University’s Anna Voris makes a save against Robert C. Byrd on Wednesday. 
University’s Jayden Tasker (10) and Anna Voris makes a save against Robert C. Byrd on Wednesday. 
University’s Mallory Napolillo against Robert C. Byrd on Wednesday. 
University’s Ashten Boggs makes a save against Robert C. Byrd on Wednesday. 
University’s Olivia Kaddar (8) and Ashten Boggs sets a block against Robert C. Byrd on Wednesday. 
University’s Ashten Boggs attempts the kill against Robert C. Byrd on Wednesday. 
University players celebrate after scoring a point against Robert C. Byrd on Wednesday. 
University’s Mallory Napolillo attempts the kill against Robert C. Byrd on Wednesday. 
University’s Mallory Napolillo reacts after scoring a point against Robert C. Byrd on Wednesday. 
University players celebrate after scoring a point against Robert C. Byrd on Wednesday. 
University players celebrate after scoring a point against Robert C. Byrd on Wednesday at UHS. (William Wotring/ The Dominion Post)
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The first game of the season can always be a little nerve-wracking, but the University volleyball team wasn’t affected for long.
The Hawks opened their season at home Wednesday against Class AA Robert C. Byrd. They fell behind 9-1 early in the first set but rebounded to sweep the Eagles 3-0 (25-20, 25-14, 25-22) to earn the victory.
“We had some first game nerves, and we got off to a slow start,” UHS coach Don Godfrey said. “We made a few mistakes here and there that hurt us, but overall I’m happy with how we played.”
“It’s our home opener and everyone is always a little nervous about that,” senior Mallory Napolillo added. “Toward the end of the second set, we started racking up kills and had some good serves with a couple aces, and that gave us the momentum to propel us forward.”
After the rough open, the Hawks stormed back to grab the lead and earned a narrow 5-point win in the first set. The Hawks caught fire, shutting down RCB and dominating the entirety of the second frame.
The Hawks rode the momentum into a 7-1 lead early in the third. RCB rallied to tie the set at 20-20, but a quick 4-0 run from the Hawks put them in position to finish the game without a loss.
Napolillo wasn’t completely happy with the team’s performance, noting plenty of areas where the Hawks can work to improve their game, but she believes the win serves as a solid starting point for the upcoming season.
“Honestly, I think we were a little sloppy, but that just gives us something to work on in practice and improve on. We did still come out with a win,” she said.
The Hawks are led by a powerful senior duo — Napolillo paced the team with nine kills, while Ashten Boggs added seven kills and three aces.
The two were crucial pieces to the Hawks’ girls’ basketball state runner-up finish last winter, which provides a base of championship experience and chemistry that was evident on the court against RCB.
“We’ve been best friends since we were little. You’re with these people every day and you become close and that transfers into other sports,” Napolillo said.
“They have a good chemistry together, and they’re our two leaders, so I think that really helps us out a lot,” Godfrey added.
Napolillo said the Hawks, the defending sectional champions, will look to correct the mistakes of the first game and build upon the groundwork laid as they look to beat crosstown rival Morgantown to earn a second-straight trip to the Class AAA state volleyball tournament in November.
“We’re expecting to work hard every day and keep pushing and getting better so we can make it to the state tournament,” she said.
