By Michael Letendre

SUFFIELD – For the first time in school history, the Bristol Central volleyball team is heading to the state semifinal round.

In a huge bout against No. 2 Suffield on Saturday night, the seventh ranked Rams knocked off the second seeded program three games to one.

Game scores were 25-10, 25-8, 10-25 and 25-16.

Central has won nine of the 10 sets through postseason play in the Class L semifinal bracket.

And after No. 3 East Lyme defeated No. 11 Bristol Eastern 3-0 on Saturday, ending the possibility of what would have been an amazing all-Bristol semifinal, the Rams have their opponent set.

The Vikings picked off the Kingstreeters via game scores of 25-12, 25-16 and 25-10.

Also in Class L action from Saturday, top ranked Joel Barlow blanked No. 8 Platt 25-16, 25-18 and 25-10 while two Cinderellas locked horns in a Class L surprise.

No. 12 Woodstock flipped No. 13 Pomperaug in straight sets (26-24, 25-14, and 25-20) over a competitive bout.

Class L semifinal set-up

Both semifinal contests will commence on Wednesday but will be contested from different venues.

In one Class L semifinal, Woodstock battles top ranked Barlow from the gymnasium at Sports and Medical Sciences Academy at 6 p.m. (the school has one of those cool retractable volleyball nets).

On the flip side, Central squares off against East Lyme on the same evening and time from Cromwell High School – setting up the championship round by the end of the evening.

Regardless of the rankings, the Class L semifinal showdowns are going to be a good one with No. 7 Bristol in the mix.

And if you’re looking ahead, the title contest for the Class L championship commences on November 19 from East Haven High School. 

Central wins big

The Rams are now an impressive 18-7 after that four-set victory over No. 2 Suffield.

Four players from Central tallied up nine-plus kills against the Wildcats.

Brooke Valentino led a balanced offensive attack at the net, posting a team-leading 13 kills while teammate Olivia Clingan added 12.

Grace Higgins cracked the double-figuring killing attack with 10 while Maddie Lodovico swung down nine.

Freshman sensation Lily Kirk flashed in three kills to pace an excellent hitting attack.

Setter Alex Rivera added three aces and on the blocking front, Clingan (five) and Kirk (four) nearly rejected a combined double figure tally in that department.

Lodovico also added three blocks and 17 digs to the winning effort.

Rivera tallied 46 assists and 13 digs and then there was libero Sam Sklenka – protecting the backline with zest – bumping up a team-leading 28 digs.

The Rams came out of the gate against powerful Suffield blazing – outscoring the Wildcats 50-18 over the first two sets of play.

Suffield responded with a 15-point victory in set three but in the final game, the Rams – battled tested throughout the regular season – won the last game 25-16 to punch its first ever ticket to the semifinal round.

CIAC Class L Volleyball – Scores from Saturday night

Bristol Central 3, Suffield 1 (25-10. 25-8. 10-25. 25-16)

East Lyme 3, Bristol Eastern 0 (25-12, 25-16, 25-10)

Joel Barlow 3, Platt 0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-10)

Woodstock Academy 3, Pomperaug 0 (26-24, 25-14, 25-20)