Joel Barlow Cracks Top 10 of Girls Volleyball Poll

REDDING, CT — Seven straight wins to open the season, including back-to-back victories over Top 5 teams, enabled Southington High School to solidify its position atop the latest weekly girls volleyball coaches poll.

The Lady Knights collected first-place nods from 19 of 28 coaches participating in the balloting to top the list for the second straight week. Woodstock Academy had six top votes to place second, while Cheshire was third. Fairfield Ludlowe, Westhill and Avon also earned first-place votes.

Joel Barlow High School, winner of six straight contests to open the season, entered the top 10 by placing ninth in the most recent balloting.

Here are the top 10, with last week's ranking in parentheses, plus all other programs receiving votes.

1. Southington (LW: 1)
2. Woodstock Academy (LW: 3)
3. Cheshire (LW: 5)
4. RHAM (LW: 2)
5. Farmington (LW: 4)
6. Fairfield Ludlowe (LW: NR)
7. Bristol Eastern (LW: 7)
8. East Lyme (LW: NR)
9. Joel Barlow (LW: NR)
10. Seymour (LW: 9)

Also receiving votes: Westhill, Amity Regional, Avon, Greenwich, St. Joseph.

Coaches voting: Jeff Babineau, St. Joseph; Ryan Giberson, Coventry; Adam Bottone, Woodstock Academy; Curt Burns, Avon; Steve Lapham, Greenwich; Michelle Abraham, New Britain; Richard Heitz, Southington; Seth Davis, Amity Regional; Craig Brown, East Haven; Albina Belisle, Enfield; Julie Johnson, Foran; Vinnie Cianfarani, Tolland; Scott Dumond, Bacon Academy; Victoria Sperrazza, Sheehan; Michael Stango, Kennedy; Tim Guernsey, RHAM; Mike Smeriglio, Stamford; Steve Banks, Fitch; Marianna Capomolla, Westhill; Lidania Cibere, Ridgefield; La'Tosha Woodard, Windsor; Steve Brienza, Wilton; Jackie Valliere, Rocky Hill; Duffy Lynch, Career Magnet; Kevin Savejs, Maloney; Kevin Wesche, Naugatuck; Martin Martinez, East Hartford.

Photo credit: Tim Jensen

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