Blue Wave Volleyball Concludes Regular Season at 18-0

The Darien Girls Volleyball Team gave new meaning to the football term, "Three and Out." That's not so good for a football team, but just fine for the Blue Wave when it means "three games and we're outta' here;" the match is over, and it's another win.

That was the case on Friday afternoon, when Darien ended the regular season with a straight set win over Ridgefield, bringing their match record to 18—0 and their game record to 54—0. Every match a straight setter in a best-of-five format. 

The game scores against Ridgefield were 25—8, 25—7 and 25—11. No team has scored more than 19 points against Darien this season, and that only happened in two games against Fairfield Ludlowe and St. Joseph.

Darien was out of the gate quickly against Ridgefield, scoring nine consecutive points before the visitors  got on the board. The Blue Wave was on top of its game on all cylinders: kills, sets, blocks and digs. The first game was over in fifteen minutes.

"The hard work we've put in really paid off," said co-captain Colby Billhardt.

But Ridgefield wasn't about to get back on the team bus and head home. They got their "legs" in the second game, and trailed Darien by only four points at 20—16. But Darien went on a run and won five of the next six points, the final two points coming on aces by the six-foot-two Billhardt. 

In the third game, Darien took Ridgefield out of it early just as they had done in the first game. They jumped out to a 6—0 lead and Ridgefield never came closer than that. The Wave extended their lead late in the game to 20—8 and won it 25—11.

"Ridgefield is a really good team," said co-captain Corinne Sommi, despite the score. She added that the team expects to see some competition at that level of playoff time.

Darien's Sara Suckow at only five-foot-one, was digging balls all over the court. That, combined with some terrific setting and spiking, was too much for the Tigers to overcome. Another tall tree for the home team, six-foot-two Sarah Gorski, was dynamite around the net. She said afterwards, that they'll have to improve their defense heading into the post-season.

"Passing and serving is our strength, and as long as we communicate from the back line in, we'll be in good shape," Gorski added.

Since 1990, Coach Lauri LaRusso has led her teams to win eight FCIAC (Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference) and State championships along with 17 conference and four State titles; and this year's "Three and Out" team—with so many weapons—is on the winning path.

Darien plays its first round FCIAC playoff game against Danbury at home next Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 4 p.m.