Welling went 17- for- 17 on serve with seven aces and six kills to lead RHAM past Enrico Fermi, 25-­6, 25-7, 25-11, in a CCC East Division match. Tessa Smolinski ( 11 kills), Mallory Grosso (8 digs), Ellie Linden (19 assists) and sopho­more Kelsey Kirkpatrick (4 kills). Tessa Smolinski (25-for-25 serving) had 9 kills, 10 digs, 7 aces and 20 service points as RHAM swept Hartford Public, 25-7, 25-11, 25-10. Ellie Linden added 24 assists and Kelsey Welling had 10 kills and three blocks while Chelsea Fenton added 10 kills for the Sachems

Mallory Grosso, Libero

Kelsey Welling – Career leader in kills, points scored and solo blocks for RHAM

Smolinski Tips

Tessa Smolinski Named Gatorade Connecticut Volleyball Player of the Year

CHICAGO (December 16, 2009) -- In its 25th year of honoring the nation's best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPN RISE, today announced Tessa Smolinski of RHAM High School as its 2009-10 Gatorade Connecticut Volleyball Player of the Year. Smolinski is the first Gatorade Connecticut Volleyball Player of the Year to be chosen from RHAM High School. The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court, distinguishes Smolinski as Connecticut's best high school volleyball player. Now a finalist for ...

Kelsey Welling

Alie Carlson

Right Side Hitter

Ellie Linden – Setter