During her outstanding four year career at Branford High School from 1980 to 1983, Branford Sports Hall of Famer Krista Blomquist Hall achieved one of Branford’s most successful athletic accomplishments, being a major contributor to State Championship teams in basketball and volleyball.
Born in New Haven, Krista played four sports at Branford High School. Besides volleyball and basketball, she also was a member of the field hockey team during her freshman year and track in both her freshman and sophomore seasons.
In volleyball, Krista was a member of two state championships and played for 1993 Branford Sports Hall of Fame inductee Toni Cartisano. During her junior year, the Hornets squad compiled a record of 12 wins and 6 losses, including wins in 10 of its last 12 matches en route to the state title. In that season, Krista broke three setting records and two serving records and named to the First Team All-Housatonic League. The Hornets that year were seeded 11th in the state tournament and defeated Hillhouse, Bethel, and Platt, before facing Foran of Milford in the Class M State title game and claiming a victory, 3 games to 0, for Branford’s title.
The following year, the 1982-83 team won the Housatonic League and became Class M State Champions again, this time with a perfect 28-0 record, the longest winning streak in Branford High School history. In the 28 matches, Branford held a 63-8 record in its games with 16 shutouts. Krista was voted to the All State Volleyball team as well as a spot on the All-Housatonic League squad.
In basketball, Krista was a four year member of the Hornets as a guard. During her sophomore season, she was named Honorable Mention All-Housatonic League. That year, the Hornets led by 1997 Branford Sports Hall of Fame inductee and head girls’ basketball coach, Dave Maloney, posted a 13-5 win/loss record. The following year, 1981-82, Krista and the rest of the Lady Hornets claimed a Housatonic League championship, as the team posted a 17-1 win/loss record. Another dream season continued for Krista during her senior year as the basketball squad went undefeated at 24-0, won the Housatonic League title as well as the Class L State title. In addition, the team earned the number five ranking nationally in Parade Magazine and the number eight ranking in the USA TODAY poll. That year, Krista was named to the All State Basketball Squad and chosen for the All-American team.
After graduation from Branford High School in 1983, Krista attended the University of Connecticut at Storrs on a basketball scholarship. During her sophomore, junior, and senior year, she averaged 8.1 points per game and earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business in 1988. Following college, Krista moved to Florida and began playing Beach Volleyball part time. She eventually became a member of the Women’s Professional Volleyball Association and moved to California to pursue a professional career in the sport. Krista also utilized her Branford High School experience to become an assistant coach at Florida Atlantic University in 1991. The most important event that persuaded Krista to become a professional athlete was her first place finish in the National Jose Cuervo tournament during that same year. She joined the WPVA in 1993 and by 1996 she was voted the tour’s Most Improved Player and was on her way to becoming a top ranked athlete on the tour. She is currently ranked fifth( team) and eleventh (individual) on the WPVA. In five years on the tour, Krista has placed in the top five of tournament play a total of eight times, including 1997 third place finishes in the US National Championship, the Chicago, IL Open, and the Miami Beach Open. In International play, Krista has competed and finished in the top 10 in several World Series events in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Pescara, Italy, Vasto, Italy, Dalian, China, the World Championships in Los Angeles, California, and Pusan, Korea. She holds a world ranking of 27th in the International tour also known as the FIVB.
Now residing in Redondo Beach, California with her husband, Stephen W. Hall, Krista joins her father, Chester Blomquist (inducted in 1995) in the Branford Sports Hall of Fame. Krista is also the daughter of the late Daryl Fox Blomquist and is sister to Lynn Cote, Stephen Blomquist, and Judy Nyberg. “I think back to what I have done and this award is a point to remind me where I came from. I have an opportunity to re-connect with people and rekindle some associations. I was excited to hear about my induction into the Branford Sports Hall of Fame and very surprised,” said Blomquist Hall.
