Hall beat crosstown West Hartford Conard, 3-2 on Thursday, May 21.

Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance

By Kei Caudle  

With spring sports and the school year coming to a close and summer on the brink, Hall High School’s gym was full of energy for a volleyball match against crosstown rival Conard. Students and family lined up on either side, cheering on their champions. Both West Hartford schools have had a great season so far, but who would come out a victor?  

The first period started with a bang, a point awarded to Hall after a major serve from Hall. The back-and-forth tosses were energizing as both schools remain determined to score another victory. With the score constantly fluctuating, the audience was glued to their seats.  

Barely 10 minutes in and the score was 5-1, with Hall maintaining the lead. No.1 Ian Waddington jumped over the net to secure yet another point for the Titans.  

With a timeout called, the Titans were up 7-2 against the Red Wolves; both teams fighting for the top spot.  

The plays got more intense as the first period came to a close, 21-14. With Hall in the lead, Conard wasted no time with their serves. The squeaking of sneakers against the floor grew as they ran after the ball.  

The crowd cheered as Hall won the first set, 25-18.  

In the second set, the Conard Red Wolves jumped out to a 6-3 lead As each serve was made, the players ran across the court to get it, attempting to bring back their winning streak.  

Despite Hall’s attempts, Conard continued to win points, and the score was soon 8-5.  

Soon, the game was neck-and-neck. When Conard scored a point, Hall was not far behind. Despite the setbacks, it was soon a tie, 10-10. The school’s rivalry grew heated as the match continued, determining the fate of the game. If Conard won the set, the match would be tied. But if Hall won, it would increase their chances of an overall win.  

With a few minutes left in the set and the score 22-18, Hall was on edge. A tie with Conard changed the match. As for the Red Wolves, they played with excitement, dancing between each point scored.  

With a loud rally cry, Conard won the second set, tying the match.  

The third set started intensely, with each team scrambling to overcome the other. Quickly going up 2-0, the Titans began to regain their confidence. However, Conard was not there to play an easy match. They met Hall’s serves with intense spikes and passes.  

Once again, the game was tied 6-6, with each player anxious to prove themselves.  

With a timeout called, the score was 13-9 with Hall in the lead. The tie was finally beaten, but now they had to win the set. Easier said than done.  

With an increasing energy, Hall was up 20-19, with Conard close on their tails. As each team danced in celebration, the score board remained a glowing reminder of the tie.  

With the last point scored, Hall won the, the overall score now 2-1.  

The fourth set, used to break up the tie, started off with a point for all. Conard soon evened it out. Despite the effort put in by both teams, the tie continued. It looked like Hall had met their match.  

The Titans soon caught up, 6-5, as their players were subbed out. They had to put their all in for the win, to secure West Hartford bragging rights for Hall.  

With the score of 8-7, Hall was halfway to a win, and the fans did not disappoint in their support. The gym was filled with chants and screams, even posters being thrown around.  

Hall’s advantage faded away, as Conard soon began to lead the game 15-19. As the game carried on, the energy spiked tremendously, each celebration crazier than the last 

With another set win for Conard under their belt, the teams moved on to the last set, both determined to win the match.  

The last set started with a point for Conard. The Red Wolves went up 2-0 as more chants filled the gym. With the squeaking of shoes and grunts filling the gym, the teams rallied for a win.  

Hall could not catch a break, as the 4-0 score shone in their faces. It was soon beaten with a quick serve, earning them a much-needed point against Conard.  

Hall took the lead at 8-7 as the clock ticked. Over halfway toward the win and the crowd could feel the energy.  

With the last point scored, 15-11, the Hall Titans won the set and the match against Conard’s Red Wolves.  

Both teams have qualified for the CIAC state tournament, which begins next week. Both teams also qualified for the CCC tournament with Hall (12-5) as a No. 6 seed traveling to face No. 3 Glastonbury on Tuesday, and No. 8 Conard (8-9) traveling to face No. 1 Maloney on Tuesday.

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