By Michael Letendre
When state tournament play opens up this year in volleyball, both the programs from Bristol Central and Bristol Eastern will be top-10 seeds in the Class L bracket.
The Rams (13-7 overall) and Lancers (12-7) finished eighth and ninth, respectively, in the standings and will have at least a couple home matches before things are said and done.
But before all of that commences, it’s time for the annual CCC Volleyball Tournament — a big postseason tune-up for most of the local programs that some of Connecticut’s best teams will be taking part of.
Central captains Alex Rivera, Grace Higgins and Kily Kirk will lead their sixth ranked troops into first round battle with a home match on Monday night against #11 Tolland (12-8 overall) in a showdown at 6 p.m. from the Charles C. Marsh Gymnasium — the host site of the CCC Tournament this year.
The winner moves on to play the victor between No. 14 Newington and No. 3 Windsor in second-round play.
There is the possibility that Central wins its opening bout, goes on the road to play Windsor, and then returns back to Bristol for the remainder of tournament play.
On the flip side of town, Adrianna Reay, Emma Cretella and Naseem Hennouch lead the No. 9 ranked Lancers into tournament play.
Eastern has somehow drawn No. 8 Simsbury as the squads have been familiar opponents in CCC Tournament play over recent years.
The Lancers will travel to Simsbury for that exciting bout (6 p.m.) on Monday with a date against either No. 16 Enfield and top-seeded Southington on deck for the winner.
Here’s how the CCC Tournament breaks down this year:
2023 Central Connecticut Conference Girls Volleyball Tournament
*First Round – Monday, Oct. 30 (played at the site of the higher seed)
#16 Enfield at #1 Southington
#15 Wethersfield at #2 RHAM
#14 Newington at #3 Windsor
#13 Berlin at #4 Farmington
#12 Avon at #5 Glastonbury
#11 Tolland at #6 Bristol Central
#10 South Windsor at #7 Lewis Mills
#9 Bristol Eastern at #8 Simsbury
*Second Round – Wednesday, Nov. 1 (played at the site of the higher seed)
*Semifinals – Friday, Nov. 3 (from the Charles C. Marsh Gymnasium, Bristol Central at 4 and 6 p.m.)
*Finals – Saturday, Nov. 4 (from the Charles C. Marsh Gymnasium, Bristol Central at 5 p.m.).
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