andy hutchison
FAIRFIELD — What a turnaround for the Staples High School boys volleyball team, which clinched a state playoff berth with its eighth win Tuesday night.
One year removed from winning just three championships, the team, made up mostly of juniors, sophomores and freshmen, has found its winning touch.
“It's a great improvement compared to last year. I think the experience we had last year has really come into play this year and I'm really proud of our players,” coach John Sedlock said.
Last year, there were no seniors on the team, so it was an opportunity for all players to hone their skills in preparation for this spring.
“That experience will help us this year. We're having fun and it's going well,” said Brian Divino, the team's setter.
The Wreckers clinched a playoff berth with a 3-2 come-from-behind victory at Fairfield Ludlow. They trailed 1 game to 0, then 2 games to 1, but were forced into a decisive fifth set. The match scores were 19-25, 25-23, 16-25, 25-22, 15-11.
This was the third time Staples had won a decisive fifth set.
“It shows we have a lot of heart,” Sedlock said.
With the win, Staples improves to 8-4 overall and 4-2 in FCIAC play.
They achieved this success despite suffering from injuries. Sedlock has had to change his lineup at times, especially against Ludlow, where several players moved around from their natural positions on the court.
“They never gave up and played their best,” the coach said.
Middle hitters Will Stoutenberg and Mason Siskind made big appearances at the net with key blocks and kills. Stoutenberg had his best game of the year, recording eight blocks, Sedlock said.
Sawyer Makle had 16 kills, Pierce Brown had 11 kills, Divino had 18 digs and 26 assists, and Anthony Chung had nine digs.
In the fourth set, Staples appeared to be on track to take the fifth game and build a 20-11 lead. Ludlow got within 22-21, but the Wreckers fended off their opponent.
Brown's key cross-court kill gave Staples a 23-21 lead. After a net violation made it a three-point game, Ludlow extended the set by one more point before Makuru closed it out with a kill.
Game 5 was a back-and-forth affair for most of the time, with Siskind, Makle, Stoutenberg and Divino scoring important points. The set was tied at 7-7 with Staples taking the lead, which Brown extended with consecutive kills.
Ludlow responded, and at 10, Brown broke the tie again to keep things even. The go-ahead kill was set up by Divino's sizeable reverse set.
Ludlow tied it again, but Brown responded with a kill to create a 12-11 Wrecker advantage, and Staples finished with four points to go, capped by a block/point at the net by Stoutenberg.
Staples hosts Stanford on Thursday at 4 p.m. and Trumbull on Saturday at 11 a.m.
“All these FCIAC games are the most important. They have to win,” he said as the Wreckers look to strengthen their standing in the FCIAC and state playoffs.The team has seven games remaining, all conference Sedlock said he has a game left against his opponent.
(The game schedule is subject to change, so please click here for the latest information.)
Andy Hutchison has covered Fairfield County news and features, as well as school sports, including Staples athletics, since the 1990s.