Boys' Volleyball: Semifinals Preview (Tues 6/7)

After going 8-0 last round, the match-ups this time are a lot harder, almost even equal, so it's time to make some difficult picks:

CLASS L

(1) Cheshire vs (4) Ridgefield @ 7pm @ Shelton HS
-This is going to be an extremely close game as Ridgefield's only four losses this year are Darien twice in the regular season and Staples twice, once in the regular season and once in the FCIAC tournament semifinals.  However, Ridgefield did beat Staples once in the regular season, right in the middle of their two losses to the Wreckers and the Tigers beat Masuk twice, Greenwich and Bridgeport Central.  Cheshire is the undefeated SCC Champions but their best competition in that conference is Xavier or Daniel Hand, much weaker than the FCIAC.  Cheshire did beat Newington 3-2 twice (Newington didn't have their best player the second time around) from the CCC but those are the only four sets Cheshire has lost all season.  The only result that allows some speculation is Cheshire's 3-0 win at home over Danbury to start the season but Ridgefield beat Danbury 3-0 as well.  You can see my pick at the end of the Class L previews.

(2) Southington vs (3) Staples @ 5pm @ Shelton HS
-To say that these two teams have been looking forward to this game is an understatement.  This semifinal game will be a rematch of last year's championship, that Southington won 3-2 over Staples for the first time ever, and also the championship game in 2007, 2008, and 2009 that Staples won over Southington.  Staples also won Class L in 2006, over Newington, and Class M from 2001-2004.  Both teams have very different teams from just one year ago and Staples even has a new coach but, as one can see by their records, they are both still very good teams and this will be an amazing match to watch!  Staples lost four matches all year (after four seasons of going undefeated), Masuk once and splits with Darien and Ridgefield in the regular season then again to Darien in the FCIAC Championship game.  Southington only lost two all year, 1-3 at Newington, who they beat 3-0 later at home, and 0-3 to Staples in Southington!  Scroll down for my pick.

PREDICTIONS: This pick will shock mostly everyone but Ridgefield beat Staples and I think the FCIAC is head and shoulders above the SCC and CCC (Staples beat Southington3-0, who beat Newington 3-1 and 3-0) so Ridgefield's win over Staples leads me to believe they will beat Cheshire 3-2 in five sets because Cheshire is still a very good and resilient team; Call it the Wreckers mystique but I'm going with Staples 3-2 (maybe even 3-1) over Southington for some sweet revenge.

CLASS M

(1) Darien vs (5) Fermi @ 5pm @ Oxford HS
-Fermi got a big 3-1 win over 4 seed Bloomfield last round but they really don't stand much of a chance against FCIAC Champion Darien.  Fermi lost 0-3 to a Southington team that lost 0-3 to Staples and Darien beat Staples 3-1 on 5/6 to avenge a 1-3 loss on 4/13.  Darien beat Staples again in the FCIAC Championship game and that loss to Staples in the regular season is their only loss all year.  Fermi also lost to Bloomfield, Enfield and South Windsor in the regular season.  In the Class M tournament so far, Enfield lost 0-3 to Farmington who went on to lose 0-3 to Darien just last round.  South Windsor lost 1-3 to Ridgefield in the Class L tournament and Darien beat Ridgefield 3-0 and 3-1 during the regular season.  This match should still be fun to watch.

(2) Masuk vs (3) Newington @ 7pm @ Oxford HS
-This game is the second on the night and rightfully so as it is almost guaranteed to go five sets.  Masuk is the SWC Champion and the team to beat Staples 3-2 on 4/11 to end their 116-match win streak.  They also beat Glastonbury 3-0 and Danbury 3-2 and 3-0 during the regular season for other quality wins.  Their losses were 2-3 to Ridgefield in their season opener and then again, at home this time, to Ridgefield 1-3.  Newington had one more loss at 16-3 compared to Masuk's 17-2 record because the Indians lost to Cheshire 2-3 twice and split with Southington 0-3 and 3-1.  Newington also beat Glastonbury 3-0, twice in fact and Lewis Mills 3-1 twice while Mills lost 2-3 in five sets to Masuk.  I still think Masuk has a very good team and this will be a spectacular volleyball match!

PREDICTIONS: Darien 3-0 over Fermi; Newington 3-2 over Masuk but a 3-1 result in Newington's favor wouldn't surprise me either.