GameTime CT

Connecticut's premier high school sports website

  • GIRLS SPORTS
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Field Hockey
    • Golf
    • Gymnastics
    • Hockey
    • Indoor Track
    • Lacrosse
    • Soccer
    • Softball
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
  • BOYS SPORTS
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Hockey
    • Indoor Track
    • Lacrosse
    • Soccer
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Track & Field
    • Volleyball
    • Wrestling
  • Schools
  • Newspapers
    • CT Post
    • The Danbury News-Times
    • Greenwich Time
    • The Middletown Press
    • New Haven Register
    • The Norwalk Hour
    • The Register Citizen
    • The Stamford Advocate
  • Polls
    • Baseball Top 10
    • Boys Basketball Top 10
    • Girls Basketball Top 10
    • Football Top 10
    • Hockey Top 10
    • Boys Lacrosse Top 10
    • Softball Top 10
    • Other Polls
  • Scores & Stats
Boys Volleyball

Staples volleyball repeats as Class L champs, tops Darien in 5 sets

Rich DePreta | June 6, 2019

22
The Staples Wreckers celebrate after defeating the Darien Blue Wave 3-2 in the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final at Shelton High School on Thursday.
1of22

The Staples Wreckers celebrate after defeating the Darien Blue Wave 3-2 in the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final at Shelton High School on Thursday.

David Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
The Staples Wreckers celebrate after defeating the Darien Blue Wave 3-2 in the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final at Shelton High School on Thursday.
2of22

The Staples Wreckers celebrate after defeating the Darien Blue Wave 3-2 in the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final at Shelton High School on Thursday.

David Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Staples' Logan Carstens (7) and Darien's Tyler Herget (8) battle at the net during the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final at Shelton High School on Thursday.
3of22

Staples’ Logan Carstens (7) and Darien’s Tyler Herget (8) battle at the net during the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final at Shelton High School on Thursday.

David Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Staples' Brian Wilk (0) puts a shot past Darien's Frank Pirone (10) during the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.
4of22

Staples’ Brian Wilk (0) puts a shot past Darien’s Frank Pirone (10) during the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

David Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Staples' Andris Perri (11) keeps the ball up during the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.
5of22

Staples’ Andris Perri (11) keeps the ball up during the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

David Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.
6of22

Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

Dave Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.
7of22

Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

Dave Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.
8of22

Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

Dave Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.
9of22

Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

Dave Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.
10of22

Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

Dave Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.
11of22

Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

Dave Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.
12of22

Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

Dave Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.
13of22

Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

Dave Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.
14of22

Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

Dave Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.
15of22

Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

Dave Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.
16of22

Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

Dave Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.
17of22

Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

Dave Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.
18of22

Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

Dave Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.
19of22

Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

Dave Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.
20of22

Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

Dave Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.
21of22

Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

Dave Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.
22of22

Action from the CIAC Class L boys volleyball final between Staples and Darien at Shelton High School on Thursday, June 6, 2019.

Dave Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less

SHELTON—It was a war of wills in a Roman Coliseum atmosphere.

The Class L Boys Volleyball title was the prize on the line Thursday night as Darien and Staples did battle for the third time this season.

And after five grueling, emotional sets, Staples wasn’t ready to relinquish the Class L Championship plaque. The Wreckers held off a furious Darien comeback to finally emerge with a 25-22, 25-23, 22-25, 15-25, 17-15 triumph.

“To hold another Class L Championship plaque to take home is the best feeling in the world,” said Staples senior co-captain Logan Carstens, the Wreckers’ only returning starter from the 2018 FCIAC and Class L champion squad. “We overcame a lot of adversity to earn this title.”

Indeed. No. 4 seed Staples (21-3 overall) lost 3-0 to Darien back on May 1. Darien topped Staples, 3-1 in the FCIAC Championship final.

CIAC SPRING CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND SCOREBOARD

Even though, Staples won the opening two games Thursday night 25-22 and 25-23, the Wreckers knew they still had work to do.

“With the 2-0 lead, I wasn’t comfortable,” said Staples first-year coach John Sedlock. “Darien is too good a team to become complacent against. I was nervous.”

After losing the first two games, Darien has come all the way back after winning game four 25-15 #ctvb pic.twitter.com/Tb9JwZDsBT

— Will Aldam (@AldamWill) June 6, 2019

Of course No. 3 seed Darien, which entered with a 24-match win streak, did not go quietly. The Blue Wave, looking for their first Class L since 2017 and second since capturing the 2011 Class M crown, went to work.

Darien pulled away late to take Game 3 by 25-22. The Blue Wave owned Game 4 by 25-15.

“Darien is an amazing team,” Staples’ Carstens said. “I expected nothing less than what they gave. I knew they weren’t going to roll over. I knew it would take an incredible effort to win.”

Staples takes game two 25-23. Now leads 2 games to none #ctvb pic.twitter.com/I3qzwGJTub

— Will Aldam (@AldamWill) June 6, 2019

The fifth game was a seesaw.

Darien led 4-1, 6-4, 12-9 and 13-12.

But Staples found the aggression and their heart.

“In the timeouts I told them ‘If you keep playing like this, you will wake up Friday morning filled with regrets’ ” Staples coach Sedlock said. “You have to play the rest of the way so you’ll have no regrets in the morning.”

Darien stays alive and wins game three 25-22. Staples leads two games to one #ctvb pic.twitter.com/zaDJ803U1j

— Will Aldam (@AldamWill) June 6, 2019

Still Darien fought off two Staples match points. But the third time was the charm as junior Matt Epstein used his spinning serve to produce his most timely ace.

And another Staples’ Class L title celebration.

“We just came together after the timeouts,” said Staples’ Carstens, one of three Wreckers’ seniors. “We realized we wanted this more than anything in the world. That’s how we won it.”

Staples takes game two 25-23. Now leads 2 games to none #ctvb pic.twitter.com/I3qzwGJTub

— Will Aldam (@AldamWill) June 6, 2019

As for Darien, the Blue Wave iron-man seven left it all on the court and took their final bus ride home with their heads high.

“Staples came out hot. And we felt confident of winning a third time against them,” said Darien senior co-captain Tyler Herget. “Then we realized we didn’t want our season to end. The comeback was done one point at a time. It was a great, great match to be a part of. Our team worked so incredibly hard all season. I am very sad that my high school boys volleyball career is over.”

CLASS L CHAMPIONSHIP

STAPLES 3, DARIEN 2

STAPLES 25 25 22 15 17—3
DARIEN 22 23 25 25 15—2
Records: Staples 21-3 overall. Darien 24-2 overall.

About Rich DePreta

Rich DePreta is a reporter at The Advocate of Stamford and GameTimeCT.com

Slam Dunk 2

Newsletter Signup

Don't strike out on CT high school sports news. Sign up for The Whistle newsletter from GametimeCT

You agree to our Terms of Use. Your information will be used as described in our Privacy Policy.

TeamPlayer Scores and Stats search

Scores and Stats

Video

Podcasts

Fall Sports Quick Links

Fall Sports Quick Links

2020 GAMETIMECT ALL-STATE TEAMS
BOYS SOCCER
GIRLS SOCCER
FIELD HOCKEY
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
2020 LEAGUE PLAYOFFS:
Central Connecticut
Fairfield County
Shoreline Conference
Southern Connecticut
South-West Conference

Twitter

Tweets

Polls

Who has the best girls uniforms?

Loading ... Loading ...
Follow Us
© Copyright 2017 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC