Joel Barlow, Darien Capture State Boys Volleyball Championships

MIDDLETOWN/HARTFORD, CT — The two state boys volleyball finals played Thursday night looked eerily similar on paper. In both contests, the top-seeded team from Fairfield County ousted the No. 2 seed from Hartford County in four games. However, where one champion is accustomed to winning, the other celebrated its first state title in four attempts.

In the Class L final at Xavier High School in Middletown, Darien recovered from dropping the first game to outlast Enfield. Game scores were 18-25, 25-17, 25-22 and 25-16.

Just up the road a bit at the Sport and Medical Science Academy in Hartford, Joel Barlow won its first boys volleyball state title by defeating Newington. Game scores were 25-16, 20-25, 25-17 and 25-20.

Class M

The third time turned out to be the charm for No. 1 Joel Barlow. The Falcons, who had never won a state title in three previous attempts, had gone down to Newington in 2015 and 2018. Meanwhile, Newington was aiming for its fourth straight Class M crown, and seventh since 2012.

Class L

Darien won its fourth championship, but it wasn't easy. Pesky Enfield led the entire first game and was up 11-8 in the second when the Blue Wave finally hit its stride. Darien ran off five straight points, then added six of the final seven to even the match.

Trailing 8-4 in the third, the Eagles tallied six consecutive points to grab the advantage, but five- and four-point bursts provided the Blue Wave its second straight game win. Leading 14-12 in the fourth game, Darien scored six straight points to seal the title, its first since 2017.

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