TORRINGTON – The Torrington High School Lady Blazers volleyball team left it all on the court over the course of a successful weekend culminating in a pair of victories against 3A East teams.

Torrington opened the weekend with a 3-0 sweep against Newcastle on the road on Friday, September 27. The Lady Blazers defended the home court against conference opponent Burns on Saturday with another 3-0 sweep.

The win against Burns maintained the Lady Blazers’ spot as the No. 2 team in the 3A Southeast Quadrant.

Newcastle

The first set between the Lady Blazers and Newcastle proved neck-and-neck. The Lady Dogies took the lead first before Torrington tied the set at four with a block by senior Olive Osmera. 

Newcastle pulled ahead, 7-6. Torrington responded with a block from senior Teryn Stokes and a kill by freshman Ellis Mortimore and the set reached a deadlock at seven and eight, respectively.

Junior Natalie Long slammed over a kill and Torrington matched Newcastle in scoring, 12-12. A kill by fellow junior Trishell Pontarolo resulted in a 14-14 deadlock. The set reached another stalemate at 15 when junior Brooklyn Asmus powered over a kill.

Osmera aced a serve and the set tied again at 16. Torrington captured the lead, 18-17, with a block by Stokes and Asmus.

Osmera scored game point, 25-10, with a kill.

Torrington dominated the scoreboard in the second set to remain in the lead. Early points included kills by Pontarolo, Osmera and Long.

Long aced two serves, Mortimore delivered a kill and Stokes reach up for a block to widen the Lady Blazers’ lead, 14-8. 

A kill by senior Jaycee Hurley, an ace from Osmera and a block by Asmus and Stokes placed Torrington up, 18-10. Stokes blocked another attempt by Newcastle to score and Long spiked a kill, pulling the Lady Blazers ahead, 21-13.

Mortimore scored game point, 25-17, with a kill.

Torrington opened the third set with a nine-point run, including three kills by Osmera and one kill apiece from Stokes and Mortimore. Pontarolo aced a serve and Stokes defended the net with a block.

Osmera served up two aces and Torrington led, 14-2. Asmus aced a serve to score 23. Osmera slammed over a kill for 24 and an ace by Long resulted in game point, 25-8.

Osmera set the pace for Torrington offensively against Newcastle with 15 kills. Long aced four serves and Osmera three. Stokes tallied three blocks with two from Asmus. Osmera also led in digs with 14. Asmus and Hurley both totaled 11 digs.

Long delivered 27 assists as setter.

Burns

The Lady Blazers took control of the first set at two and never looked back. A five-point run, consisting of kills by Long and Osmera, a block by Osmera and an ace from Asmus, resulted in Torrington more than doubling Burns in scoring, 15-7.

Burns found its footing late in the set and attempted to close the gap with a six-point run. A block by Stokes returned the initiative to Torrington, 21-18. A kill by Pontarolo placed the Lady Blazers up, 24-21. Long scored game point, 25-21, with a kill.

Following back-and-forth early in the second set, Torrington pulled ahead, 10-9, with a kill from Asmus. The Lady Blazers maintained the lead for the remainder of the set with kills by Osmera and Asmus, blocks from Pontarolo, Stokes and Mortimore and an ace by Pontarolo. Burns served the ball out of bounds, resulting in game point, 25-14.

In the third set, a pair of aces by Osmera placed Torrington up, 5-3. The Lady Blazers steadily widened their lead with kills by Asmus, Long, Osmera and Pontarolo. Asmus and Long both aced a serve and Asmus defended the net with a block.

Mortimore powered over a kill for game point, 25-13.

Osmera led the Lady Blazers in kills against Burns with 12. Asmus and Pontarolo both contributed six kills.

Osmera served up three aces while Asmus, Long, Mortimore and Pontarolo each aced two serves. 

On defense, Asmus, Pontarolo and Stokes all tallied two blocks. Hurley covered the floor with 16 digs and Long totaled 18 assists.