Undefeated volleyball team wins league

FALLS VILLAGE — After finishing its regular season with a perfect 12-0 record in league play (defeating Terryville in the final season game 3-0) and a 16-1 overall record, the Housatonic girls volleyball team won the Berkshire League tournament (held at Lewis Mills) on Friday night with a score of 11-2. This is the second year in a row the Housy girls have won the tournament.

In the semi-final games, No. 1-ranked Housy first defeated No. 4 Northwest Regional two games to none (25-12, 25-22), while No. 3 Terryville beat No. 2 Lewis Mills 2-0.

Housy was then pitted against Terryville in the championship game.

Terryville had been the leader (until this year), winning six of seven of the last Berkshire League titles, but losing to Housy in last year’s Berkshire League Tournament.

The first game of the championship match was back and forth, with each team vying for the lead. Although Housy caught up 24-24, the girls just couldn’t secure the win. Terryville won the first game by a close 26-24 score.

In game two, Terryville started out maintaining the lead, but some key plays by Sawyer Thornton and Autumn Kelly turned the game around for Housy to take over 12-11. From then on, it was Terryville playing catch-up as close to 20-22, but Housy took the last three points and a definitive win (25-20) with a final kill by Lily Belter.

In the final game, Terryville started out with a 4-2 lead, but Housy took the next nine with several key kills by Paxton Thornton. Housy won the game in a decisive fashion (15-5) — and earned the championship with a score of 2-1.

Highlights for the night include Sawyer Thornton’s 11 kills, Lily Belter’s 30 assists, Paxton Thornton’s 28 kills and seven blocks, Jackie Underwood’s seven assists, Sarah Godburn’s 19 service points and Autumn Kelly’s seven kills and eight blocks.

Housy is ranked fourth in the state in the Class S Tournament. The team’s overall record is 18-1. The team played at home on Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the second round of the state tournament; results will be in the Nov. 15 Lakeville Journal.

Lily Belter and Paxton Thornton were selected to the first team Berkshire League All-Star Team and Sawyer Thornton was selected to the second team, All Berkshire League.