RHAM Netters Shade Host Fitch

From The Chronicle
GROTON — It was going to be a day of finding out answers on Monday evening for RHAM High volleyball coach Tim Guernsey.
The defending CIAC Class M state champions, ranked No. 5 in the state, were going to learn about themselves in a non-league matchup against fellow unbeaten and No. 9-ranked Fitch of the Eastern Connecticut Conference.
And the Sachems got off to a great start by winning the first two games 25-17 and 25-14.
Then, the momentum turned, as the host Falcons forcing a decisive fifth game after taking Games 3 and 4 by identical 25-17 margins.
How would RHAM respond to the challenge?
Well, the Sachems led from start to finish and, when the Falcons served the ball into the net on match point, RHAM could finally exhale after wrapping up a 15-12 victory in Game 5.
“It was a fun, electric atmosphere,” RHAM coach Tim Guernsey said. “It was very good preparation for the state tournament against solid competition. We played well enough to put ourselves in a position to possibly leave with a 3-game victory and then the momentum turned, we got a little unglued and it put us in a position where we faced adversity.
“We haven’t been in a lot of those situations this year and the kids responded to the challenge.”
Top performances for RHAM (11-0) came from Ellie Linden (50 assists), Tessa Smolinski (18 kills, 19 digs), Kelsey Welling (15 kills, 10 blocks), Mallory Grosso (28 digs) and Kelly Stratton (9 kills).
Devyn Frank (22 kills), Aubrey Latham (11 kills, 8 digs) and Caitlin Merrow (25 assists) led the Falcons (9-1).