Trumbull’s Ali Castro returns the ball against Westhill in 2018.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media
FINE PERFORMANCES
Jacqui Bates, Coventry: Bates had 18 digs, 10 kills and two aces to lead Coventry past defending ECC champion Woodstock Academy, 3-2.
Maddy Bautista, Westhill: Senior had 39 digs as the Vikings downed reigning SWC and Class L champion Joel Barlow, 3-1.
Ali Castro, Trumbull: Setter had 27 assists, 17 digs and four aces in a 3-2 win over Darien on Sept. 18.
Ana Castro-Rodriguez, Masuk: Setter had 25 assists, 2 kills, 3 aces and 8 digs as Masuk knocked off defending SWC champion Barlow 3-1 on Saturday.
Paula Hernandez, Woodstock Academy: Last year’s CHSCA Player of the Year started her senior campaign with 26 kills and 28 digs during a five-set loss to Coventry in the season-opener.
Noelle Noble, West Haven: Noble had 14 kills and 9 digs as the Westies defeated Mercy in five sets on Sept. 19.
Sydney Ritchie, Stratford: Ritchie had 12 kills, 20 assists, and 9 digs as Stratford beat town rival Bunnell 3-2 on Sept. 17.
Lilly Saleeby, Greenwich: Senior had a double-double with 10 kills and 15 digs in 3-2 win over Darien last Friday. She also had 18 kills and 10 digs when the Cards defeated Westhill on opening day.
Jackie Soderland, Ludlowe: Racked up 15 kills, 8 blocks and a pair of aces in five-set victory over defending FCIAC champion Trumbull on Sept. 16.
Sarah Wargo, Stamford: Wargo racked up 22 assists, 21 service points and four aces in season-opening shutout of Foran.
Emma Watkinson, Cheshire: Senior setter had 27 assists, 4 kills, 2 aces and 6 digs in a 3-1 win over SCC rival Amity last Thursday.
MATCHES TO WATCH
St. Joseph at Greenwich, Thursday, 4:30: Both teams are perennial FCIAC contenders and both have gotten off to hot starts — Greenwich is 6-0 and St. Joseph is 4-1.
East Hampton at Coginchaug, Thursday, 5:30 p.m.: A rematch of last year’s Shoreline final which was won by East Hampton in five sets. They split two matches during the regular season.
Woodstock Academy at East Lyme, Thursday, 5:30 p.m.: A rematch of last year’s ECC final, won by Woodstock Academy. Both teams stumbled out of the gate this season and are working to get back to .500
Cheshire at Guilford, Oct. 1, 6 p.m.: Guilford is the one SCC team which has been able to break the Cheshire-Amity hold on the SCC final in recent years. The Indians get their first crack at one of those two teams when they host the Rams on Tuesday.
Newtown at Joel Barlow, Oct. 2, 5:30 p.m.: Barlow has won seven consecutive SWC championships and has beaten Newtown in the title tilt for three straight seasons. The Nighthawks take another shot at Barlow here.
Guilford at Shelton, Oct. 2, 6 p.m.: Two of the SCC’s top contenders are off to hot starts this fall. The game features several of the conference’s top stars, including outside hitter Emma Appleman and libero Juliet Young of Guilford, and middle hitter Reem Abdel-Hack and setter Jessica Foss of Shelton.
