By Michael Letendre

EAST LYME – When Bristol Central volleyball coach Lancer Pepper had an engagement to attend this past Saturday, it meant that his squad’s Class L quarterfinal showdown against top ranked East Lyme had to play a day earlier.

And it didn’t even matter as the Rams were rolling when the squads commenced on court battle from East Lyme High School.

No. 9 Bristol Central ended up winning its first and second sets – dropping the third to the Vikings in overtime – before wrapping up the match in the fourth and final period, scooping up a 3-1 victory to advance to semifinal play for the second straight season.

The Rams (19-8) will be gunning for its 20th victory on Wednesday night when the program squares off against No. 12 St. Joseph (13-6 regular season) with a trip to the finals hanging in the balance.

Set scores against No. 1 East Lyme were 25-22, 29-27, 30-32 and 25-23.

The Vikings were nearly swept that evening but managed to hang on to force a fourth set but needed to score 32 points in the third period to survive and advance.

In scholastic volleyball, the victor must win each set by two points once the score reaches 25.

That meant the Vikings simply couldn’t shake the Rams until very late in the set.

East Lyme ended its season at 21-3 overall.

Over four sets of play, Central won by no more than three points, which is extremely close but the locals showed poise on the road to eke out a huge victory.

The stars were out everywhere on the court for the Rams and the match was a career outing for Central junior Grace Higgins.

She blasted East Lyme for 27 kills, dropping down the hammer several times against a quality front three.

Lily Kirk wasn’t your average second fiddle either on Friday as she swung down 16 kills to help lead the Rams’ attack.

Support came from multiple positions on the front line as Isabella Alves (six kills) and Emily Fontaine (five kills) tallied 11 total kills over another tremendous showing.

Even Alex Rivera added a kill as her timely play always seems to net Central a point or two every match.

Higgins flipped in four aces while Alves notched three and Fontaine played her usual brand of defense – rejecting three shots.

Ella Pratt and Alves blocked two shots apiece while libero Daigelis Figueroa was simply sensational over a 38-dig performance as defense ruled the day for the visitors.

Kirk bumped up 24 digs, Higgins and Rivera tallied 15 apiece, Alves shipped out 11 while Pratt and Fontaine each posted a couple to keep the Vikings in check.

Overall, Central zipped up 107 digs, an impressive amount no matter what the final score ended up being.

And then on the assist front, the Rams dished out 48 – all belonging to Rivera – as the All-State caliber setter truly took command of the match when the sets were hanging in the balance.

What a tremendous effort by the entire team from Central as the program is once again on the cusp of something very big.

The Class L bracket has been blown apart by the likes of Central, No. 10 Bristol Eastern and No. 12 St. Joseph – along with third ranked Farmington.

And now, the schedule is set for Wednesday night in what has turned into a double main event – headlined by programs from Bristol.

Naugatuck High School will be the venue for the Class L semifinal round.

At 4:30 p.m., Eastern battles against Farmington in the first bout of the doubleheader and then in the nightcap, it’s Central/St. Joseph in another no-miss event.

These are going to be epic challenges for the programs from Bristol but wins by one or both local teams leads to the finals on Saturday.

A trip to Naugatuck would be worth it as scholastic volleyball is certainly fun to watch in person and is a fast-paced, high action sport with plenty of drama and suspense.

The road to the finals is in sight and Central would like to make a return appearance to East Haven High School on Saturday with a victory over St. Joseph Wednesday night.

Bristol Central Volleyball – Class L, Second Round Battle

No. 9 BRISTOL CENTRAL 3, No. 1 EAST LYME 1

from East Lyme High School

Set Scores: 25-22, 29-27, 30-32 and 25-23.

Highlights: Bristol Central – Lily Kirk 16 kills, 24 digs; Grace Higgins 27 kills, 15 digs, four aces; Alex Rivera 48 assists, 15 digs; Daigelis Figueroa 38 digs; Emily Fontaine five kills, three blocks, two digs; Isabella Alves six kills, three aces, two blocks, 11 digs; Ella Pratt two blocks, two digs.

Records: Bristol Central 19-8 overall; East Lyme 21-3.

Class L Volleyball Bracket

Quarterfinal Round – November 11-12

*East Lyme 1, Bristol Central 3 (25-22, 29-27, 30-32, 25-23)

*Woodstock Academy 2, St. Joseph 3 (13-25, 25-23, 17-25, 25-20, 15-6)

*Waterford 1, Bristol Eastern 3 (25-21, 25-23, 21-25, 25-21) *Farmington 3, Simsbury 1 (26-24, 16-25, 25-20, 25-20)

Semifinal Round – Slated for Wednesday (Neutral sites)

*No. 12 St. Joseph (13-6) at No. 9 Bristol Central (13-7)

*No. 3 Farmington (16-3) at No. 10 Bristol Eastern (12-7)

Class L Finals (this Saturday from East Haven High School)

*Bristol Central/St. Joseph winner vs Bristol Eastern/Farmington winner