Staples Holds Off Darien In Thrilling Boys Volleyball Final

SHELTON, CT — With only one starter returning from last year's Class L championship team, and with a brand new head coach taking over the program, it was unknown whether the Staples High School boys volleyball team would have what it takes to repeat in the toughest division in Connecticut.

It did.

After grabbing the first two sets, the fourth-seeded Wreckers seemed poised to repeat easily, but Darien, seeded third, showed why it is one of the top teams in the state by prevailing in the next two games, setting up a race-to-15 fifth set.

Trailing by as many as three at 12-9, a timeout called by head coach John Sedlock seemed to change the Wreckers' fortunes, as they battled back to the set at 12-all, then went into overtime before downing the Blue Wave, 17-15.

Game scores were 25-22, 25-23, 22-25, 15-25, 17-15.

The triumph was the fourth in the last 10 years for the Wreckers, and 11th since 2001. They finished the season with a 21-3 record, while Darien wound up 24-2.

Seniors ending their high school careers on a winning note for Staples were Brian Wilk, Logan Carstens and Theo Gabor. Darien's seniors were Piers Roofthooft, Tyler Herget, Christian Bailey, Joshua de la Rivera and Nik Tinaj.

(Video credit: Tim Jensen/Patch Media Corp.)