Ridgefield Boys Volleyball Advances To Class L Semifinals

The Ridgefield boys volleyball team advanced to the semifinals of the CIAC Class L state tournament Friday with a 25-13, 25-16, 22-25, 25-17 victory over No. 5 seed Windsor.

The Tigers (17-4) suffered a lapse in the third game after winning the first two but rebounded to close out the match in game four.

Ridgefield will take on top Cheshire on Tuesday at a time and site to be determined. The Tigers have won seven of their last eight matches.

In the other side of the bracket, Staples meets Southington in a rematch of last year's state final, won by Southington.

 in eight games at the Tigers' Den, the Tigers now face the challenge of bringing the energy that's made them one of the state's toughest -- and loudest -- outs to a neutral site.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Peckham thinks they're game.

"We're a very cocky team," Peckham said. "A big focus of ours this year has been not worrying about the last point... the cockiness really helps with that.

"All six guys go nuts after each point," Peckham added. "If we bring that to a neutral court, I know we're much louder than most teams in the state. Other teams have to bring fans to match the energy that the six of us on the court bring."

Ridgefield will play top-seed Cheshire in the semifinals on Tuesday at a time and site to be determined.

Peckham pointed to the Tigers' passing as the key in what started as a potential blowout before the Bobcats surged back to win the third game and contend in the fourth.

Junior setter Chris Bruno led the Tigers with 59 assists, eight digs and 11 service points, 6-foot-8 senior Wyatt Cooper dealt several hellacious spikes to finish with 10 kills and 14 blocks to go with his eight digs from the middle, and Peckham was his productive self from the outside, notching a game-high 17 kills to go with his seven service points and four aces.

But as has been the Tigers' signature, coach Lidania Cibere was most impressed with the chemistry and the cohesiveness her team displayed in advancing.

"We're not a group of individuals, we're a real complete team," Cibere said. "I'm really proud of what they've achieved. It's been a great ride and hopefully it continues."

One of the best rides in school history over, Bobcats coach Jim Holt conceded that falling behind 2-0 to the Tigers was a hole too steep to climb out of.

"They're a very good team," Holt said. "If they have a lead, you've got to work three times as hard to come back."

South Windsor was led by junior Jason George, who finished 16 kills and 12 service points, as well as senior Kyle Waters, who had 10 kills.

SOUTH WINDSOR 13 16 25 17 -- 1

RIDGEFIELD 25 25 22 25 -- 3

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