Boys' Volleyball: Top Games for Mon 4/11 and Tues 4/12

Monday 4/11

Masuk @ Staples @ 4pm
-I mean Staples is 99% going to win this game but this game will help show how good (or bad) Masuk is this year after making the Class M championship game last year but losing to Lewis Mills; Staples lost to Southington in the Class L Championship game last year (1st year ever they didn't win the championship in volleyball except when they moved from M to L in 2005; the CIAC has sanctioned vball since 2001).

Lewis Mills @ Newington @ 5
-HUGE RIVALRY right here! Mills was the only team to beat Newington in the regular season last year (3-1 after having lost 1-3 earlier in the season) and as fate would have it, the two met again in the state tournament.  Nerwington was the 2 seed and Mills the 7 seed but almost everybody considered Newington to be the best team by far in Class M.  On their home court, the Indians were shocked 0-3 by Mills, who went on to win the state tournament.  After graduating 8 seniors to Newington's 2, expect the Indians to get their revenge in this one and against all of Class M this year...but didn't we say that last year too?

Ridgefield @ Farifield Warde/Ludlowe @ 6
-Ridgefield took down Masuk 3-2 in the first game of the season and both teams have beaten Shelton so far.  Ridgefield is the volleyball powerhouse and favorite but Fairfield Warde/Ludlowe is off to a hot 2-0 start as well so they may be able to steal the W from Ridgefield.

Tuesday 4/12

Xavier @ Southington @ 630pm
-GAME OF THE WEEK! You're not going to find a better game than this one between another set of two out-of-conference rivals!  Southington has been in the Class L championship game every year since 2007, finally beating Staples last year after losing to them the first three times and getting their first boys volleyball championship.  Xavier is a less established program having good some seasons back in 2003 (quarters) and 2004 (semis) but not again until 2009 (quarters) and 2010 (semis).  In '09 they upset Danbury in the first round but lost to Southington 0-3 in the quarterfinals at Southington's gym (just like Tuesday's game will be) and then last year they beat Ridgefeild in the quarterfinals but lost in the semifinals 1-3 to...Southington (at Newington) in a heart breaker!  Xavier will be looking for revenge while Southington is looking to defend their state championship.  Both teams look very different from last year losing almost all their 2010 starters to graduation so anything can happen in 2011!