Conference playoff seeds are now falling into place
The eight teams for the FCIAC girls volleyball tournament have been determined, but the final seeds won’t be finalized until Friday.
Westhill, which is riding a 10game winning streak that includes victories over four other tournament teams, has the inside track for the No. 1 seed. The Vikings can secure the top spot on Friday with either a win over Norwalk, or a Greenwich loss to Ludlowe.
Friday’s match between Greenwich and Ludlowe, is a possible semifinal preview, as they’ll likely end up as the second and third seeds.
Trumbull, the defending champion, closes with matches against Stamford and Brien McMahon and will finish either fourth or fifth. New Canaan, Staples and Darien had already clinched when the week began, and Warde wrapped up the final playoff spot with its win over Brien McMahon on Tuesday.
The FCIAC quarterfinals will be played on Monday.
GUILFORD, SHELTON TAKE TOP TWO IN SCC
Guilford has been the SCC frontrunner for most of the season, but it’s Shelton which heads into the postseason as the league’s hottest team as the conference tournament tips off this weekend.
Guilford is the No. 1 seed and will have a firstround bye, but it has stumbled during the past week. The Indians won their first 16 games, but after defeating defending league champ Cheshire, 32 on Oct. 21, they’ve lost three of four. Two of those losses were against nonconference opponents Fitch and East Lyme, but the other was a 31 defeat at league rival Shelton last Friday.
That win wrapped up the No. 2 seed for Shelton, which has won nine of its last 10 heading into the postseason, including victories over SCC contenders Cheshire, Guilford and Law (twice).
The SCC tournament features 14 teams and opens this weekend.
Friday’s firstround matches include No. 13 North Haven at No. 4 Law at 3:45 p.m., along with No. 12 Sheehan at No. 5 Hand, and No. 9 West Haven at No. 8 East Haven, both at 5 p.m.
Saturday’s games are No. 11 Career at No. 6 Amity, and No. 10 Mercy at No. 7 Sacred Heart Academy, both at 3 p.m., and No. 14 Hamden at No. 3 Cheshire at 6 p.m.
The SCC quarterfinals are on Tuesday, Nov. 5, and the semis are Thursday, Nov. 7, both rounds at the highest remaining seeds. The championship will be played at 6 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 9, at East Haven High School.
JOEL BARLOW (SURPRISE!) LEADS SWC
Joel Barlow has won the last seven SWC championships and the Falcons are set up for a run at eight as they’ve earned the No. 1 seed for the conference tournament.
Barlow (173) lost two of its first three matches, but has won 16 of 17 since the only blemish coming in a 30 loss to Weston last Tuesday. The Falcons and Trojans split two meetings this fall.
Given their past history and current performance, the Falcons are the clear SWC favorites again, but will face some tough challengers, including No. 2 Weston and No. 3 Masuk, another team which split two contests with Barlow this fall.
The SWC tournament starts Monday with No. 8 Stratford at No. 1 Barlow, No. 5 Newtown at No. 4 New Milford, No. 7 Immaculate at No. 2 Weston, and No. 6 Pomperaug at No. 3 Masuk. All matches are scheduled for 6 p.m.
The semifinals will be played Thursday, Nov. 7, at the highest remaining seeds, and the final will be played on Saturday, Nov. 9, at a site to be determined.
CATS AND DOGS REIGNING IN NVL
Seymour and Naugatuck lead the Naugatuck Valley League standings and were ready to wrap the season with an intriguing matchup as the unbeaten Wildcats (180) visited the Greyhounds (181) on Wednesday.
Seymour, the defending Class M champion, hasn’t dropped a set all season, while Nauagtuck has lost just seven frames, including three in its lone loss: A 31 defeat at St. Paul Catholic last Tuesday.
Those two frontrunners are followed by Woodland (153), defending league champ Kennedy (163), St. Paul (127) Holy Cross (109), Wolcott (117) and Oxford (109). Seeds and firstround matchups will be finalized after Wednesday’s action.
The NVL tournament kicks off with quarterfinal games at the top four seeds on Saturday.