50-Match Winning Streak Places Darien At Top Of Girls Volleyball Poll

CONNECTICUT — The number 25 is certainly a lucky one for Darien High School volleyball and head coach Laurie LaRusso. The girls' team captured its second straight Class LL championship with a second consecutive 25-0 season, extending its current winning streak to 50 matches. The crown was the 19th program history, but the 25th for LaRusso, who has also piloted the boys' team to six state titles.

Those dazzling numbers impressed all 25 coaches who voted in the season-ending statewide poll, as the Blue Wave was a unanimous selection as the top team in the state.

Class L runner-up Southington was a distant second in the balloting, with Class M champion RHAM, winner of three straight championships, placing third.

Here are the top 10, as well as all other programs receiving votes.

1. Darien
2. Southington
3. RHAM
4. Trumbull
5. Farmington
6. Joel Barlow
7. Coventry
8. St. Joseph
9. Glastonbury
10. (tie) Fairfield Warde, Greenwich

Also receiving votes: Amity Regional, East Lyme, Bristol Central, Northwestern Regional, Cheshire, Seymour, Waterford, Suffield, Haddam-Killingworth, Bristol Eastern, Newtown, Jonathan Law.

Coaches voting: Craig Brown, East Haven; Seth Davis, Amity Regional; Tim Guernsey, RHAM; Sue Bavone, Cheshire; Jon Shepro, Staples; Richard Heitz, Southington; Steve Brienza, Wilton; Raleighe Orszulak-Borecki, Norwich Free Academy; Michael Stango, Holy Cross; Steven Goodrich, SMSA; Lance Pepper, Bristol Central; Dave Alexandro, Sacred Heart Academy; Tina Rembish, Fairfield Ludlowe; Matt Lance, Innovation; James Gleason, Oxford; Nicole Trommelen, Trumbull; Jeff Babineau, St. Joseph; Tim Zaprzalka, Pomperaug; Laurie LaRusso, Darien; Michelle Abraham, New Britain; Mike Smeriglio, Stamford; Kevin Savejs, Maloney; Judy Joslin, Enfield; Cathy Federowicz, Seymour; Harold Branstrom, Montville.
Compiled by Tim Guernsey