HARTFORD, Vt. — The No. 2-seeded Hartford High volleyball team has been a varsity program for only three years, and it has already made two semifinal appearances in the Division II state playoffs.
To reach its first championship match, the Hurricanes needed to get past No. 3-seeded Enosburg on Thursday night.
Hartford entered the match without one of its most important players — junior captain and outside hitter Maya Johnson, who was injured in practice the day before. Johnson’s absence forced the Hurricanes to shuffle their lineup, with several players competing out of position and multiple freshmen stepping into expanded roles with no practice time.
Despite the adversity, Hartford battled to the end, pushing the match to a decisive fifth set. But it was the Hornets who prevailed, 15-11, to advance to the Division II championship.
“We put in freshmen that have not played with this group before, and it was a tough lineup that we were faced with, but I give them credit — they didn’t give up,” Hartford head coach Natasha Niffka said after the match. “They fought until the end. It hurts, but they had a hell of a season. In the 12 matches we won, we only lost three sets total. That’s pretty incredible.”
Enosburg took the first set, 25-20. With the score tied at 18, the Hornets scored six straight points to take control.
Led by senior outside hitter Isabella Trombley, Hartford responded by taking the second set, 25-23. Freshman Zoey Wood, normally a defensive specialist who filled in for Johnson at outside hitter, was instrumental in helping to build a 14-9 lead. With the score at 24-23, Trombley’s block at the net sealed the set to even the match at 1-1.
The Hurricanes carried that momentum into the third set, winning 25-22 behind another strong effort from Wood, who helped Hartford build an early 9-6 advantage. After trading points throughout the set, a Trombley spike closed it out to give the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead.
The fourth set was another tight defensive battle, with neither team holding serve for more than three consecutive points. Enosburg ultimately prevailed 25-22 to force a decisive fifth set.
In the final set, Hartford fell behind 5-1 but stormed back behind junior libero Julia Bonnett. Enosburg regained control late, however, scoring three straight points to take an 11-10 lead it would not relinquish.
“This is our third year as a varsity program, and we’ve made it to the semifinals twice,” Niffka said. “I wanted this for the girls — to at least get to the finals. But Enosburg had a great fight, and I wish them luck in the finals.”
Hartford could be poised to make another run at the finals next season, with nine players expected to return.