Darien Boys Volleyball Team Defends FCIAC Title

The Darien Blue Wave, the defending FCIAC champion, successfully defended their title against the New Canaan Rams Friday night; winning in three sets 25-17, 25-11, and 25-21.

New Canaan played without their Senior Captain and 2021 All-FCIAC First Team member, Gavin Bramwit. Bramit was injured early in the season and never returned to action. New Canaan advanced to the FCIAC Final by beating Trumbull two days earlier in a very difficult five set match. Fatigue from the previous game could have been a factor in the The Rams' loss.

The Wave never trailed in the first set and won going away.

The Rams jumped out to a one nil lead in the second set. Darien tied it at one, but then The Rams pulled ahead by two points with the score 5-3. The Wave tied it at 5 all for the third tie of the set, but then started to look like the undefeated team that they are and extended the lead to six points with a score of 14-8 and forced a New Canaan timeout.

The timeout was not effective and The Wave extended their lead by ten points and forced another New Canaan timeout when the score reached 19-9.

The Wave never let up and won convincingly 25-11.

Even though Darien maintained control throughout most of all three sets, New Canaan did force a Darien timeout late in the third set when The Wave lost some of their focus and let The Rams get within one point, 22-21. The Wave regained their composure and a kill by Junior Captain Luke Bradbury put Darien up 23-21. Bradbury's serve was then returned by New Canaan, but he had a terrific dig on a hard hit New Canaan ball which led to a huge spike by Trevor Herget that was not able to be returned by The Rams and brought Darien to within one point of a fifth FCIAC crown in the past six years.

New Canaan returned Bradbury's set point serve for a kill to keep The Rams' hopes alive.

New Canaan's final serve was dug by Trevor Herget, passed to Senior Captain and Setter, Zarek Swetye, who then set the ball for a kill by Herget to end the game. It was fitting that Herget scored the championship point as he was named the Most Valuable Player in the FCIAC Tournament.

Luke Bradbury, Trevor Herget, Senior Captain Frank Pirone, and Zarek Swetye were all named to 2021 All-FCIAC Teams.

Darien secured the first leg of the Triple Crown by finishing their regular season undefeated with 17 wins. Darien earned the second jewel by winning the FCIAC Championship. Winning a state championship is the final leg of the Triple Crown.

The Blue Wave, the number one ranked team in the state with a 20-0 record, earned a first round bye in the CIAC State Tournament that begins next Wednesday, June 2. Darien will play Friday, June 4 at 6:00 p.m. at Darien High School against the winner of the Shelton/Newtown game.

The CIAC tournament has some interesting first round matchups between FCIAC and non-FCIAC teams. The FCIAC have dominated the state tourney since 2013. The past seven championships were won by FCIAC teams. Even though three out of the four FCIAC teams are underdogs in the first round of the CIAC tourney it would not be surprising to see an upset.

FCIAC teams were dominant in the 2019 CIAC state playoffs. Staples won the 2019 CIAC tourney by knocking off previously undefeated and number one seed, Southington. Darien advanced to the 2019 championship by knocking off previously undefeated and number two seed, Newtown. Staples then defeated Darien 3-2 in a classic battle in the 2019 Final.

The FCIAC teams playing in the CIAC state tourney next week are listed first:

Trumbull (14-3) hosts Amity (9-9)

Stamford (9-8) @ Conard (14-3)

Greenwich (8-9) @ Southington (13-4)

Ludlowe (9-8) @ Glastonbury (13-3)

Darien (17-0) hosts the winner of Newtown (11-5) @ Shelton (12-4)

Stamford could be the sleeper. They are a young, but much improved team.