Athlete of the Week: Lia D'Amato

It would have been easy for the Berlin Redcoats volleyball team to mope after starting the season 0-3 but behind the leadership of captains Lia D'Amato and Rachel Zelek, that hasn't been the case. Berlin went 0-3 against the two Bristol schools and Platt of Meriden.

D'Amato has been stellar in serving and serve reception and for her efforts she is the Berlin Patch-Farmington Ave. Subway Athlete of the Week.

The senior has been playing all four years and played two years of basketball. She is also a standout in the classroom, earning a spot in National Honor Society, being picked for Girl's State, being a house leader for UpBeat and a class officer.

D'Amato said she was glad the team played three of their toughest opponents right out of the gate this season.

"We started off the season with three of the toughest teams and we don't really have the power hitters at the net that we have in the past but we have really improved," said the daughter of Keith and Kathy D'Amato. "In the past when we've had big hitters our defense and serve reception have been weak spots for us. Now we have improved and are really strong in those spots. Even though we lost the first three games, I think we really started to click and we played really well against Windsor in our first win."

D'Amato dedicated herself to this season by playing in the Husky Program and traveled playing volleyball in the off-season to Baltimore, New Hampshire and Mass.

She calls herself a defensive specialist, because that has what she has played for the last four years but she has worked hard on hitting at the net, as well.

"I'm so excited for the rest of the season," she said. "This is the closest group, as a team, since I've been here. We are all looking forward to the rest of the schedule. We will play those teams again and it will be interesting to see how much we are growing."

D'Amato is looking at the best fit for her academically in college but has not ruled out trying out for volleyball after she picks her perfect school.

Berlin plays at Middleton Monday, home against Bulkeley Wednesday and at Maloney Thursday.

"It would be great to go 3-0 this week and we'd be 4-3," D'Amato added.